—-Reject govt of strangers
—- Set up a nine-man committee to evaluate aspirants
Leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, under the auspices of Ondo APC Aborigines, have kicked against commercialising of the party’s governorship primary slated for next month.
No fewer than 10 aspirants have signified their interest to pick the party’s ticket.
Addressing newsmen in Akure, their spokesperson, who was a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Togo, Ambassador Sola Iji, said that they do not want to repeat the mistake of the past.
Ambassador lji pointed out that they have set up a nine-man Committee to evaluate all governorship aspirants of the party for the purpose of picking the right aspirant to emerge as the party’s candidate for the November governorship election.
Iji said that “The nine-man Committee, headed by Hon Christy Olufowose, is to evaluate and present three aspirants for the APC Aborigines leaders to pick from.
He added that “the Aborigines wanted a government of the APC and not government of strangers.
According “the meeting was to enable the leaders harmonised their interests, pooled resources together so that they could choose the candidate of the party who would reflect their yearnings and aspirations
“This is a meeting of the foundation members of APC in Ondo State. We refer to ourselves as Aborigines members of the party.
“We are bringing together leaders of the party. Some of us have been working hard for the growth of the party and we think it is time for us to retake our party.
“People have toiled to make the party what it is. The resources of the party should be of benefit to the members and not for strangers.
“We are taking back our party to make sure we produce a government of the people and for the people.
That is the essence of this meeting. People have come from various local government. We have appointed people who will take a look at the aspirants.
“We are not going to give the ticket to anybody who will not put welfare of members of the party as a priority. We are not going to miss it this time.
“The candidate must recognise the owners of the party and not strangers. We will begin to assess those who are aspiring and we will make our choice known soonest.
“We want somebody committed and loyal to the party. We are correcting errors of the past. It was disaster in the state. We are repossessing the party.”
Also speaking a former deputy senate leader who represented the Northern senatorial district, Senator Ajayi Boroffice said loyalty to the party would be used to determine the aspirant to be supported by the group.
Boroffice added that ” Loyalty to the party should be considered. How long have you been in and out of the party? All those will be used to assess the aspirants.”
On his part, a Chieftain of the party in the state, Hon Bola Ilori said it was time to fight against commercialisation of the party.
Ilori declared that “We are after genuine interest of the party. This is an opportunity to change the narrative. We want to have a government we can talk to.”
Some of the leaders in attendance include a former National Welfare Secretary of defunct ANPP, Hon. Yunusa Adeola; former Ondo North Senatorial Chairman of AC, Alhaji Isa Oloruntoba; former Ondo South Senatorial Chairman of ACN, Hon Wale Akintimehin; Dr Femi Akingbola ;former State Chairman of defunct CPC, Hon. Lekan Obolo; pioneer State Secretary of APC, Hon. Raman Rotimi; Otunba Kelly Agboola; former State Women Leader of AD, Chief (Mrs) Grace Animola; former State Women Leader of ACN, Hon. ( Mrs) Kehinde Adeniran; former Deputy National Women Leader of defunct ANPP, Mrs Fagbamiye Abimbola; former Executive Chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government, Hon(Mrs) Folawe Sipasi-Aluko, former Commissioner for Regional lntegration and Diaspora Relations, Prince Boye Ologbese, Chief (Mrs) Mosun Odukale, Dr Jide Owoka Princes Sade Ogunoye, Rotimi Agbede and Bola Ajimuda amongst others.
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