Following exchange of tirades among the governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ekiti State, a contender for the seat , Engr. Kayode Ojo, has advised members of the party not to engage in internal wrangling that could dim the party’s chances.
Ojo lamented that many of the aspirants and their backers have been engaging in media war , particularly on social media platforms, describing this as a dangerous trend that can constitute a cog in the party’s wheel of progress ahead of the poll.
The Engineer turned politician urged the members to see the impending poll as a titanic battle that must be fought with unity of purpose and utmost sacrifices to prevent the APC from being consigned to the opposition for another four years after the expiration of Governor Ayodele Fayose’s tenure.
He was commenting on the ding-dongs that had dogged the declaration of former Governor Segun Oni for the governorship slot, which seemed to have elicited so much furore within the APC’s political family.
In a statement in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Ojo described the exchange of tantrums by the aspirants as needless and incongruous since the party has promised not to renege on conduct of free, fair and credible primary.
He advised that catching in on the current gains accruing to the party through Fayose’s depleting popularity due to inability to pay workers among other lapses should be the priority of aspirants, whom he branded s rallying points rather than engaging in brick-batting .
“The main reason why I won’t fight former Governor Oni or any other
aspirant is that, the party has a rule and the rule says all members with requisite qualifications can vie for any elective positions. And Oni as a members had not flouted any law for declaring his ambition, it is still legitimate.
“Again, the party National Working Committee has not displayed anybody language to suggest that the former governor will be imposed.Whatever any body is saying concerning this is at the realm of insinuation, so why the exchange of verbal war?
“As a democrat, one must learn how to tolerate the ambition of others.I have declared my intention and likewise others, so what former governor Oni did was not an infraction of the constitution. He was only displaying his rights just like every other APC members.
“Our people, particularly the aspirants who are the rallying points must be extra careful not to divide the party. One can’t be fanning the ember of discord at this time we are looking for how to reclaim Ekiti from the stronghold of the PDP”, he advised.
Ojo however begged the Chief John Oyegun-led NWC to live up to expectations by being neutral during the primary to douse the already mounting tension in the party.
