With less than nine days to the governorship and state houses assembly polls, Ogun Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has vowed to resist any attempt to hijack the state’s political and party structure from him just as he was suspended by the party’s National Working Committee for alleged anti-party activities.
He was suspended on Friday alongside his Imo counterpart, Rochas Okorocha.
Amosun, who said he built the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the scratch since he defected from PDP and ANPP in 2011 to contest governorship seat, wondered how on earth some party leaders would plot to take over the state from him.
“A former governor (name withheld) took to flight when President Buhari was contesting in 2015 and joined SDP and only to return in January 2018.
“I built the party from the scratch singlehandedly, I did not see those masquerading as leaders now both in Ogun and outside the state.
“It is true that they gave me the party’s platform to contest after Gbenga Daniel whom I brought exited in 2011 but I built the party.
“Now they want to come and take over the party structure and foist on the people their own anointed candidate who did not go through the party’s primary without regard to the zoning arrangement in the state.
“it will not work, it is unacceptable,’’ said Amosun who got elected as senator on APC platform on February 23 poll on a live radio programme on Thursday.
The programme hosted by Faaji FM, Lagos, a stable of Daar Communication, owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and RayPower FM, was broadcast on the networks of Paramount FM, RockCity FM, Sweet FM and state-owned Ogun Radio, all in Abeokuta.
Amosun described what he called the “invasion of the state’’ by some party leaders and their Lagos-based candidate as “mission impossible’’ which would be resisted.
Explaining that Ogun is on tripod stand of Ogun West (Yewa), Ogun East (Ijebu/Remo) and Ogun Central (Egba), Amosun lamented that two zones of Ijebu and Egba have had two slots each without considering the Yewas.
“We have decided to zone governorship to Yewa and it is not fair for party leaders to renege on this promise; it should be respected.
“Zoning brought President Buhari to power and many others. Ogun zoning arrangement must be allowed to work. Ijebu and Egba cannot field candidates until Yewa have produced a governor and that is what I stand on,’’ he said.
Amosun had featured on the programme alongside his governorship candidate, Abdulkadir Akinlade of Allied Peoples Movement (APM) from Agosasa in Ipokia area of Yewa from 8.30 am to 10.00 am.
Akinlade, currently a member of the House of Representatives, was presented to Buhari on December 30, two days after ex-Gov. Olusegun Osoba presented APC candidate, Dapo Abiodun, to him in Aso Rock for endorsement.
Other candidates in the race are three-time contender from Yewa, Gboyega Nosiru Isiaka (GNI) of ADC, Sen, Buruji Kasamu of PDP from Ijebu, Dimeji Bankole, former Speaker of House of Representatives of ADP from Egba, and ex-International, Segun Odegbami of Zenith Labour Party from Egba.
Amosun has since been on the go for Akinlade, campaigning against his party (APC) to swing votes for him.
The governor is owing workers billion of Naira being unremitted deductions to cooperative societies and banks from their salaries and has also hinged payment of political appointees’ allowances on the ability to deliver their wards or local government areas for APM.
It will be recalled that from 1979 to 1983, Ijebu produced Bisi Onabanjo (UPN) as governor, Segun Osoba of SDP from Egba 1991 January to 1993, he returned in 1999 – 2003, Gbenga Daniel of PDP from Ijebu/Remo 2003 -2011 (two terms) and the incumbent governor, Amosun 2011 -2019.
Amosun is famed for massive road construction, flyovers and bridges across the three senatorial districts and particularly in the capital, Abeokuta, where he hails from, giving it a phenonmenal facelift.