From left to right: Secretary to Ilaje Local Government and former SSA to ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Dr Bayo Jegede; former Publicity Secretary, AD, ACN, Hon Rotimi Agbede; a leader from Okitipupa, Hon Kola Afere; Member representing Ilaje Constituency I in the Ondo State House of Assembly and a House of Representatives aspirant, Hon Abayomi Babatunde Akinruntan, (ABA); the leading APC Ondo South Senatorial District aspirant, Ambassador Sola Iji, (ASI); Hon Federal Commissioner, NSIWC, Presidency, Abuja and Director General, ASICO, Onibudo ‘Wole Iroaye; Vice Chairman, Ilaje Local Government and Ilaje Constituency I LG Coordinator of ASICO, Hon Dickson Obele; former Chairman, Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, Hon Gbenga Edema; Ilaje Costituency II LG Coordinator for ASICO, Otunba Sylvester Ikuejamoye; and another Leader
By Banji Ayoola
A former envoy and leading Ondo South Senatorial District aspirant on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Ambassador Sola Iji, today begins his mobilisation visits to the six local government areas in the district.
He unfolded the time table of the visits at a meeting he held with about 100 leaders including local government and ward coordinators of his campaign, the Ambassador Sola Iji Campaign Organisation, ASICO, at his Igbobini, Ese Odo Local Government home on Monday.
These were disclosed in a statement on Tuesday night by the Director General of the campaign organisation, Onibudo ‘Wole Iroaye.
He said that the visits kick off today with Ile-Oluji Oke Igbo and Odigbo Local Government Areas. According to him, the second day of the visits will be for Ilaje and Okitipupa Local Government Areas; while the third day will be for Irele and Ese Odo Local Government Areas.
Specifically, during the tour, which is being coordinated by the campaign organisation, the aspirant and his entourage will visit the Local Government party executives, ward chairmen and secretaries, who he described as “very important.”
In his address at the meeting, Iji added: “Local Government council chairmen and councilors are also very important in the scheme of things. We are going to visit these people as enumerated above, including the local government and ward coordinators. By this arrangement, we are going to work for three days in order to cover the six local governments.”
He told the gathering: “I am a serious contender, and I want to be a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am inviting you to also show seriousness. In politics, everybody has interest.
“We have laid a foundation. We might not know each other before. We are knowing ourselves now. If I get my own ticket and win the election, you will also get your own.
“If they give you money, it is good; but don’t decide on that. Those of you working for us will reap the dividends of democracy by the time I get to the Senate.”
He said he was happy that the APC has come back from its just concluded national convention a united body with a “perfect blend of national officers” who emerged through consensus.
His words: “All of these built consensus around the list of officers that were agreed on through consensual arrangement. Every governor endorsed the list with their red pen. It was already a fait accompli.
“Nobody went there to work on his or her own. Rather, the leaders decided on the names and they were all accepted by the party as officers to manage the affairs of the party for the next four years.”
The statement said: “His Excellency, Ambassador Sola Iji also made it clear to the meeting that no local government coordinators came directly from him. The leaders of respective local governments selected the Local Government coordinators and urged the Local Government coordinators to meet with their respective leaders to nominate the ward coordinators.
“Those of you who are here today got to this level through the level of consultation we had with your respective leaders.
“Therefore, he admonished them to work with integrity and be committed so that we can gather again like this when we get the ticket.”
While welcoming the coordinators and party leaders to the meeting, Iji said he was happy about the high turn-out of eminent leaders.
Noting that the turn-out at the meeting was impressive despite the short notice, he commended Iroaye “for a job well done, saying this is a well-organised meeting.”
He said that Hon Abayomi Akinruntan, who represents Ilaje Constituency I in the Ondo State House of Assembly and a House of Representatives’ aspirant had “recognized the work of the DG.
Also, he appreciated all LG coordinators for bringing the ward coordinators from their respective areas. Besides, he thanked the coordinators for the job they have done so far in promoting his aspiration.
Iji said: “I need to emphasise that some of you who are ward coordinators are qualified to be delegates. You must work closer to your leaders to nominate you. I welcome you for this honour of coming. I pray that we shall win the ticket.”
Fraternal greetings came from some leaders at the meeting, including a former chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, OSOPADEC, Hon Gbenga Edema, who assured that there is nothing to fear and stressed that the campaign rests on the coordinators.
Edema said: “We have waited for Ambassador Iji to come out. You can see that this ASICO is the wisest among the campaign organizations in the race.”
He said that the emergence of Hon D. Isaacs Kekemeke as the South West Vice Chairman “of our great party means that our waiting till now is not in vain.”
He said that attendees at the meeting should count themselves worthy to be founding members of the group, noting that there would be consensus in picking the candidate of South Senatorial District.
He added: “Sola Iji will get the ticket; Sola Iji will win the election. God is on our side.”
