Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Mr Akin Oke, has urged those governorship aspirants in Saturday’s primaries who fail to clinch the sole candidature of the party to remain loyal and not leave the party.
According to Oke, the priority of all aspirants and their followers is the emergence of a candidate that will ensure the party’s success in the 2019 governorship election in the state.
Oke, made this call when a gubernatorial aspirant, Dr Owolabi Babalola, came on a familiarisation visit with state executive council members of the party at the state Secretariat of the party, in Ibadan, on Thursday.
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He consequently urged those candidates who lose out on getting the party’s ticket to take it in good faith and believe that it is God’s will.
According to Oke, the party was wary of not making a mistake in selecting its candidate hence its decision of the state to adopt indirect primaries.
“God makes people attain position. In choosing Ajimobi as candidate back then, the priority was who will ensure the success of the party in the gubernatorial election.
“So, I am appealing that if by the grace of God, the mantle falls on your shoulders and if otherwise, remain loyal to the party.
“Also, all our aspirants and party members should not leave the party regardless what happens at the primaries on Saturday.
“Our priority should be the emergence of the candidate that will ensure the party’s victory. So, take everything in good faith believing that it is God’s will,” Oke said.
Aspirants billed to vie for the Oyo governorship ticket of the APC in Saturday’s primaries are, Owolabi Babalola, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Joseph Tegbe, Adebayo Adelabu, Adeniyi Akintola, Olusola Ayandele, Azeez Adeduntan, Ayo Karim and Adebayo Shittu.
Speaking during the visit, the former Oyo Commissioner for Health, Dr Owolabi Babalola, asserted that all aspirants had subscribed to supporting any aspirant who emerges governorship candidate with a view to ensuring that the APC produces the next governor.
“I am assured that we have all subscribed to the process that will dovetail into the emergence of a single candidate. And, whoever that candidate is, will be the very best among us that will fly the flag to ensure that the APC remains the party to beat in the state and in the South West of Nigeria.
“Our people will vote according to their conscience. They are people of history; they are people who share the vision for tomorrow. I am persuaded that our party leadership and members will vote, not according to the dictates of individuals, but according to the values of the APC.
“I have been primed for this position, I have enormous goodwill of our party stalwarts and across the length and breadth of this pacesetter state. I am convinced that I will push an agenda that is pro-poor in Oyo state.
“There has been enough good will on the part of the incumbent government and I will strive not to reinvent the wheel but to give additional traction and to where necessary, strike on the reset button.
“For instance, in education, how do we give incentives to those classroom teachers? How do we manage our resources as to give preeminence to our recurrence, gratuities and timely budgeting for those classrooms will need a small amount of money?” Owolabi enthused.
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