The All Progressives Congress (APC) Screening Committee has screened Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State and two other governorship aspirants ahead of its February 19 governorship primary election in the state.
The other two aspirants screened by the committee are a former Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuff and former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti.
While addressing journalists at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja after the screening, Governor Oyetola, who is seeking a second term in office, said his performance in his first term is enough to get him victory both at the party’s primary and the state’s governorship election on July 16, 2022.
“Let me say this; my performance in office as I speak today is enough for me to win the primary in the party and to win the election in all areas of endeavour, in infrastructure, health, education, security and the economy. That means by every standard, we have done so well. Within the last three and a half years, I’ve been able to justify the confidence reposed in me by the people. I believe winning the election is not a problem,” he said
Governor Oyetola, while speaking on his membership of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, which is to conduct the Osun governorship primary, said his membership of the committee doesn’t affect his credibility.
“I have always been a member of the party, so it’s not a matter of being a member of the Caretaker Committee. I have been very much involved in the party, right from the time of AD till date. I’m not a novice in the issue of party. The caretaker thing is just a fact; I wasn’t a member of the Caretaker when I won the election in 2018, so why should I be discouraged from serving the party? If My performance speaks for me and that is good and fine,” he said.
Governor Oyetola, who noted that he was prepared for the election, added that he had gone round to 18 of the 34 local government areas of the state to campaign on why he should be re-elected.
Meanwhile, another aspirant, Alhaji Adeoti, who recently defected from the Action Democratic Party (ADP) to join the APC while speaking to journalists, said he has submitted a petition to the party’s Caretaker Committee. He expressed concern over Governor Oyetola’s membership in the Caretaker Committee.
“Let me add that we have just submitted our petition to the caretaker committee on two grounds: first, the date of the gubernatorial primary has been changed from March 5 to February 19 with no reason. In Ekiti state, it was extended from January 17 to 27th, but in our case, they are bringing it back by two weeks preceding the national convention.
“Secondly, until today, governor Oyetola is still a member of the CECPC led by Governor Mai Mala Buni. I don’t see how the primary will be free and fair if Oyetola is a judge in his case,” he said.
Adeoti added that his focus would be on the security and welfare of the people if elected.
“Two issues are central to any government, the security and welfare of the citizens. In the governor’s federal constituency, Boripe/Ifelodun and Odo Otin, there is no functioning commercial bank. This is to show you the level of insecurity in the state.
“We both served in the last administration, where we bought twenty-eight APCs (armoured personnel career), but as we speak, none is functioning. He refused to service them. In the past, when three banks were robbed in Ikirun, we apprehended all of them, but now nothing is being done.
“In welfare, as I said, a local government as big as Iwo has enjoyed nothing. I’m promising that all these laxities will be things of the past if I assume office,” he said.
Editor/Suzan O.
