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Tag: aspirant

  • Aspirant promises 25,000 jobs

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Muyiwa Coker, has said promised to create 25,000 jobs through mechanised farming.

    Coker said 200,000 hectares of land are needed for the project.

    The Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and stock market trader, said he is contacting some partners working with the United Nations on the establishment of an integrated agricultural initiative specially tailored for Ekiti.

    “We plan to establish mechanised farms which would process farm produce for consumption by our people and create employment and wealth. We hope to provide jobs for at least 25,000 youths immediately the project kicks off across the State,” he said.

    He planned to revive the educational sector of Ekiti State with massive investments from partners in the United Kingdom.

    “We need to think of how we can make money for Ekiti without depending on allocation from the Federal Government.  There are lots of resources in Ekiti that can spin lots of money for the general well-being of the people. All we need to do is work together with one mind.  The time to work is now. We need to use our votes to change the way things are in Ekiti. Politicians will come with money to induce you. You must always remember the future of our state and of our children.  Use your votes and use them right, vote for credible candidates,” he said.

    Coker said his coming into politics “is to harness the vast resources scattered all over Ekiti for the benefit of our people. As far back as 2015, I made up my mind to do all I can to help the party and the state. I have been in the fore front of covering the nakedness of the party at a time no one was there for the party in the state. It is now time to move the state forward.

    “We only need to think out of the box. We need leaders who have the knowledge of managing resources. That is what I am bringing into government. I am an accountant and a trained stock exchange trader. I work with Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun as a Senior Special Assistant. I have been part of the team since inception of his administration in Ogun State. I have developed templates to work with in Ekiti State based on my relationship with the government.

    “We only need to put them to work in Ekiti. Take for instance the huge debt of Ekiti, we can spread it. We can restructure the finances of the state. As a trained stock exchange trader, there are lots of instruments that we can play with to offset our debt that will benefit the state on the long run. There is need to restructure the finances of the state for it to become attractive to investors. It is my field, I know what to do and I am requesting for the necessary support to get there”.

  • I will tackle unemployment in Ekiti, says aspirant

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant for the coming election in Ekiti State, Mrs. Yaya Kolade, has said she will tackle unemployment if she becomes the governor.

    Kolade, who spoke at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja yesterday, said she would create jobs for youths, adding that she was in the race to improve people’s well-being.

    She said if elected, her administration would improve health care standard to make it be at par with that of Lagos State. “I’ve already put in place, long and short term plans to develop Ekiti and better people’s lives,” Mrs. Kolade added.

    She said she would ensure women emancipation, noting that although she did not have a political godfather, she was not threatened by any political bigwig.

    The aspirant hoped that she would get the party´s ticket at the primary election slated for May 5.

    She said she had the backing of women and generality of the people.

  • Group in prayer session for Osun guber aspirant

    A socio-cultural group in   Osun State has offered prayers for the emergence of a competent and determined candidate to succeed the incumbent governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, so as to continue his laudable projects scattered across the state.

    The group concluded that Engineer Oriolowo is fit for the exalted office, thus another prayer session was rendered to ensure he emerges the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The prayer session was held by the leadership and members of the Osun People’s Alliance (OPA) yesterday morning at Igboya in Ile Ife as part of the sensitization of the citizenry on the need for a sound person to take over from Aregbesola and especially the choice of  Oriolowo in parts of the Ife Ijesha Senatorial District.

    Briefing a few selected news men at the end of the special prayer, the Publicity Secretary of the OPA, Oloye Olalekan Abegunde, disclosed that the idea was out of the concern of his group for a progressive element as the next governor of the state and from interaction so far , the pendulum is still favourable to Oriolowo, thus the need to seek God in the task ahead.

    He said: “ His is a continuation of a series of interaction and sensitization of the people of Osun State on the need for another progressive governor to succeed Aregbesola. We are in the Ife Ijesha Senatorial District now, and we ‘ve covered parts  comprising Ife North, Central and South and East. We have decided to take the prayer to Olodumare by seeking his guidance for a sincere and pragmatic candidate to succeed the outgoing governor.

    “We are praying that the most popular among them,  Oriolowo, who currently enjoys massive support from the rural areas will emerge victorious at the primary of the ruling party. So far so good, we are still continuing the sensitization in other parts of the Ife Ijesha District   and we will ensure that we conclude in Osun West before the primary election of the APC.”

