Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state has cried out that the only challenge he has in All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun state chapter which prompted the political crisis as regards his inability to have a successor in the party was his frantic effort to develop Abeokuta, state capital against all misgivings coming some quarters.
Governor Amosun revealed that some selfish leaders within the party, having seen him develop Abeokuta, the political headquarters of Ogun central senatorial district, started campaigning against him for all his action and accused him of developing Abeokuta, Amosun’s country home at the detriment of other regions in the state.
Recall that some APC leaders, especially from Ogun east senatorial district being led by former governor, Olusegun Osoba went against Governor Amosun for his agenda to handover to Ogun west -Yewa /Awori governor in APC in the person of Adekunle Akinlade for which there was a ‘political gang up’ against him which prompted emergence of Dapo Abiodun as governorship candidate of the party.
But, Amosun’s caucus of APC was later frustrated out of the party and went to adopt new political party – Allied People’s Movement (APM) which gave a mandate to the embattled Adekunle Akinlade as its governorship candidate, having exhausted all political means to retrieve their political mandate from APC.
Speaking at Owowo Ward 9 of Ewekoro local government during flag-off of his senatorial campaign within Ogun central senatorial district, Governor Amosun said no sane governor would abandon the state capital undeveloped and it is
uncharitable for anyone to accuse him of developing Abeokuta over other areas.
The governor said, though priority was given to the State capital, he has never abandoned other areas of the state in his infrastructure drive in the state, accusing the unnamed leaders of being jealous of his unprecedented achievements as the governor of the state.
“Why am I being castigated? Abeokuta was made the state capital over 40 years ago and the only offence I’ve committed is to have developed Abeokuta, but I tell you, no sane governor will neglect Abeokuta, else that governor will see the result.
“I have never neglected other areas. We have one of the best flyovers and roads of our administration in Sagamu, there are two flyovers in Ijebu Ode with good roads and the same things are done in Ijebu Igbo and Yewa.
“What we have done is that when we do three things in Abeokuta, we do two or one in other places and we are running round day and night to get this done. I am not the first governor in Ogun state but I appreciate what they have done but if anybody castigate me, no governor worth his salt will abandon Abeokuta”, he said.
While soliciting votes in all the wards and local government areas in Ogun central senatorial district, Governor Amosun appealed to the electorate not to trade their Permanent Voter Cards for money and other gains as some politicians will be coming to deceive them while the elections are fast approaching.
He said, “Our struggle is that of liberation, nobody can come and enslave us in Ogun state and that is why we must be ready and liberate ourselves with our PVC.
“Don’t trade tour PVC with anybody, it is your power and if you’ve not collected, go and collect the PVC, because the only way to liberate yourselves is through the PVC.
“Don’t be deceived into trading your PVC, they will come with promise of loans and grants requesting for your PVC number, tell them they are thrives and criminals, ask them where they have been since all these years that they are now coming on the eve of the election.”
RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta
