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  • Vote for Abraham, Akintelure, Akinola urge delegates

    The former deputy governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the last governorship poll, Dr Paul Akintelure, and Akinyinka Akinola have urged delegates to vote for Dr. Olusegun Abraham.

    Abrahama, a businessman from the North Senatorial District, has been endorsed by many top leaders of the party.

    The strong backing for Abraham has generated a lot of ripples among the aspirants, culminating in the purported removal of the chairman of the party, Chief Isaac Kekemeke.

    But, the national leadership has have settled the rift.

    At a joint meeting that lasted for hours at Segun Abraham’s house in Akure, Akintelure, who was the running mate Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, reiterated his belief in the ability of Abraham to deliver the state from ruin.

    He said the realignment was a fallout of the swift intervention of the National Executive Council of the party to resolve the seemingly intractable crisis in the party among the contending forces to douse the tension and buoy the party’s strength to win the poll.

    Akintelure, who hails from Okitipupa, Ondo South Senatorial District, said every staunch member of the party must make sacrifice for the APC to emerge victorious in the election.

    He said: “This is a sacrifice every reliable member of the party must make for us to win this election. We must be cohesive and formidable enough to confront the PDP. No reasonable politician and opposition party will go into a poll with a polarized house, this is illogical and it doesn’t appeal to commonsense.

    “Aside from that, Mr Abraham is a man of impeccable character. He has remained steadfast in the progressive fold since 1999, when the Alliance for Democracy was formed. And in 2012, he stepped down for ACN Candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, so the time has come for him to reap the fruit of his labour.

    “Abraham served in the government of the late Chief Adebayo Adefarati. He understands the terrain and Ondo Economic strength and weaknesses, so I have no doubt that he has the capacity to rejuvenate Ondo’s economy and make it the economic hub in southwest Nigeria unlike what we are witnessing now under Governor Mimiko”, he said.

    Also, Akinola, from Ondo town, Ondo Central Senatorial district, said he took the action in the spirit of sportsmanship and reconciliation in APC and to further exhibit his avowed commitment to the course of the party.

  • Let’s play by the rule, says Abraham

    Let’s play by the rule, says Abraham

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Dr. Segun Abraham has appealed to other aspirants to play by the rules at the primary holding on Saturday.

    Abraham warned that circumventing the rules guiding the primary would jeopardise the party’s victory during the November 26 poll.

    The APC chieftain stated this in a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of his campaign organisation, Sayo Aluko, in Akure, the state capital.

    Abraham said the party supremacy and the rules guiding the conduct of the primary  would douse the tension triggered by the fear of imposition.

    He said APC, being a party  that has enormous respect for the rule of law, must set a good example for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by holding a transparent primary.

    He described  aspirants, who are still nursing the fear of imposition, in spite of the assurances from the zonal and national leaders as pretenders, as politicians without electoral value.

    Abraham lamented the contempt by some aspirants for the leaders of the party in recent times, saying such an act was capable of  portraying the party as a haven of rascals and belligerent people, who have no modicum of respect  for party supremacy.

    He added: “The APC is a party of light and it has become a pacesetter in the political history of our dear nation by being the first party to present a presidential candidate that defeated an incumbent president, I mean President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Voting for us was as a result of the qualities they see in our members as being better off, in terms of organization, respect for party supremacy and the rule of law. We should not be seen as a bunch of rascals. We should not be desperate or exhibit actions that could make the PDP better than us in the eyes of Nigerians.

    “The conduct of primary is simply the task of a political party, which should be a family affair rather than a war- like affair that some of the aspirants have been portraying the situation in our party to be.

    “It is disheartening that some of our aspirants, who should be seen as role models decided to throw caution to the winds over rumour that certain candidate was about to be imposed. This is mischievous and highly disappointing.”

  • Why Abraham is good for APC, by party leaders

    Why Abraham is good for APC, by party leaders

    TWO leaders of Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Taiwo Malumi and Dr. Paul Akintelure, have explained why a governorship aspirant in Saturday’s primary, Olusegun Abraham, will pick the party’s governorship ticket for the November poll.

