Osun Guber Poll: Group stages Peaceful Protest, Reiterates Stance On ‘West Agenda’

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

Some members of All Progressive Congress (APC) under the aegis of Osun Continuity movement on Friday staged a peaceful rally in Osogbo, insisting that the party must zone its governorship ticket to Osun West Senatorial District in the state.

In the last few months, many indigenes of the West Senatorial have been agitating that the district should be allowed to produce Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s successor.

As a result of the agitation, the party’s primary slated for Saturday had been postponed till a later date.

The party members, who carried placards with various inscriptions, staged the rally from the popular Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, and moved through Okefia to Alekuwodo and Olaiya before they finally terminated it at APC party secretariat.

Some of the inscriptions on the placard includes ; “No cheating, West is Okay”, “we must encourage equal political stability”, “rotational leadership, affirmation action”, among others.

Addressing the mammoth crowd who had earlier converge d at the popular Nelson Mandela Freedom before embarked on the protest, Mr Miftah Saheed, the spokesman for the group, said for the sake of fairness, equity and justice, the zone should be allowed to produce the next governor.

According to Saheed, going by the history of governance in the state, Osun Central had governed the state for more than 11 years while East spent 8 years in governance.

He said the West Senatorial District had only spent 22 months in governing the state.

” It is worth of note that Osun West Senatorial District remains the only zone that had not produced a governor since the return of democratic rule in 1999.

The leadership pattern of the governorship seat shows clear inequality. Osun Central eleven and half years, Osun East eight years, Osun West has only been in the saddle for twenty two months”

“The democracy within parties and in society is about the triumph of the will of the majority. The voice of the people is the voice of God.”

” The zone must be supported to produce the next governor. We have competent candidate that can do the job, Saheed said.

He added that if APC failed to pick its candidate from the west, any other political party that picked its candidate from the west would be supported by the people of the zone.

He therefore, enjoined the party leadership and all the stakeholders to come into the reckoning with the overwhelming wish of the majority rather than ride roughshod over it.

Addressing the demonstrators at the party Secretariat after recieving their letter, the party Secretary, Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile promised them to deliver their message to the party leaders.