By Banji Ayoola
Ambassador Sola Iji has explained that his senatorial ambition is being driven by the passion to effectively represent the people of Ondo South Senatorial District of Ondo State in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate, and initiate a rapid transformation of the living conditions of the generality of the people of the District.
He disclosed these reasons on Monday at a meeting he held with the District’s six Local Government Council chairmen of Ilaje, Ese Odo, Okitipupa, Irele, Odigbo and Ile-Oluji/Oke igbo, in furtherance of his consultations with his people over his aspiration.
These were contained in a statement by the Director General of Ambassador Sola Iji Campaign Organisation, ASICO, Onibudo Wole Iroaye.
The former envoy had, a day earlier, at a meeting with the District’s All Progressives Congress party chairmen, promised to use his wide connections at the state, national and international levels, apart from the Senate, to attract development projects to the District from the NDDC, OSOPADEC and MDAs among others, if elected a Senator.
Besides, he had assured that as a Senator, he would use his clout and experience as a former State Party Chairman for many years, to help rebuild the party in the District.
However, at the Monday meeting with the council chairmen, Iji said: “I want to let you know that I am coming to inform our members that I will be contesting the 2023 South Senatorial Election,
“I am qualified not necessarily because of my scholarly achievements, but in respect of my involvement in building the party over the years.
“We need people that we can trust to represent us at the red chamber of the National Assembly; somebody with a level of commitment, who can give us adequate representation.
“All these qualifications are important because it is a serious business to be there and I am desirous of going there. It will be satisfying to me to sit with people who are already in the Senate and who are governors.
“I have the capacity and determination to represent our people’s interest. There are challenges in our District that have to be tackled, and we have to make things happen to address the problems confronting our District.
“These problems are numerous, but by the grace of God, they will be surmounted. I promise to work together and win together with the chairmen and members of the party.”
He pledged that the prevailing challenges in the District would be redressed if he is elected by the people to represent them in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Besides, he promised to work and address the problems of the District together with the people and attract federal presence to the area.
He appreciated the time taken by the council chairmen to attend the meeting despite their busy schedule, more so that the meeting held on the first day of the week.
Iji told them: “I acknowledge that you are the leaders of government at the third tier of government closest to the people and major influencers when it comes to the matter of seeking the mandate of the people and in terms of reaching out to them.
“The Leader of the state is the Governor. The leaders of governments at the local government level are the chairmen.”
In their response, the chairmen described Iji as a loyal party member and leader.
Iroaye said the chairmen agreed that Iji has all the qualities required to be at the Senate, that is, he is eminently qualified to be there.
Also, they described him as a labour leader and somebody who has had a long-term interaction with members of the party right from the days of the defunct AD.
They advised him to secure the assurance of the leaders at the top, noting that he is fortunate to have a DG who is a veteran politician.
Advising him to put a structure in place, the chairmen described Iji as a personality who fits into the Senate; and appealed to him to close ranks with leaders in the District.
The DG’s words: “They said that we cannot afford to lose the District to the opposition again; and that since Ambassador Iji has been in politics, he has never deviated from the progressive group.
“They also said that he fought for them to be where they are today; that he is a founding father of the party and a pioneer. They promised that they would not disappoint him.
“They said that he is a favoured person, and because of all these qualities, he will have their backing. They said: “This is your time, Ambassador, to get the ticket and deliver the District to the APC.”
Iroaye said that the chairmen saw their invitation to the meeting as recognition of their position in the party.
He said: “They saw this as a good sense of bringing people together and they admired him for being the first person to invite them in such a distinctive and strategic manner.
“He is a scholarly person, according to them, and being an Ambassador is an advantage for him to go into the Senate among his co-contestants.”
Besides, the chairmen advised Iji to push his aspiration diligently, as they assured him that his relationship with people with his character would speak for him.
According to the DG, the chairmen advised the ex-envoy to prepare for any method to be adopted by the party in conducting the primary; while they assured him that he has started well and he would end well.
His words: “They admonished him not to turn against them when he wins eventually; that he should carry them along as party members.
“They said that Ambassador Sola Iji, (ASI) is our project and as an Ambassador, he is eminently qualified; that all he needs now is prayer and he should make God his watchword.”
Earlier, while welcoming the chairmen to the meeting, Iroaye said the chairmen were invited to have an interface with Iji, about his intent to contest the South Senatorial Election that will come up in 2023.
He noted that the gathering would avail them the opportunity to hear about this ambition at first hand.
Besides, the meeting, he said, “will afford us to know what the council chairmen can do collectively and individually to help us to triumph with regard to this Divine mandate.”
He said that the task of carrying this through is beyond the campaign organization alone.
He said: “Therefore, going by the strategic nature of the offices of council chairmen, it becomes imperative for the Ambassador Sola Iji Campaign Organisation (ASICO) to work in unity with our council chairmen so that collectively, we can achieve a tremendously beneficial result as regards this Divine project.
“In sum, I will like to plead with our council chairmen to feel free to make useful contributions that will help us to realise the ambition of our principal, His Excellency, Ambassador Sola Iji (ASI).”
Iroaye told the chairmen: “This meeting is not only important, but it is also strategic. It is because of its strategic nature that it was called. Therefore, it is important at this point to express the sincere appreciation of His Excellency, Ambassador Sola Iji and his campaign organisation to our council chairmen for the honour which they accorded us today by their dignified presence at this meeting.
“As a former Secretary to the defunct Ilaje Ese Odo Local Government, apart from the other positions I have held in government, I am very much aware of the busy nature of the work of council chairmen.
“Therefore, for you to be here at this time of the day is a great sacrifice to the cause for which you have been invited here. We appreciate you for this sacrifice of love.”