    They spoke last weekend while addressing APC delegates at the Igbokoda headquarters of Ilaje Local Government.

    Malumi said the Ikare-born technocrat and businessman is “a square peg in a square hole”, who will sustain the party’s progressive stance.

    The party’s senatorial leader said statewide acceptance of Abraham showed that he would win with high margin as the APC flagbearer.

    His words: “Our party prides itself on singling out the best heads for positions of responsibility. And, as far as Ondo is concerned, its economy is in need of someone who can produce results based on evident economic experience. Abraham is a successful businessman, who will get the best deals that will profit Ilaje and Ondo.

    “I do not support losers. I’ve known him for a while. I know he also doubles as a technocrat with the highest hands-on experience and professionalism among the aspirants, at a level sufficient enough to use what we have in our state to transform Ondo to the Amsterdam of Africa. We must vote for him, and with the acceptance the state has given him, I’m sure he will win by a wide margin”, Malumi stated.

    Akintelure, another leader in the neighbouring Okitipupa Local Government and a fellow aspirant who stepped down for Abraham, said what Ondo needs “is politics of economy, not politics of power”.

    He added this is why most delegates are embracing the Abraham option ahead of the Saturday primary election.

    Akintelure added: “I am a medical doctor with diverse interests in other sectors, such as agriculture, human capacity development, and hospitality and I understand this exigent need for states to diversify in this era of dwindling oil fortunes to stay afloat.

    “That is why I bow to the talent in this guy, Olusegun Abraham, he is a perfect fit for the task at hand in Ondo. He has proven his worth at excelling in business and infrastructure in and outside Nigeria. He has the needed amount of exposure to unlock our blessings in Ondo

    “To be honest, I believe all the aspirants who showed an interest to bear our party’s flag are competent. But considering the scale of preference of priorities in Ondo, one would naturally and with wisdom select the Abraham option. The priorities in Ondo include wealth creation, job creation and a sustainable economy. Abraham has the highest level of experience in this regard and it explains why our national leaders and most delegates embrace him.”

    Akintelure berated some of the party members who are displeased by the stream of endorsements Abraham got so far.

    “We must condemn this hypocrisy and charlatan politicking depicted by those against valid endorsement of an aspirant, all of us at one point or the other sought these endorsements for our aspiration.

    “Why then cry foul when there is none? The fact remains that we have to present our strongest candidate to successfully unseat this monster PDP government in Ondo State, and judging by this overwhelming acceptance so far, I believe Abraham will win by a wide margin on Saturday.”

     

  • Ondo indigenes in Ibadan back Abraham

    An Oyo State based group of Ondo State indigenes, the Ondo State Frontliners Group, has urged delegates to the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) slated for Saturday to vote en masse for Dr. Segun Abraham.

    The group, at an emergency meeting on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, endorsed Abraham because of “his consistency, humane, collaborative and participatory principles”, which he has been demonstrating ever before he was drafted to the governorship race.

    In a statement signed by the president of the group, Prof. Adekaye Olomola, the group noted that unlike some of the other contestants that have jumped from one political party to the other, Abraham has remained with the party from foundation.

    “We would like to remind the delegates that such political leaders that are unstable when pursuing their ambitions always ended up as emperor when they eventually get the position,” the group said.

    The group said it could not replace an emperor with another emperor because it would spell doom for the state.

    The group said its endorsement of Abraham was based on his antecedent as a successful international private investor, industrialist andphilanthropist, who is truthful and has the fear of God.

    The statement added: “It is such antecedents that are needed at this critical time to lead Ondo State back as a shining light among all other states in Nigeria.

    “We implore the delegates not to be threatened by the antics of some of the contestants that are sponsoring violence and crying foul after all their attempts to woo national party leaders failed. The APC since the days of AD has been a formidable party in Ondo State, and those that joined the party in 2012 for opportunistic openings cannot claim to have made the party what it is today in Ondo State.”