  • ‘Amosun has right to back an aspirant’

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s media aide Soyombo Opeyemi spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on the succession battle in the Gateway State. 

    What  is the assurance that Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his team will not be distracted by the 2019 succession battle?

    That is a loaded question, with some slant to it. I agree 2019 is around the corner and there are lawful political activities here and there, not campaigns. But in my own state, governance has not come to a halt. As a matter of fact, the tempo of services to the people of Ogun State continues to increase by the day. Just recently, you read about the rice revolution in the state. Rice, of course, is a major staple in the country. I do not know of a house where rice is not consumed almost on a daily basis. If you don’t eat, your children will eat.  It doesn’t make sense for us to continue to spend two billion dollars yearly on rice importation, thereby developing the economies of other countries. We can eat what we grow. We can grow what we eat. God has given us vast hectares of arable land. That is why the Amosun administration keyed into the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to scale up rice production in the state.  The governor believes in partnership with out-grower farmers, not political farmers. Government serves as off-takers. You remember the Commodity Boards of those days. Gradually, we are bringing back the good old days in the sector. We should plant, process and package what we consume. Our Mitros Rice is more nutritious than the imported ones and cheaper. The popular Ofada rice is now stone-free courtesy of the rice mills installed by the state government. This is a product of vision and has nothing to do with 2019.

    You must equally have read about investment of the present administration in vocational education, with provision of state-of-the-art facilities. There’s an MoU with Independent Power Producers (IPP) to light up Ogun State. Rural electrification efforts of the current government yielded more fruits a few days ago. We do these things directly or through beneficial and enduring partnerships.

    As we speak, there are poor residents in most parts of this state receiving free medical treatment with their cards. These cards look like ATM. They contain biometrics of the patients. We do not make noise about all these things. These development strides happen on a daily basis. You are aware that Ogun State Television is now on DSTV. No one could imagine this would be that possible or that it would come so soon. Construction work is going on here and there. So rather than talk about being gripped by 2019 election fever, here in Ogun, we are gripped by rice production fever, electrification fever; we are gripped by education expansion fever. Amosun is gripped by development fever in Ogun State. He is consumed with passion to deliver dividends to democracy to his people. And this will continue till May 29, 2019.

    As the last count, Amosun has inaugurated over 125 multi-billion naira companies in Ogun State. The frequency of this inauguration has not waned despite 2019. This is as a result of the enabling environment provided by this government. If your company is not in Ogun State, it is probably not in Nigeria. For us, it is business as usual in Ogun State in terms of development.

    But if there are places in the country where development has taken a flight because of 2019, the people have the right to demand explanation. The press is empowered by Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to hold the government accountable to the people.

    Talking about the Mitros Rice, the Labour Party (LP) has alleged  that your government was involved in rice padding, by adding some bags of sand to make a rice pyramid. How do you react to that?

    Does the Labour Party exist in Ogun State? Where are their members? A party that could not win a councillorship position, that could not even field candidates in most of the elections, you call that a party? We all knew it was disgruntled politicians at work, the merchants of Pull Him Down. Otherwise, how can anyone in his senses accuse a government of packaging bags of sand as rice? As I stated elsewhere, it’s height of moronity. No focused government will be distracted by such inane falsehood. And that’s why no government official dignified such a foolery with a response. Above all, the good people of Ogun did not take any notice of them. I think we can talk about important matters.

    Some governors are accused of not paying workers’ salaries. How is your government coping with the salary crisis?

    The Amosun government pays salaries as and when due. Where we have challenges we acknowledge. And this is known to everyone. We do not believe in propaganda. The governor has always talked about the need to offset the cooperative deductions. It has an agreement with the labour unions that as the finances of the state improve, this will be paid. But for the financial re-engineering introduced by the Amosun administration, I think the state would have been in dire straits financially during the recent economic crisis. The governor had increased salaries of workers in the early life of this administration, which ballooned the wage bill by nearly 100 per cent. He believes in his workforce. And will always prioritize their welfare.

    Does Governor Amosun believe in restructuring?

    Of course, he does. He believes in restructuring that will make Nigeria more united. He said that much recently. Even before the term gathered much traction recently, he had always talked about state police and fiscal federalism. A situation where Ogun State that is currently Number 2 in terms of non-oil contribution to the Federation Account is ranked a distant 26 out of 36 states in terms of revenue allocation from the same central purse is clearly not acceptable. The governor had spent humongous amount on federal roads, it will be good if these roads revert to states and the Revenue Allocation Formula is altered in favour of states.

