Deputy National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nze Chidi Duru, has described an aspirant for the ticket of the party for the Ondo State governorship election, Engineer Ife Oyedele, as a loyal party man who deserved to be rewarded with the ticket.
Duru remarked on Friday when Oyedele submitted his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms ahead of the party primary fixed for April 20. The off-season election has been fixed for November by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The APC Deputy National Organising Secretary recalled instances when Oyedele sought the governorship ticket in Ondo State but was prevailed upon to step down for the late Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
He also told the party faithful that Engineer Oyedele equally aspired for the exalted seat of national Secretary but was asked to step down by leaders of the party.
He said: “We know before now of your contribution to the party. If I remember correctly, not too sure, there was an indication of your name gunning across board for APC National Secretary, which you then stepped down and let go for peace.
“You have shown your support and sportsmanship, more importantly, you have shown that you’re a unique party man. In 2020, in the general interest of the party you forgone the interest, aspirations to be the governor to the greater interest of the party, i hope this is the time for the party to do this in your favour.
“The last is for us to assure you that the party is interested and desirous of conducting a free fair transparent primary in Ondo state.”
Addressing journalists, Engineer Oyedele declared that he remained the candidate to beat, considering his pedigree.
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“There are a few things that we must consider for somebody who should run for the office of a governor of a state. “One is the fact that the person must have a vision for the state. Two, the person must have capacity. There is no doubt and I said this with all sense of responsibility and respect that of all the aspirants that have so far signified their intentions, even in their minds they know that I am the most competent, the most experienced, having started my career as a civil servant in the year 1983 in the Ondo State Ministry of Works; traversing there to the Office of the Governor as a pioneer staff of Rural Electrification Unit and the Directorate of Rural Development, went on to the private sector and rose from there to become a consultant in one of Nigeria’s foremost consulting firm at the time. Thereafter I was appointed Executive Director in two of Nigeria’s highly successful companies at the time. And in 1992, I joined my friends to form a Private Limited Liability Company until 2016 when I was appointed Executive Director in the Niger Delta Power Development Company.
“Today, I am the foremost Alumni of the University of Lagos, being the President Worldwide. I am a member of the university governing council. I have served on the boards of very important companies. In terms of education, relationship, and capacity I am sure and I say without any iota of doubt in my mind that I am the most competent aspirant. Therefore using the foremost words of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I can say in Ondo state: “Emi Lo Kan”, I think it is my turn. Therefore, I am offering myself to serve as the next Governor of Ondo State. And I use this opportunity to call on all the citizens of Ondo State who are eagerly celebrating my signifying the intention — there has been a bedlam of voices thanking God that I have offered myself to serve as the Governor of Ondo State.
“Ondo state needs a governor who is competent. Today, we are not doing very well. In terms of infrastructure, healthcare delivery, education. You will recall that Ondo State used to be at the forefront of all of these human indices but I can assure you that as governor of Ondo State, I will take Ondo State back to the zenith of economic and human leadership. Why? Because Ondo state has abundant human resources. I think you all know that we are perhaps one of the best-educated states in Nigeria and there are several opportunities. It is therefore very important that we elect a man who has a vision that can take the state back to the top. We are sure that victory is ours.”