2019: Steer clear of Ogun politics – Akinlade tells Ajimobi

Agency ReporterOctober 17, 2017

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A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade has told Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State to steer clear of Ogun State politics.

The former lawmaker equally urged Governor Ajimobi to desist from meddling in the political affairs of the state ahead of the 2019 general election.

Akinlade was reacting to a recent video footage being circulated on the social media, where the Oyo State governor was seen endorsing a serving senator from Lagos State as the next governor of Ogun state in 2019.

Ajimobi had over the weekend during the 50th birthday celebration of Chief (Mrs.) Zhikrah Aduke Akanbi, wife of Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi at Ibadan, picked the senator who was also present at the ceremony, as the next governor of Ogun State.

But Akinlade, in a statement yesterday in Abeokuta, urged the Oyo State governor to face governance in his state and leave the people of Ogun State to determine who to lead them come 2019.

Differing on the governor’s statement, the three-term House of Representatives member, said, “though the governor is entitled to his opinion, the statement made by him at a function in Ibadan with respect to a serving Senator in Lagos about the governorship race in Ogun State is preposterous and smacks lack of leadership decorum”.

He further alleged that political forces in neighbouring states have begun to play to the gallery by endorsing certain candidates, who he claimed, “are not even card-carrying members of any political party in the state”.

Akinlade said, “The people of Ogun West know those who have been at the epicenter of the struggle for the marginalized region to produce the governor of the state and it would only be reasonable for them to be allowed to sort themselves out now that there seems to be a consensus that the Ogun West Senatorial District would be allowed to produce the next governor of the state. It is only reasonable that the people be allowed to slug it out amongst themselves without harmful endorsements of those who are not even card-carrying members of any political party in the state.

“Instead of facing the responsibilities of governing Oyo State which he was elected to do, he has started dabbling into matters which have no direct bearing on him.

“He should be reminded that Ogun State, an entity created by the constitution same as Oyo, has credible people running its affairs as well as those that will take over from the present leaders and doesn’t need a governor of another state to choose for it.

“The electorate and the good people of Ogun State haven’t surrendered their constitutional right of choosing their leader to an indigene of another state regardless of the person’s position.”

While commending the statesmanship of the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Akinlade said the sense of neutrality of the state governor on who succeeds him, is worthy of emulation by other governors.