  • Akure APC delegates rally support for Abraham

    Akure APC delegates rally support for Abraham

    Ahead of next week primaries for the All Progressives Congress(APC)aspirants in Ondo State,delegates in Akure North local government area of the state have resolved to give maximum support to an aspirant,Chief Olusegun Abraham to represent the party in the November 26 governorship poll.

    Speaking on their behalf, a party leader in the local government, Barrister Olu Akinola, said the delegates’ decision to rally round Abraham, is to identify with the fact that the state needs someone like the a renowned investor to uplift the state among its counterparts across the federation.

    According to him”Even in states not as naturally blessed as Ondo State, salaries are not owed, and infrastructure is not as dead as it is in Ondo presently. But, here we are, with a government and people who are forced to battle cluelessly with poverty amidst plenty.

    “This is why it is easy for the party, the delegates and the people to identify with the candidacy of Olusegun Abraham, a man who has proven himself through his track record on how to create wealth via savvy business skills.

    “He has proven through his campaign style to have a keen eye and informed desire to unlock our dormant wealth in Ondo state.”

    Sources said a handful of the 25 governorship aspirants have concluded arrangements to step down for Abraham.

    According to a chieftain of the  party leader who spoke in confidence, 10 aspirants have reached an agreement to back the Ikare-born enterpreneur which will be made public soon.

    It would be recalled that the party in the state was thrown into confusion following a rumour that the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had imposed Abraham on party members.

    However,a member of ‘O Abraham’ campaign organisation said” the present development has shown that the Aspirant had always enjoyed a degree of acceptance in the party and across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    He said Abraham was being compensated with his unshaken loyalty to the progressives party.

     

  • South senatorial leaders back Abraham

    South senatorial leaders back Abraham

    THE bid by Olusegun Abraham to be candidate of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) received a boost yesterday when notable party leaders in the district gave him their support.

    They were optimistic about his ability to revive the economy.

    The party leaders declared their position at Irele, Ese-Odo, Apoi and Igbotu, where delegates from Ilaje and Ikare had gathered.

    One of them, who is a former APC senatorial candidate, Morayo Lebi, described Abraham as the only candidate with evident abilities to give the state what it needed most at the moment – a better economy.

    He said: “Abraham is a businessman; an international one at that, who can rework and revive our economy. In simple terms, he is the only aspirant we know can turn our one kobo to one naira in Ondo State. More importantly, I trust him as a person of integrity, and I trust him to deliver in Ondo State.”

    One of the governorship aspirants, Dr. Paul Akintelure, who stepped down for Abraham, reiterated Lebi’s stance by stressing the need to rescue Ondo State,

    He added that it was why he stepped down for Abraham.

    “My dear people, we must not deceive ourselves. This is the time for the right discernment, and we must not miss it. You all know me well, that I will not just make a brash decision without thorough consideration and assessment. My decision to support Olusegun Abraham is because of you and me and all of Ondo.”

    He added: “Our economy is in a shambles, and the livelihood of our people has been depleted greatly because of this. So, it is only commonsensical to elect a practical and productive businessman to lead us this time around.

    “We all know that Olusegun Abraham is that aspirant with the most understanding of how to do this. I can assure you that this is the reason why he’s got the support of our party leaders. They want someone who will achieve results and make our party proud, and we must also support him as well-meaning Ondo citizens.”

    An ex-party chairman, a former governorship aspirant, Sola Iji, warned delegates not to elect a candidate not experienced in creating wealth and generating revenue.

    “The matter on ground is no joke, my people, it is no joke at all. In Olusegun Abraham, we have an aspirant, who will use his experience to help put life into our economy and make us happy again,” he said.

  • APC aspirant drops bid to back Abraham

    a fellow governorship aspirant on the platform of Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Paul Akintelure, has declared support for a frontline aspirant, Olusegun Abraham.

    Akintelure, at a delegates’ meeting at the weekend in Odigbo Local Government, identified Abraham as a true party man and the potential governor, who will transform Ondo State.

