Osun 2018: Agitation For West Senatorial District Persists As Aregbesola Visits Zone

The quest and agitation for Osun West Senatorial District to produce the next governor in the state became more intensified , especially amongst members of All Progressives Congress as Governor Rauf Aregbesola visited the zone as part of the his scheduled tour to all the three senatorial districts in Osun.

The Goodwill/sensitization visits was originally conceived in the state to intimate party faithful on the need to be on guard and get set to battle the Peoples Democratic Party and other political parties in the forthcoming gubernatorial poll.

The visits right from the maiden edition held at Ife to Ilesha and Ila Orangun had been dotted with evident campaign of governorship hopefuls under the banner of the All Progressive Congress.

It was the turn of Ede federal constituency on Wednesday just as party members thronged the venue with one unified agenda; To ask governor Aregbesola to cede the governorship slot to Osun west senatorial district.

Speakers one after the other canvassed, charged ,begged and placed reasons to the governor why Osun west must produce the next governor.

From the party leader Alhaji Sule Alao, to the Member representing Egbedore state constituency in the state House of Assembly Honourable Abiodun Awolola, all were unanimous in their quest that the party’s governorship ticket should be zoned to Osun west.

The clamour got to a point that the slogan of the party was discarded. At the calling of APC, the chanting response of “change” was substituted for the thunderous chorus of “West L’okan” literally meaning its the turn of west to produce governor.

The speaker ,Osun state House of Assembly Rt.Honourable Najeem Salam in his address prayed to God to grant Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the Party chairman Prince Gboyega Famodun the required wisdom to steer the affairs of the party at this critical period. Salam who also hails from Osun west however cautioned supporters of different aspirants not to demarket the party in the name of supporting an aspirant. He added that all insignias of any aspirant must not be seen on any supporter while the governors’ visit will last in the senatorial district.

While the norm in earlier visits was to admonish the governor and declare support for his final decision, that of Ede was different as though the people gave their support for the governor, they were however resolute and loud in their quest to produce Aregbesola’s successors

Responding, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said he was determined to uphold the ethics and principles of democracy as practiced in advanced nations of the world and in tandem with the constitution of his party, All progressives congress APC to conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible primary to elect the party`s candidate ahead of the September 22nd 2018 gubernatorial election.

Aregbesola said that the party would conduct primaries for all aspirants, saying all contestants would be given a playing level ground.

“It is good to respond to the demands for zoning made by all the speakers here today, however I want to say that the timing and place of making such demand is totally wrong but I am not angry as you have only expressed your desire”, the Governor responded.

Speaking further, the state helmsman noted that the party will conduct primaries for all the aspirants but what is more important is for the party to retain the seat of power, irrespective of the zone from which such candidate emerges from, so that the visionary development of his administration can be sustained and improved upon.

He charged all members of the party to return to their local communities, wards and polling booths to mobilize and convince the electorates with the many achievements of his government, with the assurance that there is an assured future for prosperity if an APC candidate succeeds him in office.

As the train moves to Ikire today, it is expected that the tempo will either be maintained or even get louder than that of Ede.

Governorship hopefuls from Osun west in APC include Adelere Oriolowo, Benedict Alabi, Moshood Adeoti (SSG) among many others.