21st October, 2024
Lagos State Governor and Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State to unite in ensuring the party’s success in the November 16 gubernatorial election.
He appealed to aggrieved members, including former aspirants, to set aside differences and work for the victory of the APC and its candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Sanwo-Olu made this appeal on Sunday during an APC stakeholders meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The meeting was attended by several key figures, including Governors Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) — represented by the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Talabi Olatokunbo — as well as the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and National Vice Chairman (South-West), Hon. Isaac Kekemeke. Also present were former governorship aspirants and other party leaders at both the national and state levels.
During the meeting, Sanwo-Olu, who also serves as the South-West Coordinator of the APC, emphasised the importance of Ondo State to the progressives and urged for full cooperation to keep the state within the party’s fold.
“We have come here as a happy family. As an APC family, we have come to strengthen the party, and none of you will be left behind. Nobody will be taken for granted as all of you are important, strategic, and critical in delivering our electoral victory on November 16,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
He continued: “We have acknowledged yesterday’s Ondo, we are acknowledging today’s Ondo State, and the future is bright for Ondo State. This in-house meeting is to embrace all of us, beg all of us, and for all of us to agree to put whatever we have behind us. What is ahead of us is greater than what is behind us, and that is forward ever, backward never.
“The future is bright for Ondo. We must agree. We can’t get any leadership support other than this. If we come together, we will win. We are going out for an election, and we need everyone in this election. That is why I brought everyone together to come and appeal to you. More than 85 percent of the votes we must get.”
APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, also called on aggrieved members, especially those who contested the party’s primaries against Aiyedatiwa, to unite for a common cause.
“We are expecting 90 percent in the election. Make sure you know those who are supposed to vote in your units and ensure they are mobilised to come out for the election. We assure you that Tinubu is the best we have, and we must deliver 100 percent in favour of APC in this election and in the South-West region. We are also strategising to take over the two other states in this region,” Ganduje said.
Governor Oyebanji of Ekiti State echoed these sentiments, calling for unity to preserve the legacy of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
“We have a duty to ensure the achievement of Akeredolu is not reversed. We have a duty to keep Ondo State in the progressive circle. Coming second is not an option. We must retain APC in power,” Oyebanji stressed.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to party leaders and members for their commitment, urging them to continue their unwavering support to ensure Ondo’s progress.
The meeting also saw key endorsements from former APC governorship aspirants, including Chief Olusola Oke, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, and Princess Oladunni Odu, all of whom pledged to support Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy and ensure that the opposition does not seize control of Ondo State.