    Ogun APC is said to be in crisis due to the alleged plan by Amosun to shut out some candidates?

    The line here is thin. This should be a matter for the party. But I do not see any crisis anywhere. Can you see any yourself? No one has been shut out of any elective race. And no candidate has even complained of being shut out. So this observation is quite strange. The party has thrown its doors wide open for all contestants from the state. Once you are a bonafide indigene of Ogun State, you are free to contest in any election. Democracy is a game of numbers.

    The governor is alleged to be planning to install his Chief of Staff, Tolu Odebiyi, as his successor at all cost?

    I don’t know what you mean by at all cost. Amosun has always won a transparent election. 2019 will not be different for the party. But the governor has the constitutional right to promote the candidacy of anyone. It is his inalienable right, you know. If you are from Ogun State and you are interested in contesting any election, and Amosun feels you have what it takes to deliver, why will he not support you? If the caps fits the Chief of Staff, why should Amosun not support him?

    Do you think Tolu Odebiyi has what it takes to lead Ogun State?

    He does. He is very competent to govern this state. Apart from his personal qualities that eminently qualify him to build on the very strong foundation laid by Governor Amosun, he has a rich political heritage, which clearly sets him apart. He will be a good helmsman.

    Do you think the All Progressives Congress can win the governorship contest in 2019?

    The APC remains the party to beat. The party remains intact in Ogun State. Unlike the opposition PDP, there’s no crisis in the APC. The Labour Party exists on the pages of newspapers while the PDP is torn apart. Above all, the sterling performance of the current Amosun-led government will result in overwhelming victory for the APC in 2019.

     

  • Aspirant calls for unity in Ekiti APC

    Ekiti State All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship aspirant Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele has called for unity in the chapter as it prepares for the primary.

    He said crises may be an obstacle to victory at the poll.

    Bamidele said the desire of the APC family is to reclaim power from the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Ekiti State, warning agents of division to desist from their activities.

    The aspirant lamented that some aspirants’ loyalists and members of the party have been deploying the social media and the existing APC platforms to discredit one another.

    The former federal lawmaker said  members would still have to come together after the primary to work for the victory of the party, adding that no individual can win the election independently of other chieftains.

    Bamidele, who spoke at his Iyin-Ekiti country home at the weekend,  exuded confidence that the party  will, win if members allow civility to reign in their ranks.

    He said: “In 2015, the APC as an underdog won the presidential poll. Though, President Muhammadu Buhari’s electrifying popularity and irresistible personality played a major role in the historical victory, but the unity among members all over the 36 states of the federation also helped in no small measure.

    “This is the same situation the APC is in Ekiti. We are in opposition and we need cohesiveness to be able to wrest power from the PDP.

    “Making incendiary and derisive comments about ourselves when we are supposed to see the PDP as a common political foe we must defeat will take us nowhere in this election.

    “I have heard some members making insinuations that I had conceded to deputy governorship ticket with Engr Segun Oni. Some said I had a secret pact with Dr. Kayode Fayemi. The latest news has been that I have decided to renounce my ambition to boost Senator Babafemi Ojudu’s aspiration.

    Bamidele added: “I have heard some aspirants branding others as unmarketable, I have heard some describing some notable members and even a national officer as an outsider in APC.

    “All these sinister and deleterious political moves might impede our desire to take over Ekiti, except we begin to see ourselves as one and the time to do that is now”, Bamidele advised.

    Bamidele urged the deputy chairman of the party, Chief Kemi Olaleye, to check the excesses of members who have turned themselves into online monsters, thereby destroying the unity of the party.

    He said the party can curb their activities by invoking sanctions.

    Bamidele stressed: “I support that those who maintain hard stand after being cautioned by the party’s top hierarchy should be sanctioned.

    “APC is a party guided by constitution and it shouldn’t trivialize issue that could disunite members, particularly at a time we are approaching a critical election like this.

    “Ekiti and Osun governorship elections are strategic to our party. They will determine so many things in our party and it will help in sending a  signal that APC is still very strong, acceptable and remains a movement in the country’s political hemisphere.”

  • Why Kwara has not made progress, by aspirant

    Former Commissioner for Health in Kwara State Dr. Tajudeen Olaosebikan is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke with ADEKUNLE JIMOH in Ilorin, the state capital, on why he wants to suceed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.  

