By Banji Ayoola
Ondo State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has praised Engr. IfeOluwa Oyedele for setting aside personal interest and ambition to step down for incumbent Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, in today’s primary of the party to pick its candidate in the October 10 governorship election.
The party reacted in a statement on Monday by the party’s state Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Steve Otaloro.
Describing Oyedele as a true party man, the party noted that Oyedele ran one of the biggest campaign platforms in the governorship race and has invested huge resources in funding the campaign before he decided to sacrifice all these in the overall interest of the party and the state.
With Oyedele’s withdrawal, those left in the race for the APC ticket are now 11 aspirants including Akeredolu; a former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr Isaacs Kekemeke; daughter of the pioneer National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, leader and the state’s Second Republic Governor Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose; and a former governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke; ex governorship aspirant, Chief Segun Abraham; former Action Congress state chairman and an envoy, Ambassador Olusola Iji; Mr Jimi Odimayo; Mr Owolabi Adelami; Mr Awodeyi Akinsehinwa; Mr Olubukola Adetula; and Dr Olumuyiwa Adojutelegan.
The party noted that Oyedele’s quest that the APC primary goes without bloodshed is commendable.
It gave the commendation just as Governor Yahaya Bello who is Chairman of the Primary Committee ruled out postponement of the primary as demanded by some aspirants.
They had claimed they were yet to see the delegates list less than 24 hours to the primary. But Bello who spoke at a meeting with the aspirants on Sunday night, said there is no perfect election anywhere in the world.
While announcing his withdrawal on Sunday night, Oyedele had said: “The interest of the citizens of Ondo state is more important than my personal interest. We are determined to ensure that we work together for what will be of benefit to citizens of Ondo state.
We will work together to unite our party, to rebuild the party, unite our members so that we can have a rapid economic development in the state. Also, I call on other aspirants to support us in this quest of uniting our party.”
