…..Stop blackmailing our First Lady, APC leaders —Aketi group replies
STOP CHASING SHADOWS —GROUP
IT HAS COME TO OUR NOTICE THAT A CERTAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE ACTING UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF THE STATE CHAIRMAN OF ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, APC IN ONDO STATE, ENGR. ADE ADETIMEHIN HAVE DIRECTED WARD EXCO MEMBERS IN AKURE SOUTH AND AKURE NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO VOTE FOR A PARTICULAR ASPIRANT IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION OF THE PARTY SLATED FOR TUESDAY 1ST FEBRUARY, 2022.
THIS IS AGAINST THE DIRECTIVE OF MR GOVERNOR, ARAKUNRIN ROTIMI AKEREDOLU SAN WHO BACKED A LEVEL PLAY GROUND FOR EVERY ASPIRANT TO ENSURE APC PRODUCES THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE BYE ELECTION OF AKURE NORTH /AKURE SOUTH FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTION BILLED FOR 26TH FEBRUARY, 2022.
GOVERNOR AKEREDOLU HAD ASSURED ALL ASPIRANTS OF HIS NEUTRALITY IN THE SELECTION OF CANDIDATE TO OCCUPY THE SEAT AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
OUR SOURCE SAID THE MEETING TOOK PLACE AT HOSTWELL HOTEL (OWNED BY COMRADE GBENGA OLANIYI, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF AKURE SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT), ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
ALTHOUGH, ADETIMEHIN WAS ABSENT FROM THE MEETING, HE INSTRUCTED THE IMMEDIATE PAST COMMISSIONER FOR WORKS IN ONDO STATE, HON. SAKA YUSUF OGUNLEYE TO PRESIDE OVER.
OGUNLEYE SAID THE STATE APC CHAIRMAN WAS GIVEN A GO AHEAD TO CALL THE MEETING BY THE WIFE OF THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE, ARABINRIN BETTY ANYANWU AKEREDOLU.
WE ARE VERY SURE THAT THE GOVERNOR’S WIFE WILL NOT GO AGAINST THE WISH OF HER HUSBAND TO GIVE SUPPORT TO A FOREIGN ASPIRANT WHOM THERE IS EVERY INFORMATION GAVE THE GROUP 30 MILLION NAIRA TO HELP CONVINCE THE DELEGATES TO CLINCH THE TICKET OF THE PARTY.
WE HEREBY APPEAL TO THE PARTY MEMBERS AND DELEGATES TO DISREGARD THEIR CALLS AND VOTE ACCORDING TO THEIR CONSCIENCE FOR AKURE NORTH/SOUTH FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY TO HAVE GOOD REPRESENTATION.
THOSE PRESENT AT THE MEETING INCLUDE: MR FESTUS AREGBESOLA (CENTRAL SENATORIAL CHAIRMAN, APC ONDO STATE), HON. SAKA LAWAL OGUNLEYE(IMMEDIATE PAST COMMISSIONER FOR WORKS), COMRADE GBENGA OLANIYI (EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, AKURE SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT), HON IDOWU OTETUBI (IMMEDIATE PAST COMMISSIONER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES ), BARRISTER KUNLE ADEDARA, MR DAPO ADEPOJU (BOBO FOWOSO), AMONGST MANY.
SIGNED
KEHINDE NUKASI
COODINATOR, CONCERNED YOUTHS
ONDO STATE.
AKURE HOUSE OF REPS BYE-ELECTION, HOW PARTY LEADERS QUEUE BEHIND ASPIRANTS
Our attention has been drawn to series of publications and online news specifically targeted on the leadership of Aketi Continuity Mandate Group.
We would have ignored the online report accusing our leaders for allegedly using the name of the respected First Lady Chief Mrs Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu and the State Chairman of our great party Engr Ade Adetimehin in connection with the recent endorsement of one of the aspirants who is a member of our group.
ACMG is a group within the party just like Ibi giga ambassador, Aketi One to One, Ajapada Movement for Aketi etc.
