Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday restated his opposition to the candidature of Dapo Abiodun.
Abiodun is the candidate approved by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but Amosun insisted that his anointed aspirant, Abiodun Akinlade, should be the standard bearer.
In a statement in Abeokuta, the state capital, yesterday by Commissioner for Information, Otunba Dayo Adeneye, titled: My Position on Ogun APC Governorship, Amosun said he had “followed with deep reflection and consternation, the false and embarrassing reports in some sections of the media that he had been prevailed upon by some party leaders in the state to support the purported emergence of Prince Dapo Abiodun as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement said the “malicious allegations” would have been ignored but for the general interest of the public and the good people of Ogun State.
It described the allegation as another in a series of political propaganda to tarnish the image of Governor Amosun, who stands solidly behind the duly elected consensus candidate of the APC, Adekunle Akinlade.
“Those behind the unfounded rumours are doing so to heat up the polity ahead of the 2019 general elections. They are doing it on behalf of their paymasters for cheap political motives. It has become a routine of many political jobbers in Ogun State,” the statement said.
“There are no slaves in Ogun State, as insinuated by some aggrieved politicians. Everyone under our watch is a free born and the Amosun administration will continue to defend the freedom of the masses and work for the socio-economic advancement of the state till our last day in office,” it added.
According to the governor, political actors should be wary of statements that could de-market the state and reverse the enormous gains of recent years.
He said: “You don’t have to be seen to discredit a government with sterling achievements in order to advance your own selfish ambition or make wild, inflammatory and seditious comments that have no foundation.
“You don’t also create artificial tension and insecurity in order to advance your cause, without the thought of the economic consequences to the state and welfare of the masses. This is not the right way to play politics.”
The statement added: “Politicians who know their onions and enjoy grassroots’ support fight their political battles on the electoral field rather than recourse to cheap blackmail and propagation of falsehood.”
