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The reinstated local government chairmen of Osun State, along with their predecessors from 2017 to 2022 are currently divided over the choice of All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for the state.
While some of them had earlier issued a statement begging for the governorship ticket of the APC to be given to the Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Bola Oyebamiji, others dissociated themselves from the call on Tuesday.
The rebuttal was made in another press release signed by Osun Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Samuel Abiodun.
On Monday, the former Boluwaduro Local Government Chairman, Akeem Tokede, who reportedly spoke on behalf of the reinstated chairmen, disclosed that they reached a consensus to beg the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola at a meeting in the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Office.
Tokede added that they had launched a campaign group, Grassroots for AMBO, to further mobilise support for Oyebamiji.
He said, “The minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, is still our preferred guber candidate, but if he chooses not to contest, the NIWA boss should be given the ticket.
“We believe that with our structure, we are local government chairmen, we are in the grassroots and we can mobilise and campaign for the NIWA boss to emerge victorious in the election.”
Although he admitted that the National Secretary of APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru is eminently qualified to contest, the chairman noted that the decision of the party will bind over him if Oyetola anoints Oyebamiji.
Reacting on Tuesday, ALGON distanced itself from the move.
Abiodun denied that the purported statement by the group was the consensus by all the reinstated chairmen.
According to him, endorsing such a move could cause friction and disaffection in the party.
He said, “What was stated in the purported meeting and release represented their personal opinions and not the collective stand of OSUN ALGON members nor that of the entire reinstated council chairmen.
“Though we are not specifically against the candidate in question or any other one by this rejoinder, we must not allow misrepresentation of opinion as a group while we allow and expect the final decision of our Party at the appropriate time.
“We are mindful of the fact that the issue of APC governorship candidate is in the purview of our party under the able leadership of His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola and Alhaji Taju Lawal – our APC chairman in Osun State.”
Speaking further, Abiodun affirmed that only the party leadership can decide who will be given the APC ticket ahead of the 2026 governorship primaries.
He also warned past and present council heads to desist from causing bad blood in Osun APC.
“It is yet to be determined by the party leadership and members. We will not dabble in or take sides until the party decides. Thus, this action was needless, and condemnable, and must be disregarded in its entirety by members of the public, especially the APC family in Osun State.
“I, therefore, wish to advise both the present and former council chairmen to steer clear of any unverified group or press release that is capable of bringing the APC to disrepute as we reaffirm our undiluted loyalty and commitment to the leadership of Oyetola in his determination to direct the Osun APC to a winning destination,” he said.
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