    What informed your decision to delve into Kwara politics?

    My participation in Kwara politics did not just start today. I have been involved for many years. I have been playing positive roles in building character, setting good examples and being a good ambassador of Kwara State anywhere I am. I believe that Kwara is a great state and Kwara State has played a great role in the old North where we were very educated and we produced many great civil servants, judges, doctors, engineers, industrialists, great religious people and clerics, artists of great repute. However, Kwara has not developed as it should. People don’t have water to drink in Kwara State. The roads are bad. The schools are not functioning properly. The health sector requires transformation and workers’ salaries are not paid on time.

    Kwara has challenges and needs a new approach to governance and these issues are what motivated me to delve into politics now to provide leadership to address these challenges and promote unity in Kwara state.

    We are one Kwara and one Nigeria and we can achieve a lot because we have the human capital. We are the bridging state between the North and the South and we have great potentials that we can mobilise to make Kwara a more developed state. I believe that my sojourn over the years in many states in Nigeria has prepared me for the task ahead and Iwill be of tremendous benefits to my state.

    On which platform do you intend to realise your aspirations sir?

    The people will decide the platform through which I will realise my aspiration. I am consulting and meeting people across Kwara State. I will go where my people are going; that is responsive leadership.

    For now, I am building a new movement, the ‘One Kwara Movement’ for new thinking and new ways of doing things for total development of Kwara State. The old method has not worked and it has not satisfied the needs of people of Kwara State. We must find an end to poverty in Kwara State and gross underdevelopment. Like Emerson said: ” you can get new result doing things the same way.” I am a different politician. If they say politics is dirty, I will wash it clean in Kwara State and we shall be a model for Nigeria. So, within the next few weeks, I will announce the platform through which I intend to contest. We are mobilising and regrouping first and we are doing this in all the 16 local government areas in Kwara State. We want to promote integrity in government and we are also working in line with INEC guidelines and timetable for 2019 elections.

    You are relatively unknown in Kwara politics. How do you think this aspiration can be achieved?

    I am know in Kwara State. I was born in Kwara State and I schooled in Kwara State, my primary school at St Marks school Offa, my secondary at Oro Grammar School, Oro and my higher studies at Kwara College of Technology, Ilorin. I also did my housemanship at the General Hospital, Ilorin in 1981. The foundation is what matters in a building.

    Throughout my formative years, I grew up in Kwara, not in England. So, I am known in Kwara. I have also participated in party politics and contested for senatorial election  twice in Kwara State in 2003 and 2011. I have served in government as Commissioner for Health in Kwara State during the first term of Dr Bukola Saraki administration. I was the first Commissioner for Health during that era from 2003 to 2005. And those in Kwara at that time knew that the time I served as Commissioner for Health was the golden era for health in the state. When I am elected governor of Kwara State by the grace of God, we shall have the best health system in Nigeria. Mother and children will have excellent primary health care, maternal health care, children health care, and there will be massive transformation of all general hospitals in the 16 local government areas of Kwara State. I have also served in Kwara as Commissioner for Environment and Tourism and I have worked with many political stakeholders in Kwara and the people know me and they have also heard of the good works I have been doing in various places in Nigeria. I have rich experience in private sector and economic development and I am always bringing light to where ever I am and my return will usher in a glorious light in Kwara State and massive empowerment and economic transformation. What is important is the philosophy of the government. Is it for the people or for few elites? I will run a government that will totally serve the people.

    Do you have the support of your people?

    I have the support of my people, the people of Kwara State. Everywhere that I have been to inform Kwarans of my intention, they are very happy and they have promised to support me to build a modern Kwara, to revive the greatness of Kwara State, to transform the state for the benefits of all. We have one Kwara and we must build it. This generation of Kwarans and the coming generation deserve a Kwara that is working, that have developed institutions and that are inclusive and egalitarian. The youths are expecting this new development and the economy of Kwara will be transformed and Kwarans in the Diaspora are also happy and are coming home. I shall also be bring multi-billion dollar investment to Kwara from Asia when am elected as the governor and the great people, the great achievers, the great talents of Kwara people would be recognised. I will create an agency for innovations, talents and creativity. The Chinese build China. So, it is our people that will build Kwara State. You can’t suppress the people and expect development. This is my message and Kwarans are supporting me. I will release the great potentials of Kwara people and

    I want all those great Kwarans abroad to return home to join me to develop a modern Kwara. Kwara can become the Dubai of North Central Zone. Most people in politics and in government now in Kwara or in Abuja know me and my capacity. The present generation of politicians in Kwara, we came in the same year in 2003. But, I left in 2005 and now I am back. The Kwara electorate know me and they also trust me because when I was Commissioner for Health, I stood for one Kwara, growth and the development of Kwara State. I promise the people of the state transparency and accountability. Kwara’s wealth will be used for Kwara State.