    The aspirant, who told the party’s delegates he had decided to drop his ambition, stressed that “any delegate’s vote not cast for Abraham in the primary is a wasted vote”.

    “The reason why I am here today to support my brother, Olusegun Abraham, is out of true interest for the people of Ondo State. I and some other fellow aspirants are resolved to embrace what’s best for our state ahead of the election.

    “We will defeat the PDP, and all of us must present the best shot at achieving that,” said Akintelure.

    He added: “To achieve an Ondo that works, I assure you that Abraham is the way. Every well-meaning delegate should see the importance of voting for an aspirant, who has the highest and most-fitting competence quotient to transform Ondo State, especially our economy, from penury to buoyancy.”

    When asked why he is stepping down to back Abraham, the APC chieftain hinged the reason on his interest in the people’s welfare.

    He said: “The truth is that it can be quite painful to drop my ambition to serve my people to support my brother.”

     

  • ‘Abraham did not sponsor thugs to party secretariat’

    A report that the governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state,  Olusegun Abraham, sponsored thugs to disrupt a protest at the party’s secretariat has been debunked. The Director-general of the Olusegun Abraham Campaign organization, Prince Olu Adegboro said the report is  false and ridiculous.

    Adegboro described the report “ a desperate lie aimed at berating a finished work. Firstly, Olusegun Abraham is not a violent man at all, a very sophisticated man focused on the ideology of peace, a loyal party man who will never subscribe to the option of violence at any instance. So, any spurious report bandied around by some desperados is simply false and ridiculous; and is aimed at distracting the entire delegates from focusing on a free, fair and credible primary election”.

    He recalled that a pocket of aggrieved party memebers 4 laid siege on the party’s secretariat on Monday to express their displeasure over the rumours of candidate imposition by a national leader of the party.

    Adegboro noted that the rumour turned out to be false, as the APC National headquarters has insisted in a statement that the primary election will be free, fair and credible.

    The Olusegun Abraham Campaign Organisation absolved its principal from thuggery. It said: “Olusegun Abraham is a longstanding progressive loyalist who will never contribute to any anti-party activity that will dent the party in anyway or deny the unity of the party. Olusegun Abraham remains focused on the upcoming free, fair and transparent primary election that will be conducted the our great party in Ondo state”.

     

  • Akoko APC elders back Abraham

    THE Akoko Elders Assembly (AEA) of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed Chief Segun Abraham, one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of the party from the division, as its candidate for the November 26 polls.

    Its Chairman, Chief Felix Ayegbusi, told reporters that the elders’ decision was hinged on their interest in the growth of Akokoland and Ondo State.

    Abraham, who hails from Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North Federal Constituency, contested for the seat on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2012 before the party’s leadership picked Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as its party candidate.

    Ayegbusi said the group’s decision was without sentiments.

    The APC chieftain said the group hinged its resolution on the fact that former Governor Adebayo Adefarati, ex-deputy governor Ali Olanusi; former Speaker Victor Olabimtan and the incumbent Senator Ajayi Boroffice are from Akoko South.

    Ayegbusi said there was the need to guard against dissipating energy, wasting resources and splitting support from party loyalists on almost 10 aspirants from Akoko division.

    Ayegbusi said the elders had not stopped any aspirant from contesting or infringing on their rights.

    But he stressed that it was logical to present a candidate from the division to contest with others during the primary election after which the candidate would emerge.

    He maintained that the APC elders wanted the best for Akokoland, saying: “All of us are Akoko indigenes; we are genuinely and earnestly in need of the governorship ticket.”

    Ayegbusi noted that since APC leadership had maintained that there would be no zoning, each division is strategising to secure the ticket for its area.

    He stressed that the elders endorsed Abraham from Akoko North Federal Constituency for equality and justice.

    He added that since Akoko division has two parts, the one that had been favoured most should give opportunity to the other.

    Aspirants from Akoko South are Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Victor Olabimtan and Foluso Adefemi.

    Those in the North division are Chief Abraham, Dr. Tunji Abayomi and Ganny Dauda.