According to the statement, Edema said that it does not lie within the purview of any mortal to decide where the next governor of the state would come from, noting that the Governor Olusegun Agagu and Dr Olakunde, who represented Okitipupa and Irele Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, “did their time together, not minding that both of them were from the same local government.”
“Also, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, our amiable governor, and Dr Bode Ayorinde, who represented Owo and Ose Constituency at the House of Representatives, also did their time together during the first term of Arakunrin, not minding that both of them were from the same local government.
“He also made reference to two brothers who were supervisor and councilor respectively at the same time.
“Even, former Governor Olusegun Mimiko and former Minister, Mrs Omobola Johnson, were governor and minister respectively at the same time not minding that both of them were from the same town.
“Senator Ajayi Boroffice and former Chief of Staff to the President, Arogbofa, who were from the same local government and town, Oka, served their time at the same time.
“He (Edema) therefore admonished the people not to worry about anything and be assured that Ambassador Iji will get the ticket and win eventually.”
On his own, Prince Abayomi Babatunde Akinruntan described Iji as a man of integrity and his aspiration as “the foundation of a new beginning in Ondo South Senatorial District.
The lawmaker said: “Ese Odo had not done it before, and those of you who are here are products of leaders. This project has the full backing of Ilaje leaders. Ese Odo will need to work very hard for the project too.
“Let us go out and preach the gospel. I believe that Ambassador Iji is the candidate of the party. Ilaje will deliver massive votes to our principal.”
Also, the secretary to Ilaje Local Government and former SSA to Governor Mimiko, Dr Bayo Jegede, urged the leaders and coordinators to work conscientiously to ensure Iji’s victory.
He said: “You can’t come to the party without knowing your history. Our principal has intimidating political credentials. Some people are trying to launder their image by saying they want to be senator whereas they don’t know anybody in Abuja or the states.
“His Excellency, Ambassador Sola Iji is already known in the party and beyond. I must confess that there is a way in this struggle. Have reached where we are going. This is the right place for us to be. People are spending money just to buy popularity for themselves.”
On their own, the coordinators pledged their readiness to work for Iji’s success, as they told him: “Do not leave us; don’t forget us; always pick our calls.”
Some advised that others had gone before him, but because of their negative attitude, they had become irrelevant, praying however: “Yours will not be like that.” Generally, they described him as “a good man” and noted that “this project is for federal.”
An elderly person from Ese Odo quoted 1st Timothy 1: 7, which talks about pure heart, saying “Ambassador Sola Iji has a pure heart. He is a good man, and he must continue to be a good man.”
Also, the women, through their spokesperson at the meeting, asked Iji to carry them along, saying: “The women are behind you. You must carry us along. When you get to the Senate, don’t forget us.”
In his welcome address, Iroaye prayed for the Lord’s guidance. He described the meeting as another significant hallmark in the sustained effort of ASICO to ensure that Iji clinches the APC ticket of Ondo South Senatorial District in the coming election.
He said that the organisation has taken various steps “in its determined bid to raise public awareness of the genuine intention of our principal to contest the South Senatorial District election in 2023.” These, he said, include activities meant to cement the body’s relationship with relevant party and government organs at the local government level in the district.
The DG reported that the efforts had resulted in a great success story, saying the meeting was to, among other things, formally inaugurate the organisation’s ward coordinators from the District’s 66 wards to examine the outcome of the just concluded party national convention, and set the stage for our visits to the local government areas in the district.
He explained why the body shelved its earlier planned visits to the local governments and wards. He said: “Following the outcome of the national convention of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, especially as it relates to the amendment of our party constitution, it became imperative for us to shelve our earlier plan and bow to the truth and reality of the moment.
“Hence the need for today’s meeting in order to keep you abreast of the urgent development in our great party. To put the records straight, I am saying that there are major changes in respect of members of the party who will be delegates at each level of the congress.
“As people who are representing ASICO in your various local governments and wards, we feel, it is necessary to bring you together for proper education that will give insight into the amendment. Therefore, your presence here today is very strategic in this regard.”
For the sake of those attending the meeting for the first time, Iroaye said that Iji is the first aspirant to establish a campaign office in the District, at 14, Ikoya Road, Okitipupa, opposite the petrol filling station beside Chicken Republic.
His words: This is an important information for you. It shows that our principal is serious about his intention to contest the election in question. He has what it takes to get involved in this political journey. Therefore, there is no need for us to worry about anything.”
Appreciating the coordinators for their efforts so far to promote ASICO in their respective wards and local governments, he said: “You are all wonderful ambassadors of our group.
“Let me say at this juncture that your appointments as coordinators are the results of our interactions with your leaders in your respective local governments and wards. To that extent, we require total commitment and devotion to duty from all of you.
Be open to us and feel free to express your view at this meeting. Do not waver. Be steadfast, and make this project a focus of attention. Truly it is a Divine mandate. Therefore, it is all hands on deck to ensure the success of our principal’s intent.”