    Do you have the political structure and financial muscle to achieve this?

    Structure in politics is not like building. So, when people talk about structure in politics, you are talking about people. Yes, I have political structure in Kwara State. Right from my secondary school days in Oro Grammar school, I have always been a leader and up to my university days and also within my professional association, the Nigerian Medical Association, I have always played leadership and political roles. As far back as 1992, during the SDP and the NRC days ,I have been coming to Kwara  to support political development and I promoted democracy during June 12 in 1993. I became an active politician from 2002 when I first contested to be a senator. I know Kwara state and Kwarans know me. There are 16 local governments in Kwara State, three senatorial districts and 183 wards.

    I started politics in Kwara in 2003 to be a senator when Dr Saraki was contesting for governor. It is interesting that I also served later in his campaign organisation that year as the director of organization in 2003.  I am one of those who worked very hard politically for him to win the party ticket that year and also to win the election against an incumbent that year.

    I also served as member of the inauguration committee of the governor-elect in 2003 before I was also appointed commissioner

    It is also interesting that after eight years, when I contested again for the Senate in 2011, Dr. Bukola Saraki who was concluding his second term, also contested that year to become a senator and he was represented at the party screening before the primary by somebody. I remember that I was screened that day with Alhaji Shaaba Lafiagi and Senator Simon Ajibola. They all went to the Senate. So, you can see that I belong to the first eleven in Kwara politics. I hope that now that the former governors are now senators, they would support me to be the governor too, as we exchange seats in the service of our people. I have also served in the Kwara State Executive Council with the incumbent governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    How do you think you can ‘demolish’ the solid structure of Saraki dynasty?

    I am not in politics to destroy anybody or any dynasty. I am a builder and I am in politics to build, to develop and to serve the people. I am in politics to empower the people of Kwara and to transform Kwara’s state economy so that the people of kwara state will enjoiy better life, so that they will have food to eat at the right time,good and regular water to drink, good roads, better education, good health care and timely payment of workers’ salaries and to bring modern investments to kwara state. I have travelled to more than 30states in Nigeria in the last 30years. I have worked in many states and in some state. I am a cosmopolitan aspirant. I have served as Consultant to state government. So, I am a builder and technocrat, I am not a demolisher. I will build on what I meet and I will make development and progress the cardinal objective of our administration. I know  Oloye Saraki. I was like his son and I know Dr Bukola I worked with him. So, I am not contesting to destroy any dynasty or anybody. I do not believe in politics with bitterness. I am contesting to serve all kwarans. I am for one Kwara and one Nigeria and I have the exposure and the intellectual capacity to tackle the issues of poverty and underdevelopment in Kwara State. I am creative and only creative people can do the job.

    Are you aspiring under the structure?

    I am aspiring to be the next governor of Kwara State by the grace of God, to contest and to win the election under the people’s platform. Those who have contested and won don’t have two heads. I am aspiring on the people’s platform. My platform will be known soon. We are still within the INEC guidelines and timetable.  I want to be the candidate of all Kwarans, workers, farmers, students, market men and women, Muslims, Christians, traditional rulers, kings, chiefs, youths, pensioners, professionals. I am the most experienced, most prepared and most equipped of all the aspirants for the office. I am also the only aspirant with a national honour and I am going to contest with the best platform in Kwara State and the people will use their PVCs and smart card readers to vote for me. I am sure I will win like George Weah because of my programmes, because of my services to my state, my reputation, my selflessness and my love for the masses. I am a humanitarian to the core and Kwarans will enjoy my administration. I will run an open government with a caring heart. I believe that, as we go on in this process, many political groups, associations and tendencies will come together and adopt me as the best candidate. I am the candidate with the richest ideas.