  • Why Ondo ‘ll not vote PDP, by Abraham

    Why Ondo ‘ll not vote PDP, by Abraham

    Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Dr. Segun Abraham spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU in Lagos on his ambition, his plans for the state, chances at the primary and preparations for the poll.

    When are you paying for your Expression of Interest/Nomination Form?

    The party has asked the aspirants to pay a N2 million development levy each to support the party. But, last week, I also obtained my nomination form.

    What is the development levy about? Is the party broke?

    It is not about the party being broke. As a responsible party chieftain, I owe it a duty to support the party to be able to carry out its activities. I am at the forefront of giving financial assistance to the party to carry out its assignments. I have always generously given financial assistance to the party at the ward, local government and state levels. I have not relented in doing it. In 2012, I was a governorship aspirant in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Apart from spending enormous resources on mobilisation for the election, I continued to support the candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, after I was asked to step down for him. I am a disciplined member of the party. I have been in the party since the beginning and all through, unlike those who defected to the party from other parties. After he emerged as the candidate, I donated all my 24 buses to his campaign and my efforts contributed to the votes he garnered during the election. So, we owe it a duty to the party to always support it financially to make the party more formidable.

    How are you faring in the race?

    I am faring better in the race. I am waxing stronger on daily basis, gaining acceptance in every district, constituency, local government and ward. My intention is not to enter politics to make money, but to contribute my quota to the development of the state through diligent service. Ondo State is agonising. Our people are suffering, despite the abundant of resources available in the state. The state government is owing five month arrears of salaries to workers. We have no reason to be poor in Ondo State. Our state should not be depending on the Federal Government’s allocation for survival. At this crucial time, our state needs a governor who understands the economy, a leader who can tackle the economic challenges and reposition the state, create employment and wealth and bridge the loopholes. We need a governor who can channel the resources of the state to its development in a proper manner, a leader who can attract investment and judiciously use the resources of the state for its development in a proper manner.

    I am on the field appealing to delegates with a message of home and assurance. They know me and they trust me. I have a solid structure across the local governments. People know that I am not in the race to corner the resources of the state. Everywhere I go, and my name is mentioned, they say that Abraham’s blessing has come.  I have been receiving the endorsement of the various groups and associations.

    Could you shed light on the position of the Akoko APC leaders on rotation or zoning?

    In Ondo North Senatorial District, there are two axis-Owo/Ose and Akoko. Owo has produced a governor, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin. The apex Akoko Elders Forum has endorsed my candidature. The assembly is influential in Akokoland. It was the forum that insisted that Adefarati should be supported for the governor. It was the forum that advised Boroffice to contest against Olajumoke on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) to defeat the PDP. The forum has now zoned the governor to Akoko North. In its belief, the South has produced a governor and senator before. the North has not produce any governor and senator. The endorsement was unanimous. Out of 24 members, 19 people participated in the endorsement. Two were absent because they were indisposed. One of them had a flat tyre on his way to the meeting. There was no dissenting voice. They did it based on equity, justice and fairness.

    How can crisis be averted during the APC governorship primary?

    Some of the guidelines are out now. The aspirants know themselves. The leadership of our party has assured that there will be no imposition of candidate; that we will have a credible and transparent primary. We are warming up. The aspirants are also meeting. Our party will promote fairness, justice and equity. The aspirants will know their fate when delegates vote at the primary. There will be no crisis because our party is a party of decency, justice, equity and fair play.

    What is this rumour about the endorsement of a particular candidate all about?

    It is a tissue of lies. Our national and zonal leaders have not endorsed any candidate. People are peddling rumours, telling lies and fabricating all sorts of things. Instead of going to the field to sell himself, a particular candidate has been going round deceiving the people and himself about an imaginary endorsement by our leaders. It is not true. That is their trademark. They are panicking. They are afraid because of the tough challenges ahead.

    But, is consensus candidacy feasible?

    That will be decided by the people. If the people say they want a particular candidate, we will have no problem with that. But, the party will not force or impose any candidate on the people.