Ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo state, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, on Monday, said he was more concerned about the emergence of a flag bearer that is loyal to the people and the development of the state rather than loyalty to him.
According to Ajimobi, the emergence of a candidate that is acceptable to Oyo electorates and members of the APC had become more expedient in the wake of the rancour that trailed the selection of the gubernatorial candidate in Osun state.
Party’s spokesperson, Dr Azeez Olatunde made these disclosures to TribuneOnline after a meeting Ajimobi had with state executive council members of the party, led by its Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, at governor’s office, Ibadan, on Monday.
According to Olatunde, Ajimobi had no preferred candidate but was resolved to aggregate the chosen candidates of the different stakeholder groups and ensure that the party presented a common front, with little wrangling, after Saturday’s primaries.
“We considered that there was a lot of rancour about the selection of a candidate in Osun state and we don’t want the hullabaloo that trailed the selection of a candidate in Osun.
“The governor said he is not even bothered about anybody being loyal to him but its loyalty to the people and to the development of Oyo state that matters.
“The governor is resolved that whatever is the clamour of the people is his clamour. He still stated that he still does not have a preferred candidate up till today.
“He wants to carry everybody along so that the party will be able to have a common front on the candidate that the party will present for the governorship election.
“Though we know that whichever candidate emerges, some other candidates will express displeasure. We are trying to reduce these grievances by consulting widely and the governor is trying to make the process transparent enough.
“The governor is conducting the several meetings to prevent rancor, internal wrangling. He does not want to be accused of any imposition and he is trying to consult widely.
Monday’s meeting with state executive council members of Oyo APC, it was gathered, is one of several meetings that Ajimobi will have with various stakeholder groups before Saturday’s primaries.