  • PDP governorship aspirant meets loyalists

    One of the leading governorship aspirants in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, has met his loyalists comprising members of the academia, captains of industries, the media and select group of politicians across five geopolitical zones of the state.

    Alli, during the meeting, expressed his intention to start the process of official declaration of his gubernatorial ambition as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifts ban on campaign, ahead of the 2019 elections.

    Alli, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said even though he had traversed the state and was aware of the needs of all communities, towns and cities, “it still behoves on me to seek your support to fine tune what we have on ground with a view to ensuring periodic review of what we want to achieve for the citizens to be in tandem with the day-to-day aspirations of our people.

    “For me, having served one of the best governors in this state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, as SSG and later as chief of staff, my prior knowledge of grassroots administration in Ibadan North and recently, chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, I understand how best to confront issues that are germane to industrialisation of our dear state in making life more prosperous for our people. Yet I feel obliged that your contributions are needed to make this state work better for the good of all.”

  • Associates pray for aspirant

    Supporters, associates and friends of a former member of the House of Representatives, Mashood Mustspha, yesterday organised a special prayer for the realisation of his governorship ambition.

    The prayers held in Isale Aluko area of Ilorin, the capital.

    Though the prayer was specifically organised to mark Mustapha’s 55th birthday, the clerics were requested to beseech God to grant his desire of becoming governor.

    One of the clerics, Alfa AbdulGaniyu Asileke, repeatedly asked the clerics and dignitaries to focus  the prayer on his governorship ambition.

    Mustapha, a close aide and ally of Senate President Bukola Saraki, is yet to make his ambition public, but his supporters have begun subtle moves to ensure that he clinches the seat in 2019.

    Mustapha was commissioner for Lands and Housing; special adviser (Special Duties) to ex-Governor Bukola Saraki between 2003 and 2011.

  • Ekiti: Aspirant backs APC elders on consensus candidate

    Ekiti: Aspirant backs APC elders on consensus candidate

    Former Majority Leader of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, has thrown his weight behind the choice of Dr. Wole Oluyede as the All Progressives Congress (APC) preferred candidate from Ikere-Ekiti. Afuye condemned the opposition of two aspirants, Muyiwa Olumilua and Kola Alabi, to Oluyede’s selection, saying it was wrong for the duo to have agreed to the process at a private parley and come out to condemn it in the open.

    He hailed the role played by Ikere Development Forum (IDF) led by eminent lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), in narrowing down Ikere’s APC aspirants to one, arguing that the process was democratic and not an imposition. The five APC aspirants who participated in the process were Oluyede, Afuye, Olumilua, Alabi and Chief Sesan Fatoba. But Olumilua, son of a former governor, and Alabi have vowed to go ahead with their ambition and declared their readiness to participate in the state APC primary election.

    Olanipekun and other IDF members, in a bid to enhance Ikere’s chances of producing the next governor, called five APC aspirants from the town together at a meeting held in Lagos from February 11 to 12 and urged them to pick someone among themselves. When the aspirants could not agree among themselves who should be the town’s APC consensus candidate, they all agreed that the group should choose one of them and Oluyede, a medical practitioner and investor, emerged as the choice.

     

  • Aspirant promises to restore Ekiti’s glory

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State Chief Dele Okeya has promised to restore the lost glory of the state, if elected at the poll.

    Okeya, who accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration of impoverishing the people, promised to promote public welfare.

    He spoke in Emure-Ekiti during the inauguration of his campaign coordinators for the 16 local government areas.

    Okeya said he has the capacity and experience to lead the state, charging the coordinators to justify the confidence reposed in them.

    He said that the rebirth of Ekiti State was necessary to boost the peoples’ confidence in the democratic system.

    Okeya said: “I am ready to serve Ekiti to restore the lost glory, our virtues and values. Ekiti is not known for street begging, we are known for self esteem, high moral standard and respect for elders. I am bringing light to Ekiti and when light appears, darkness disappears.”

    He urged delegates at the primary to shun money politics and focus on the antecedents of contestants. He said: “The desired goals could only be achieved by the party and Ekiti when a honest and experienced leader is put at the helm of affairs.”

    Okeya advised the coordinators to be faithful in the discharge of their responsibilities. He said no “foreign politicians” would be imposed on them while selecting people into various political offices.

    The Director General Dele Okeya Campaign Organisation, Chief Kehinde Babatola, urged them to work hard for the success of the aspirant during the primary.