15th March, 2023
By Adejoke Adeleye/ Abeokuta
The gubernatorial candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ogun, Biyi Otegbeye has affirmed that that he has no plan to go into alliance with the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, or any other political party or governorship candidate in the state ahead of the March 18 election.
Otegbeye made this known while speaking with journalists at the NUJ secretariat, Okelewo Abeokuta on Tuesday.
He emphasized that the party is not in talk with anybody or any party for alliance. According to him, it is almost impossible to form any meaningful merger and expect it to work few days to the election.
He declared that with level of campaign now, his party and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should carry their crosses into the March 18 governorship and state houses of assembly election.
He stressed that the political field is spacious enough for candidates of the parties to fight it out at the poll.
While commending former governor of the State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun for supporting and endorsing his governorship ambition, said he (Otegbeye) is not ready to step down for any candidate(s) ahead of the March 18, 2023 elections.
Reacting to recent endorsement of the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun by the Yewa Monarch and residents, he described it as a deceit of the highest order.
He stressed that the Biomodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) cannot recognize endorsement, but only Parmanent Voter’s Card (PVC) at the poll.
He said the people of Yewa cannot leave him who is their son and support another person.
“On the issue of my traditional rulers in Yewa Awori, If they endorse somebody and what that endorsement means for my candidacy ? It means nothing; because the truth is that INEC election will use BVAS. BVAS does not recognize endorsement, BVAS recognize PVC. Even as Sen. Ibikunle Amosun endorsed me, I don’t go and sleep. I still do my work , go out and send my agenda to people who ultimately would vote.
“The fact that those royal fathers said that in the open, they don’t say that at the back. ‘Omo eni ko ni se idi bebere ka wa ko Ileke si idi omo elomi’. They are just sending that narrative to make the governor happy because that is what he wants to hear. Even, if it is me that was given that thing, I should examine myself on what that means. It is just a ‘Horse’s Cockroach. Inside our own house (Yewa), our fathers talk to us, We know what they do for us, we know the kind of prayer they pray for us and by God grace their prayer will be answered. Our son is ready and we are supporting this one. All these are nothing”, he said.
“Of course there will be merger, but it is not going to be like a typical merger you are expecting. Not like stepping down for someone. We have gone pass that, election is Four days away, and there won’t be any meaningful merger. For the media we will provide you a meaningful information that will help you”, he declared.
The chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ogun State, Comr. Wale Olanrewaju appreciated the ADC gubernatorial candidate, Barr. Biyi Otegbeye for honouring the Union and urged him to create enabling environment for Journalists in the state if elected as the governor.
He urged him to appoint typical journalist and member of the Union as the Commissioner of Information and in to other appointments relate to media.