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Oyetola, Oyebamiji shun event
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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The seats reserved for the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the 2023 APC governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, were conspicuously vacant during the inauguration of the presidential campaign council organised by Governor Ademola Adeleke in his capacity as state coordinator.
Despite the absence of some top party figures, the event was attended by former interim national chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, and APC National Secretary, Dr Ajibola Basiru, among other leaders.
Prior to the event, Osun State APC Chairman Tajudeen Lawal issued a statement distancing the party from the inauguration, claiming the state chapter had been kept completely in the dark. The party expressed strong reservations regarding how Governor Adeleke put the committee together.
While reaffirming its total commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, the APC stressed that an initiative of such magnitude required proper planning and official protocol.
“We are talking about the re-election of the President of the nation under the largest democratic party in sub-Saharan Africa, and not the election of a council chairman or a councillor. Such an exercise requires the highest level of official protocol to ensure its success,” Lawal stated.
Speaking at the event, APC National Secretary Dr Ajibola Basiru criticised the absence of certain members, maintaining that he was the highest-ranking APC official present.
“Whoever writes anything wrote it for himself. All members of the APC are here. I am the most senior political office holder of the APC here.
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“I commend our governor for looking past today and yesterday, and focusing on tomorrow. When there is a political meeting, a good politician must be there. I was informed on Wednesday by the governor, but I had a meeting in Kaduna. I decided to attend this inauguration first. Whoever loves the progress of Tinubu should calm down and follow Governor Adeleke. There is no ambition or ego that is beyond the re-election of Tinubu,” Basiru said.
In his remarks, Chief Bisi Akande commended Governor Adeleke for having the courage and capacity to unite leaders for the noble cause of the Yoruba race.
“Governor Adeleke has been asked to lead the people of Osun State to achieve two million votes on 16 January 2027. I remember that is my birthday, and I hope you all will rejoice with me at the end of that day knowing that the Yoruba son who is the President of Nigeria will continue. May God grant us success,” Akande said.
In his address, Governor Adeleke stated that the assembly was convened to mobilise and surpass the 1.5 million votes he previously promised President Tinubu.
“We have all the strikers, the defenders, and the midfielders. This rainbow coalition of Accord, APC, and PDP structures is superbly potent to deliver Osun overwhelmingly to Mr President come next January,” Adeleke said.
Emphasising the scope of the alliance, he clarified that the partnership is strictly limited to the presidency.
“As coalition partners on the presidential election, we must remind ourselves that the partnership does not extend to the legislative elections. While we will join hands to deliver Mr President on his party platform, coalition partners are free to work for their respective party candidates during the senatorial, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly elections. What ties us together is the presidential election, not the legislative ones,” Adeleke said.
The governor also disclosed that both the federal and state governments are working to resolve the ongoing local government crisis. He noted that discussions have reached an advanced stage and that citizens should expect good news very soon.
