Elders of the Southwest region in the All Progressives Congress (APC) ended their meeting with presidential, gubernatorial and National Assembly aspirants from the zone on a convivial note on Friday night with sources confirming that the leaders resolved that every aspirants has a right to contest.
Besides, the closed-door meeting also resolved that name callings and other personal attacks should no longer be encouraged by aspirants and their supporters.
According to an inside source, “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 had been convened by the first Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; 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, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Also at the meeting, apart from the aspirants were the former Governor of Lagos State, who is now Works and Housing Minister Mr Babatunde Fashola; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Governors Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State.
Others included former Osun State Governor and Interior Ministe, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the APC National Secretary Otunba Iyiola Omisore.
While commending the Vice President, being the highest ranking public officer from South West extraction, 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 the 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 emerged as the party’s candidate, stating that the cohesion of the South West must be sancrosanct.