The race for the Akure House of Reps 2023 started early last year when Princess Omowumi Olatunji and Hon. Femi Fadairo dominated the political landscape of our party creating awareness and seeking the mandate of the people of Akure to represent them at the Green Chamber. Princess Omowumi Olatunji-Ohwovoriole was a former two term member of the House of Assembly in Lagos state before returning to her home state and served as commissioner for Women Affairs before she resigned in 2018 and seek the mandate of the people to the Green Chamber but lost during the party primary to Jimi Faloye before the national head office of the party gave the ticket to the then incumbent Hon Afe Olowokere who lost the general election to late Adedayo Omolafe of the PDP.
The race became hot after the death of the occupant late Adedayo Omolafe in August 2021 that saw more than 13 aspirants contesting for the position including two term members of the House of Reps and lmmediate Past Secretary to the State Government Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde Abena, former member of the House of Reps Prince Derin Adesida, former House of Assembly member Prince Ademola Adegoroye, Mr Jimi faloye, Mr Mayokun Alade, Mr Sunday Falae among others.
However, five of them are members of Aketi Continuity Mandate Group while Hon Sunday Olajide and incumbent House of Assembly member who is a respected party member belongs to the Ajapada movement for Aketi.
Few weeks ago, INEC announced the date for the bye election and it is imperative that the Mandate Group prunes down to one, group members contesting for the position out of five of the aspirants that belongs to the group. Decision has to be made and all the five were invited to an interactive session with the leadership of the group and as team players they all responded and agreed to work and abide by the decision of the group.
Those in attendance included Hon Fadairo Dennis Fada, Mr Jimi Faloye, Engr Sunday Falae, Princess Omowumi Olatunji and Mr Mayokun Alade while Prince Ademola Adegoroye is being supported by Ajapada Movement for Aketi led by Hon Olubunmi Ademosun.
In a period like this, aspirants will seek for favour, support and endorsement, it is also on record that current Minister for Niger Delta Affairs – state, Sen. Tayo Alasoadura’s group endorsed his kinsman and cousin Mr Mayokun Alade Laf, Senator Ajayi Borroffice held meetings with Akure politicians seeking thier support for his annointed political son Hon Fadairo Fada, Otunba Dele Ologun the incumbent commissioner for Youth and Sports openly endorsed Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde when the leadership of Aketi one to one visited him in his office, Mrs Bunmi Ademosu of Ajapada Movement for Aketi who is a Special Adviser to the Governor on
Intergovernmental affairs has turned her Oba- Ile Housing Estate to campaign office for Prince Ademola Adegoroye as she openly informed delegates from Oke Aro ward 8 in Akure South that they should see the election as her own election.
In view of all these, Aketi Continuity Mandate Group has no choice as interest group within the party than to endorse one of their members and present such for the primary election, hence the choice of an experienced lawmaker, former cabinet member, philanthropist of note, Princess of Akure kingdom Hon. Princess Omowumi Olatunji-Ohwovoriole at a meeting well attended by leaders of the group from the Federal Constituency.
Blackmailing, fake news coming from any aspirants or from any group is a sign of defeat, a sign of cowardice. Let no one cry more than the bereaved, blackmailing the state party chairman Engr Ade Adetimehin or trying to drag the good name of our respected mother of the state Chief Mrs Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu to local politics is nothing but sheer petty politics. The first lady is known for her stand on anything that promotes gender equality, we ask other women in the society to join our first lady in her determination that women can *BEMORE*.
Mandate group is an interest group within the party and as politicians, party members and team player we have every right to support any candidate of our *CHOICE*. This becomes necessary on heel of the fact that our talk and do Governor announced his neutrality in the nomination process. Should we have folded our arms as politicians without supporting an aspirant? What would then become the fate of our numerous members?
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moment of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy, we will not pretend, we must identify with someone without pretence and no amount of blackmail will deter us.
Signed:
Jayeoba Oluwatuyi,
Chairman, Media Committee, Aketi Continuity Mandate Group
