Rotimi Akeredolu, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, says Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos, should be asked why he demanded the resignation of John Oyegun, chairman of the APC.
Citing the refusal of Oyegun to heed the recommendation of the party’s panel which annulled the APC primary election in Ondo, Tinubu said Oyegun was no longer fit to lead the party.
In an interview with Tribune, Akeredolu said those asking the party’s chairman to step down could have other reasons for the demand.
“Why don’t you ask him (Tinubu) why he is calling for the resignation of Oyegun? This is not a question for me o,” he reportedly said in response to a question.
“Why don’t you ask him why he is calling for the head of Oyegun? That is a question for you but for me, I don’t believe he or the others are opposed to my candidature. I always believe that they will come to Ondo and campaign for the party to win.
“I don’t know why people are calling for the removal of Oyegun. I am sure that it is not because of the outcome of the primary. Maybe they have other reasons and just wanted to use the Ondo primary to cover up for other issues.
“Chief Oyegun will earn the respect of people who are not biased and he will continue to earn the respect of most Nigerians because he stood for the truth. All the decisions of the APC national working committee (NWC) were not Oyegun’s decision; people can go and check the facts by verifying the minute of the meeting of the national working committee, from the secretary and other members of NWC. From what I gathered, I am sure these people stood for the truth and that truth.
On the comments of Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, that the primary should have been annulled, Akeredolu said: “I am not sure he (Atiku) said so because I am sure he would have gathered all relevant facts before passing comments. I don’t believe the former vice president would say such a thing because the facts are there for every Nigerian to see.”
He added that his main focus at the moment was to win next month’s election.
Akeredolu boasted that the fate which befell the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in neighbouring Edo state will happen in Ondo.
“I am calling on every member of the party in the state for us to work together as a team and win the election, which is my main focus now. I am not interested in any distractions,” he said.
“My main focus is the election, the people of Ondo state and let me also say this; I said so during the primary and I am repeating it here that I am confident, absolutely confident that by the grace of God, I will win the election as the governor of Ondo state.
“I have never had doubt about it and I call on all the members of our party to join hands with me and form a formidable force against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wich we all know has not done too well for the state. We must ensure that PDP does not come back as the government of Ondo state. The defeat of PDP in Edo state is enough to assure everyone of what will happen in Ondo State. Hence, we should all come together and work for our party; the party is greater than Akeredolu, the party is greater than the chairman, the party is greater than the aspirants and even greater than our president.”
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