Settle For The Most Popular Candidate -Osun Speaker Appeals To APC Leadership

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, who is also one of the leading gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of All Progressives Congress(APC) for the September 22 governorship poll in the state has appealed to the leadership the party to look for the most popular candidate to fly the flag of the party.

Rt Hon. Najeem Salaam Presenting His Manifestos to the Party Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun

He made the appeal while officially declaring his intention to contest the election on Thursday at the party Secretariat of APC in Osogbo, the osun state capital.

He emphasised the need for party stakeholders to map out an unquantified winning permutation to enable the party emerge victorious, even as he warned that money alone cannot win election in any clime.

“What should be of paramount importance to stakeholders of our party is profound wining permutation to enable us emerge in flying colours.

“Possession of deep pocket alone is not enough for consideration of a candidate. Sense of humanity, act of generosity, popularity among the party members and accessibility to the people should be some of the attributes needed to be considered in who will be the flag bearer of our party “.

Reiterating his stance on the West zone of the state to produce the candidate of the party, Salaam said “in the interest of fairness, justice and equity, Osun West should be allowed to produce the next governor from our party”.

He Recalled that the late Isiaka Adeleke who came from the West only spent 22 months as Governor of the state, adding that Chief Bisi Akande spent four years followed by Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s two terms from the Central.

The leader of the state parliament noted further that the East where Governor Rauf Aregbesola came from, would complete their two terms of eight years in November after the expiration of his tenure.

He prayed for the executive of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the selection of party’s candidate for the September 22 governorship election.

He said he was aware that the executives of the party are confused with the situation of things, praying that God will guide them in selecting a good candidate for the party.

“I know that you are at a confused stage in this matter, God will guide you in selecting a candidate that will win the election for our party”.

He however denied social media reports that he has collected money to step down for a particular aspirant , saying the report was “fake and baseless”.

He explained that the meeting he held in Lagos with Aregbesola, Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state, and the Chairman of the party in the state, Prince Gboyega Famoodun, was based on how to ensure victory of the party in the coming election.

Reacting to the allegation of incompetency, Salaam boasted that he is eminently qualified to govern the state with his experience from councilor to the number three citizen in the state.

He therefore appreciated the people of the state for their unalloyed support for his aspiration as worthy successor of Governor Aregbesola whom he commended for transforming the state beyond the expectation within the space of seven and half years.

Salaam promised the people of the state, security of lives and property, qualitative education, food security, and many more.

In his remarks, Prince Gboyega Famodun, the APC state Chairman, said the party would give all the aspirants a level playing ground during the primary.

Famodun commended Salaam for coming out to declare his intention for the governorship position.