By Banji Ayoola
An Ondo South senatorial aspirant on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Mathew Oyerinmade, has decried the alleged campaign of calumny against him, describing it as a booster to his chances in the race to the red chamber of the National Assembly.
While reacting to what he described as the latest of such attacks within the past few weeks through the Head, Media/Publicity, MATO 2023 Ondo South Senatorial Campaign Organisation, Mr Yemi Akintomide, he said that his attackers were unintentionally promoting him with their persistent attacks on his person.
He said in a statement that “it has become a public knowledge that some unscrupulous elements, apparently on the payroll of their lazy political masters, had been feeding fat on a new stock-in-trade (campaign of calumny), specifically to smear and attack the personality of our Principal and leading Senatorial aspirant of All Progressives Congress, APC in the forthcoming 2023 General Elections for Ondo South Senatorial District, Mathew Oyerinmade, widely known as MATO.”
According to the statement, the latest of such bad stock was a purported statement published by an online newspaper on Sunday,”and credited to yet, another fake and non-existing group, Ondo South Restoration Movement, (OSRM) claiming to have known the “real intention” of MATO’s political ambition beyond the Senatorial pursuit.”
It said: “But, as laughable as this claim was, we are glad to inform the unguided politicians and evil perpetrators behind all the false accusations that their orchestrated campaign of calumny has turned a booster and essential vitamins that invigorate and rejuvenate MATO’s political systems and vital organs of his political career progression.
“What benefit will anybody derive from such unwarranted and ambiguous claim that MATO or any politician for that matter, who is canvassing for a seat in the Red Chamber and yet to be elected; will now be eyeing Governorship seat that the current occupier is barely a year in office of a term of four years?
“For the umpteenth time and clarity of intention, MATO is only interested and working assiduously to represent the good people of Ondo South in the Senate, and not ready to be distracted by juvenile and infantile political stunts who are yet to define their political agenda.
“As a core party man and lover of his people with all sincerity of heart, MATO will abide by and follow all laid down rules, including political arrangement and unwritten agreement and zoning pattern designed by leaders and elders of APC, especially in the South on the issue of Governorship slot when the time comes.
“Rather than be engaged and tackle the real issues of political electioneering and other election positive and impacting activities towards the 2023 Elections like MATO is currently doing, these political jobbers have decided to trade in falsehood and character assassination of the person of Mathew Oyerinmade with the sole intention of bringing him into conflict and political collision with our respected and revered leaders from the South who might have interest in contesting for the governorship seat coming up much later in 2025. But they have failed woefully.
“We therefore, use this medium to once again, express our profound gratitude to the leader of our party in the State and Chairman of Southern Governors Forum, Arakunrin Odunayo Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for his fatherly support and political maturity in providing leadership not only in Ondo State, Southwest, South but Nigeria in general.
“We equally appreciate the good work and leadership acumen of our State party chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, who has been the rallying point for all loyal members of APC in the State.
“Our indefatigable leaders, elders and stakeholders of our party in the Southern Senatorial District are well recognised and appreciated for their steadfastness and unalloyed support for MATO’s ambition so far, as we promise that Mathew Oye Oyerinmade will equally reciprocate your kind gesture whenever the time to do so arrives.
“Oyerinmade remains committed to the course of our party and is well prepared to serve our people in the Southern Senatorial District, diligently and purposefully as it has never been done before, representing them at the Red Chambers of the National Assembly come June 2023, by God’s Grace.
“Thank you so much.
“MATO…Iyonu Olorun!”
