South-West APC Elders Meeting With Osinbajo, Tinubu, Others Affirm rights Of All Aspirants To Contest

A South-West All Progressives Congress (APC) elders meeting with presidential, gubernatorial and National Assembly aspirants from the zone ended last night on a convivial note, as sources confirm that the leaders resolved that every aspirant has a right to contest.

The meeting held behind closed doors reportedly also resolved that name-calling and other personal attacks should no longer be encouraged by aspirants and their supporters.

A source who attended the meeting said, “the issue of betrayal was put to rest as the elders affirmed that everyone who desires to run for any political office whatsoever is not encumbered in any way at all.” The leaders and the aspirants all agreed to conduct a rancour-free campaign.

The meeting was convoked by Chief Bisi Akande,
the first Chairman of APC and a former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, both of whom served as co-conveners.

Present at the meeting were the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos State governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Also at the meeting, apart from the aspirants were the former governor of Lagos State and Works and Housing Minister Mr Babatunde Fashola, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief Niyi Adebayo, governors Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Governor Oyetola of Osun State. Others included former Osun State governor and Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola and the APC National Secretary Otunba Iyiola Omisore.

While commending the Vice-President, being the highest-ranking public officer from the South-West for a job well done, inside sources disclosed that the APC elders stated categorically that all the aspirants had the right to aspire to be President. But, they enjoined all aspirants to exhibit the ‘Omoluabi’ ethos in their politicking by shunning divisive rhetorics.

While stating that consultations with them would be a continuous exercise, the meeting admonished the aspirants to queue behind whoever amongst them that eventually emerges as the party’s candidate, stating that the cohesion of the South-West must be sacrosanct.