By Banji Ayoola
Nigeria’s ex-envoy to the Republic of Togo and a senatorial aspirant into the seat of Ondo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ambassador Sola Iji, has deplored what he described as an unfair attempt to destroy the reputation of six of the seven All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial aspirants in the district while promoting one.
While responding to an online story in a statement on Monday, the Director General of the Ambassador Sola Iji Campaign Organisation, ASICO, Chief Wole Iroaye, faulted the report as “an unfair attempt to promote one of the seven “bigwigs” above the others; and while doing this, damage their reputation and chances as much as possible in the eyes of the good people.”
He said: “It is one sided, unbalanced and unjust to the six of the contenders on the list, who the publisher himself rightly admitted are some of the finest human beings “within the geographical area that constitute the senatorial district.”
Iroaye’s statement was titled “Re: 2023 Ondo South Senatorial seat: Who wears the cap? – An unfair attempt to destroy APC aspirants while promoting one.”
Following is the full statement: “The attention of the Ambassador Sola Iji Campaign Organisation, ASICO, has been drawn to a story titled “2023 Ondo South Senatorial seat: Who wears the cap?” which was published on February 1, 2022 by an online medium Coastal Renaissance.
“In it, the publisher claimed to have “embarked on systematic and thorough research via extensive consultation with the generality of the public, and now came out with an informed view on this topical issue.
“Based on the acclaimed “systematic and thorough research via extensive consultation with the generality of the public”, the publisher analysed the chances of those it described as the seven bigwigs within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, who are eyeing the seat of the district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate.
“While “analysing” based on “systematic and thorough research via extensive consultation with the generality of the public”, the publisher listed and rated these “seven bigwigs” in the order that suited his purpose, but which is wrong.
“Findings based on “systematic and thorough research via extensive consultation with the generality of the public”, are meant to be underpinned by objectivity, dispassion, neutrality and empirical facts deduced through a rigorous scientific research. And the findings, based on these are meant to guide aright, in this instance, the electorate of Ondo South Senatorial District in making their choice of their next Senator who will be strongly connected with them as to make meaningful and significant improvement of their living conditions his topmost priority.
“Regrettably, all these vital ingredients of a truly objective endeavour are lacking in the claims of the “systematic and thorough research via extensive consultation with the generality of the public.
“Clearly it could be seen by any objective reader that the story “2023 Ondo South Senatorial seat: Who wears the cap?” is an unfair attempt to promote one of the seven “bigwigs” above the others; and while doing this, damage their reputation and chances as much as possible in the eyes of the good people.
“It is one sided, unbalanced and unjust to the six of the contenders on the list, who the publisher himself rightly admitted are some of the finest human beings “within the geographical area that constitute the senatorial district under focus here. That is, people whose reputations are beyond reproach and whose hands have not been found tainted.”
“The writer in his unfairness went further in his “systematic” or scientific “analysis” to appoint his own “leading aspirant” and went to high heavens to shower praises on him after which he unilaterally awarded him the seat being contested for by seven of the most eminent sons of Ondo South Senatorial District, even without election.
“Hear him: “Majority of the people from each local government of the senatorial district have described him as the leading aspirant for the Ondo South senatorial seat in the forthcoming 2023 general elections while majority of the leaders, elders, youths and women have keened (keyed) into his project…”
“The readers are left in the dark as to when, where and how the publisher of the above one sided story conducted his “systematic research”, what method used, and the number of respondents and other basic requirements of a truly systematic research.
“Aspiring to political leadership positions is a very sensitive issue that opinion molders and all those connected with bringing leaders to office need to take more seriously.
“Undoubtedly, His Excellency Ambassador Joseph Olusola Iji is today the most prominent of the seven “bigwigs” aspiring to fly the APC ticket in the forthcoming Senatorial Election and the most eminently qualified of all the senatorial aspirants in the Ondo South Senatorial District contrary to the skewed claims made in the story “2023 Ondo South Senatorial seat: Who wears the cap?”
“How is Ambassador Iji the best of all the senatorial aspirants in Ondo South Senatorial District?
“A man of varied rich experiences in leadership and administrative positions, Nigeria’s former ambassador to Togo; ex-Ondo State Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which fused into APC; former chairman Kwara ACN Caretaker Committee; a barrister at Laws, having his Masters of Law in view, Ambassador Iji also holds Masters of Science degree (M.Sc.) in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management; Master of Business and Public Administration (MBPA); B.A English; and IPR Course Certificate in Public Relations.
“He is a member each of Nigerian Industrial Relations Association; University of Lagos Alumni Association; Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria; and Nigerian Bar Association; Associate member Nigerian Institute of Management; and that of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK and Nigeria.
“He served as Director, Mass Organisations of Hope 93 MKO Abiola for President; Deputy Chief Electoral Officer of Social Democratic Party; Assistant Secretary, NLC/TUC; Secretary National Steering Committee of defunct Nigeria Labour Party; member Swearing-in subcommittee 2015 Presidential Inauguration Committee; chairman Akwa Ibom State Legislative Appeals Committee; Executive Secretary Food, Beverages & Tobacco Senior Staff Association; and Alliance for Democracy candidate into Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency among others.”
