By Adewumi Ademiju, Ado Ekiti
As the race for the 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State gains momentum, a group of concerned people from South Senatorial district of the state, under aegis of Ekiti South for Governor forum, are working out modalities that would ensure that stakeholders in the race work together to produce a formidable candidate among aspirants of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the district who would emerge as party flag bearer and also win the 2018 governorship election .
The group which consists of Ekiti South for Governor forum and Ekiti South Governorship Aspirants met on Saturday at Don Clemence Hotel, Ado Ekiti at the end of its meeting came out with a communiqué on how to ensure the success of the project.
The meeting which had about 15 aspirants and leaders of APC from Ekiti South Senatorial District in attendance, was convened by Professor Phillip Omoniyi Adetiloye, an APC governorship aspirant from Ise- Orun local government area of the state.
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman, Ekiti South for Governor forum Chief Oluwole Ariyo who commended the aspirants for their team spirits, advised all them to work together and produce a vibrant candidate who can win the governorship election in 2018.
Ariyo said the emergence of the southern aspirants on the political tuft, has proved wrong the statement from some quarters that the southern district does not have qualified candidates for the governorship race.
He said that there is no extraordinary quality wanted in a governor that could not be found from among all the southern aspirants.
The Chairman, Ekiti South for Governor forum hinted that the resolution of the meeting was to throw up one or two formidable candidates and find amicable resolution to the uncomfortable issue of large number of aspirants from the senatorial district.
In his statement, the convener of the meeting, Professor Phillip Omoniyi Adetiloye, thanked members of Ekiti South for Governor Forum for the dedication and focus on the struggle to produce the next Governor in the state even as he commended the aspirants for the spirit of brotherliness among them.
He said the objective of the meeting was to harvest collective intelligence for the success of South Senatorial District at the poll.
The university don who lamented the present dangerous state of politics, economy and security of life and properties in Ekiti state, said the time has come for aspirants from the southern senatorial district of the state to work together and win collective struggle with transparent method.
He suggested that the district should present and support one aspirant who after winning the election would in return ensure that all other aspirants from the district benefit from the dividend of the struggle.
”After presenting a formidable candidate, there should be compensations for other aspirants in terms of political appointments. There must be moral and financial supports for the aspirant “ as he added, “Hopefully in 2018 South will produce the next governor “
Professor Adetiloye who advocated zoning system, urged party leaders in the state to learn from the consequence of the Osun West Senatorial election that produced Senator Ademola Adeleke.
He, therefore, advised the aspirants to be acquainted with the party leaders to enable them understand the pranks of delegates, saying the issues of ”consensus candidate in this regard cannot be overemphasized “
The convener who disclosed that the aspirants are planning a joint rally to drum the Ekiti South Governorship agenda to APC leaders and voters in the state to win their commitments to the project in few weeks time, therefore, suggested that the outcome of the meeting be communicated to the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the President Muhammadu Buhari.
Also speaking at the meeting, a committee member of South for Governor forum, Hon. Francis Aladejebi who equally supported the idea of concession, added that a local or mini primary election which would involve party members from other districts should be adopted.
The forums at the meeting however requested that the aspirants should provide financial assistance for the execution of the project .
Responding, Professor Adetiloye urged the forum to draw a comprehensive budget that would facilitate the financial contributions from the aspirants .
The content of a communiqué drawn and jointly signed by the two groups, Ekiti South for Governor forum and Ekiti South Governorship Aspirants after the meeting reads:
”The Ekiti South for Governor forum and Ekiti South Governorship Aspirants acknowledge the support the elders forum of Ekiti state’s All Progressive Congress APC and well meaning people of Ekiti state who have unequivocally stated that it is the turn of Ekiti South Senatorial District to produce the next governor of Ekiti state based on the principle of fairness, equity and justice because the North and Central Senatorial districts have produced two governors each while Ekiti South Senatorial district is yet to produce a governor since Ekiti state was created twenty one years ago.
“That all aspirant must work together to mobilize and campaign within and outside the state about the desire of the Southern senatorial district to produce the next Governor of Ekiti state.
That the Ekiti South aspirants of APC must work together to ensure that one of them emerge at the party primaries as the flag bearer of our party.
That all the APC governorship aspirants from the South Senatorial District must work as a team with the Elders forum , party leaders and all other stakeholders in Ekiti State to ensure that Ekiti South produces the next governor of the state.
That Ekiti is one indivisible, educated, enlightened State with a strong belief in justice, fairness and equity.
That we must work together to strengthen the good relationship among the three senatorial district; since we have numerous supporters and sympathizers with a deep sense of political history, fairness and justices in the three districts.
That executive leadership of the party must work with all stakeholders to ensure free and fair election devoid of violence and that the emergence of Ekiti South Senatorial district candidates as the flag bearer of the party remains the panacea for the victory of Ekiti state APC in the next governorship election.”
Aspirants who attended the meeting were Former Senate Deputy Minority whip, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Former Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Faparusi and Former Commissioner for Works, Chief Diran Adesua
Others are, Former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Projects, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua; Hon. Bayo Idowu. Former Commissioner for Budget\Planning, Mr. Debo Ranti Ajayi and Captain Sunday Adebomi.
Those who were unavoidably absent but ably represented were, Dr Wole Oluyede, Mr Kola Alabi and Chief Dele Okeya .
