Osun 2018: Agitators For “Osun West” Zoning Selfish, Self-Serving – APC Elder, Ogunkeyede

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC in Osun, Otunba Olajumoke Ogunkeyede has described as sponsored, selfish and political fraud, the recent protests and agitation by some politicians that Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s successor should be picked from Osun West Senatorial District.

Otunba Olajumoke Ogunkeyede

Ogunkeyede said personal interests were the motive of the protests which drew protesters from Osun East and  Osun Central Senatorial Districts as well as Students of the State owned tertiary institutions.

Recall that, an array of youths had on Friday staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, the state capital over what they described as political marginalisation.

The demonstrators argued that Osun west senatorial district has been marginalised stressing the need for the APC leadership to pick the party’s flag bearer for the September 22 gubernatorial election from the zone.

However, the member of Osun APC elders caucus in an exclusive interview with CityMirrorNews berated the action, saying it was politically motivated.

Ogunkeyede who noted that every citizen in the state have equal chance to participate in politics said clamour for ‘West Lokan’ governorship slot does not represent fairness and justice as they were made to believe, saying  what is justice and equity was for political parties to provide a level playing field for all aspirants that is qualified to stake their chances based on their manifestoes.

He said, the protests do not hold as majority of the demonstrators were from the State Owned Higher Institutions.

According to him, “The people that organized the protest perpetrated political fraud. How can a group of people think they can be dictating  for our party Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun who has been in the system for many years.

Speaking on the position of some party elders on the zoning agitation, Ogunkeyede boasted that he is one of the leading members of Elders caucus of APC, saying the party leadership could not be coerced to deviate from the laid down rules and regulations of the party.

Ogunkeyede who frowned at the decision of some APC elders, demanding that the ticket be zoned to Osun West said such decision would not see the light of the day.

He cautioned the elders against working for their own personal interest, saying all the 29 aspirants are eligible to rule the State.

Ogunkeyede debunked the rumours making the rounds that the leadership of the party has agreed to zone the governorship ticket to the west senatorial district saying the move is dangerous to having a free and fair primary election of the party.

He said, ”Why is it that only eleven people call themselves Agba Osun claiming zoning of the governorship ticket to Osun west. They want to be the mouthpiece of the larger Osun leadership that am part of. I don’t know when they met. I want them to mention names of those who were present at the meeting and the place.

He noted that the zoning arrangement is not stipulated in the constitution of the party, just as he emphasized on the supremacy of the party on any matter.

He, however, lauded the present administration under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for opening the state to an industrialized environment because of the remarkable infrastructural development within seven and half years.

He further said, ”Many people wish to succeed Aregbesola from office because of the good legacies he is leaving behind to elevate the state among the comity of states in Nigeria.

According to him, “Everybody want to be part of the glory of Aregbesola led administration in the state and that is the reason why we have many aspirants that are jostling to win the party’s ticket for the September 22 gubernatorial election in the state.

“Whoever wishes to resume office after Aregbesola should allow the chairman with all executives and delegates of the party to discharge their duties without any influence of zoning agenda”, the APC Elder stated.