Joshua Omoloye, Abuja
- Says no black market judicial procurement can stop the convention
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu has further confirmed divisions among governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor made it clear that pitching tent with or distancing from the embattled governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni demarcate the interests of the governor.
He said majority of the Progressive Governors are behind the acting chairman of the party’s Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) except a few are ‘yahoo yahoo governors’, borrowing a phrase from the former Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Dr Salihu Lukman.
Akeredolu in a personally signed statement bemoaned the immediate past National Chairman for supplanting the will of President Muhammadu Buhari, as the national leader of the party.
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Castigating Buni’s tenure as chairman of CECPC, the Ondo governor said “the insidious and appalling happenings within our party in the last few months, especially under the immediate-past leadership clearly posit a huge embarrassment.
“Without necessarily dwelling on details that are known to critical stakeholders, the path taken lately by Governor Mai Mala Buni, the immediate past head of the CECPC and an indivisible few, is an unenviable trajectory undeserving of our dear party. It is a disdainful narrative”.
Acknowledging the delight of majority of APC governors in the change of baton, he said “the courage and determination, as well as shrewd sincerity of purpose demonstrated by most of the APC Governors, remain a delight. Significantly, the swift response and prompt action taken by Mr President have, in no small means, salvaged our great party from internal scavengers. We indeed survived a Civilian Coup largely inspired by mischief and incurable lust for power through artificial barricades, The Trumpet gahtered.
“Succinctly, aside from feeling very delighted as a major stakeholder in the latest successful Rescue Mission, I express my confidence in the ability and capacity of Governor Sanni Bello(ABU LOLO) to take APC through. We, the Governors are for the party except for the few “Yahoo, Yahoo” Governors (apologies to Salihu, former DG of the Progressive Governors’ Forum) who were hand in glove with Buni to circumvent the Will of the majority of our Party (APC) members.
“Progressive Governors in the true name, mostly all of us, are determined to see our Party through these patchy parts at all cost.
“None of the scanty numbers has the guts to carry out their imaginary threats as reported in sponsored stories. We dare them to leave the party. Their short-lived antics in arm twisting Governor Buni and probably, some pocket filling elements within the corridors of power to supplant the President’s will through fake letters, endorsements as well as ‘Black Market’ injunction (procured since November 2021) is despicable”.
He assured that the coast is clear for the March 26 national convention.
He said “now that the clear motive aimed at frustrating our national convention has been botched, our dear party is on the track to greatness. Gov. Sanni Bello, ABU LOLO, carry on; you have the backing of the majority of us. You shall see our FULL backing come Thursday, 17th March 2022 at the National Executive Committee meeting”.