Do Not Support Akeredolu’s Second Term Bid, Group Begs APC National Leadership

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

As the governorship election is drawing near in Ondo State, a group within the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC), ‘Integrity Group’, has urged the national leadership of the party not to support the second term bid of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu base on his performance in last three years in the state.

The group, however, described the present situation under the Akeredolu- led administration as depressive, stressing that residents in the state know Akeredolu more better than individuals at the national body.

A statement signed by its Coordinator, Sunday Ogunmola and made available to journalists in Akure at the weekend alleged that the governor has performed woefully in terms of infrastructure in the state.

The group, particularly urged the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, against supporting Governor Akeredolu’s second term bid.

The statement reads, “We are compelled to write this open letter to you because of the precarious state of affairs of the state under Governor Akeredolu.

“There is no doubt that you are globally acknowledged as the best Political Game Changer in Nigeria because God himself has used you to survive several political adversities and has also used you to install hundreds of State and Federal Lawmakers, Senators, Governors, and President.

“This is unprecedented in political history of Nigeria and this is the major reason we direct this letter to you, not only because of your political sagacity but also our tradition in Yoruba land which teaches us to respect leaders (“Asiwaju”) and also to call them to order if they choose wrong path.

“We have chosen this medium to reach out to you due to the feelers we are getting that you and Chief Bisi Akande, the former Governor of Osun state are supporting the reelection of Akeredolu, we intend to bring to your notice in the full glare of the Nigeria public the government of Akeredolu and his family members.”

“God has blessed you beyond your widest imagination and it will be disservice to Oduduwa land if the entire Ondo State people see you from the bottom of their hearts as the albatross and source of their agony if you support Akeredolu for second term as Ondo State Governor.

“In 2012, you made him an ‘unpopular’ candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate which gingered him to come back and win the 2016 APC Governorship Primary Election with the help of John Odigie- Oyegun’s rigging strategy.

“Many people are blaming you today for the over 38 percent students of Adekunle Ajasin University who have been forced out of school and dropped their educational programmes due to the over 300 percent increment in their tuition fees. Dr Olusegun Agagu University of Technology Okitipupa, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo and other higher institutions of learning in Ondo State are no more havens for the children of the poor where to acquire knowledge due to the man you introduced into Ondo politics in 2012.

“The expectant mothers in Ondo State are no more happy with you because of the man you imposed as ACN Candidate in 2012.

“The Mother and Child Hospital where they used to have access to free childbirth delivery including the caesarean section service has turned into big venture for personal gains.

“We have listed all the reasons why we should not allow Governor Akeredolu to smear your good name in his already failed second term bid. Over 30, 000 signatories from Ondo State have agreed to come together and raise a “Yellow Card” to stop you, Chief Akande and others from allowing Governor Akeredolu to dent your good image.”

The group also alleged that Akeredolu is the sole architect of it all for sponsoring Action Alliance (AA) candidates against the ruling party candidates, which led to the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general election.

In view of this, Ogunmola, however, begged the leadership of the party not to support the incumbent governor and those he used in Action Alliance (AA) to destroy APC in Ondo State.

But, in his reaction, the APC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, described the ‘Integrity Group’ as faceless organisation being sponsored by enemies of the ruling APC and the opposition to break the cohesion within the party ahead of the governorship poll in few months’ time.

Otaloro said, “Why would they be telling all kind of lies against the governor if they’re not intimidated about the achievement of Akeredolu in the last three years on. They’re pretending to be a member of our party but indirectly destroying the very fabrics of our party value before the electorate who are going to return us back to power.

“We know their antics, they have failed in the past and they will continue to fail in their mission of destruction”.

He, therefore, urged party stakeholders to be more concerned with transparency and fairness of the coming primary exercise and not the support of any non-voting national leaders.

“Our party primary will be free, fair and transparent and whoever wins will be APC flagbearer in October 10 governorship election in Ondo state, and by the special grace of God the people will vote to return our party to government,” Otaloro said.