The Afenifere Renewal Group, Ondo State chapter, has endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for the November 26 gubernatorial election in Ondo State.
The Yoruba sociopolitical group said Akeredolu earned its endorsement in line with strict compliance with Awoist principle of party loyalty and because, he is a people-centric human rights lawyer with strong tie to progressive movements and with exemplary cognate experience and capacity to govern Ondo State.
In a statement signed by the Coordinator, Prof. Bayonile Ademodi and Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin, the group said “the sanctity of loyalty and consistency must be protected, in the best tradition of Awoism, it also described as disgraceful and embarassing, the attempt to smuggle in the Alliance for Democracy candidate Olusola Oke who had no relationship with Afenifere and its philosophy of progressivism, into the history of the organisation
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ARG chided Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa for presenting Oke as a product of Awolowo, Ajasin, Adefarati line of thought at the last AD rally in Akure. ” It is appalling and stomach turning that Akinfenwa could insult the history and practise of Awolowo, Ajasin, Adesanya, Afenifere and Yoruba race, by manipulating history”.
“The progressive Family in Ondo state does not know Oke. He has never been our member and neither do we share a history of common political ideology. Rather is known as a PDP politician who specifically worked against the Alliance for Democracy and saw to its ouster in Ondo state in 2003.
The group warned Oke to desist from calling himself what he is not saying ” lying to be a progressive politician from the Afenifere extraction is a big character flaw which ultimately defines his moral standing on the issue of leadership and integrity”.
The group described the APC candidate Akeredolu as well known in its fold for his progressive tendency.” he is strongly rooted in the Awolowo tradition and has never hesitated to use his talent and resources to support and promote progressive ideals”.
We are therefore confident that if voted as the next governor of Ondo State, Akeredolu will embrace people-oriented programmes and will be guided by the principles that Chief Awolowo and Ajasin stood by throughout their public lives, which is ‘freedom for all; life more abundant’.
It is our considered view that Ondo State, despite its unique location and natural resources, has performed far below expectation because of excessive focus on primordial partisan politics by its leaders, after the regime of Adekunle Ajasin. To move forward, the state needs a personality that will prioritise governance over politics.
The governance ideal entrenched by Awolowo can only succeed if entrusted in the hands of a candidate with strong personality and that cherishes issues of honesty, sincerity, and purposefulness.
We consider that Akeredolu fits this bill, having shown a propensity and bias for an open and democratic society.
The Ondo State people would do themselves and the Yoruba race a lot of good if they cast their lot with Akeredolu.
