Osun 2018: Aregbesola Insists On Primaries For All APC Aspirants, Rejects Zoning
Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State Governor
The Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf aregbesola has reaffirmed his determination to the ethics and principles of democracy as practiced in advanced nations of the world and in tandem with the constitution of his party, All progressives congress APC to conduct a free, fair, transparent and credible primary to elect the party`s candidate ahead of the September 22nd 2018 gubernatorial election.
Aregbesola made this definitive statement at the ongoing consultation tour of the APC held at the 7th day Adventist Government high school Ede for Ede Federal Constituency (Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo LGAs).
His response was in reaction to several calls made by all the speakers at the event pleading with him, to use his good office to ensure the APC flag bearer emerge from the Osun West Senatorial district, as the zone have been marginalized in the scheme of politics since the creation of the state 27years ago.
Speakers at the event included the Speaker of Osun State House of assembly, Rt. Hon. Folasayo Najeem Salaam, representatives of Women leaders and Youths, Elders Council, LG Chairmen, party Chairmen asking others.
“It is good to respond to the demands for zoning made by all the speakers here today, however I want to say that the timing and place of making such demand is totally wrong but I am not angry as you have only expressed your desire”_ , the Governor responded.
Speaking further, the state helmsman noted that the party will conduct primaries for all the aspirants but what is more important is for the party to retain the seat of power, irrespective of the zone from which such candidate emerges from, so that the visionary development of his administration can be sustained and improved upon.
He charged all members of the party to return to their local communities, wards and polling booths to mobilize and convince the electorates with the many achievements of his government, with the assurance that there is an assured future for prosperity if an APC candidate succeeds him in office.
Prior to today`s event, Governor Aregbesola was quoted to have said several times at different fora that zoning, ethnic and religious colouration in politics is a divisive tendency by the political cowards to disenfranchise qualified and competent people from participating in governance, saying there are two basic factors that is crucial is piloting a state in Nigeria, capacity and passion to serve the larger percentage of the people.
With the declaration of today by Aregbesola, spanners have been thrown in the clogs of all the proponents of West agenda in Osun as there are indications of more than 20 aspirants from the zone jostling to succeed Aregbesola, with 9 of them from Iwo federal constituency alone, how they will arrive at a unanimous aspirant for the zone remains a puzzle that keen watchers are observing at the moment.
