Again Tinubu, Fashola, South-West APC govs shun Akeredolu’s Campaign rally in Akure

By Segun Ojo, Akure

It appears the All Progressives Congress (APC) was unable to manage the crisis that ensued after its governorship primary in Ondo State, which has sharply divided the party.

The crisis and division among stakeholders of the party were brought to the fore on Saturday at the Mega rally of the APC for its governorship candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (Akeredolu) whose emergence polarized the party.

National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola and three of the APC governors in the South-West were again absent at the rally held in Akure.

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and his counterparts from Lagos and Oyo, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, Senator Abiola Ajimobi respectively shunned the rally.

Fashola and the three governors who are loyalists of Tinubu are part of the APC campaign team for Akeredolu.

Mr Tinubu had accused the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, of manipulating the process that produced Akeredolu as candidate.

Saturday’s rally, the second major one boycotted by Mr. Tinubu and his loyalists, was, however, attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and governors of Imo, Plateau, Kano, Ogun, Jigawa, Edo, States.

CityMirrorNews observed that the crowd at the rally was not active compared to other APC rallies, and the 90 per cent of the participants were without broom, the symbol of the APC.

It was also noted that majority of the people at rally disregarded Akeredolu’s speech and moved out en-mass while speaking.

Speaking at the rally, the Chairman  APC Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, said all the governors of the party were behind the candidate of the of party, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

He said, “Ondo State must join the progressives states in Nigeria, therefore we must vote for him and he will win the election. Akeredolu rejected federal appointments because he loves you people. He wants to serve you, so vote for him.”

President Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki and National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun all enjoined the Ondo state electorates to vote for Akeredolu.