Barely four days to Ondo State governorship poll, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has thrown its weight behind the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, describing him as a tested progressive and the best man for the job.
Fielding questions from journalists shortly after paying a courtesy visit on Akeredolu in Lagos to endorse him , the Chairman of ARG, Chief Wale Oshun said the group has always kept its tradition of endorsing the most competent candidates in all elections held in the South Western part of the country.
Oshun said “certainly we are here to endorse him. Barrister Akeredolu has been one of us, he is one of us, he is an activist, a tested progressive and he strongly believes in the welfarist principles of the founders of the Afenifere .
“What is important at this stage is that he is the one that believes in the ideology of the political philosophy of Yorubaland. One that believes in the principle that had been laid down by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“He is not just claiming it, we can identify and affirm it. He had been one of us and his party had deemed it fit to allow him to run as the candidate and because he is the best in the circumstance to rule the state. We believe we should give him our open support.
“We have played this critical role in many elections held in South-Western Nigeria and we believe this should not be an exception. And we wish him well and we are praying for him. He has worked hard and we hope almighty God will answer our prayers for him.”
He said given the fact that the position of a state governor is a highly exalted one there is bound to be a stern opposition in the race, urging the electorates to use their votes to install the best candidate as their governor.
Oshun said the APC is already providing purposeful leadership in the states it is ruling in the region, saying “that is why we will want to have APC added in Ondo State to the four we have before in Lagos , Ogun , Osun and Oyo States.”
Also speaking, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu said his party is working as one political family in the state to clinch victory in the gubernatorial polls scheduled to hold on Saturday.
The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said contrary to insinuation that some chieftains shunned his mega rally they are working together.
He said, “All of us in APC are working together now. We all working together as a party. Even Segun Abraham has come out to ask his supporters to come and work for APC. He said so without mincing words that he has not left APC. The only thing he he said which he has a right to it is that he has a matter in court and its alright. The only way any judgement in that regard can bring forth any fruit is for APC to win general election. He is with us.
” The only person for instance who left is Olusola Oke and was never a member of our party. He came after we had election for President Muhammadu Buhari . He just rushed in thinking he can capitalize on the use of money to swing people to his side. When he failed he decided to opt out. And he went to another party. Somebody who spent 16 years in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , 16 years as a conservative cannot one day, wake up and become a progressive. It is not possible . So he had to opt out of the progressive group to be on his own. He is the only person that left, no other person joined him. ”
Harping on the insinuation that some chieftains shunned his mega rally, he said, “I have said we are together and am sure we are still together. Governor Abiola Ajimobi still called me yesterday. He came back into the country yesterday, his deputy was with us at the rally. The deputy came. We also heard information that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is still abroad attending to his health and I don’t believe that because people are not there that they are not part of the party.”
