The last may not have been heard of the crisis bedeviling the Ogun State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as one of its chieftains openly advised the incumbent governor not to demystify himself by sponsoring his “consensus” candidates to contest on another platform.
Informed sources revealed that the prominent Ogun APC leader who was a former state chairman of the party at a marathon meeting held in Abeokuta last Saturday advised Gov Ibikunle Amosun against telling his loyalists to decamp and run under another platform apart from the ruling APC.
The prominent Chieftain was said to have told him point blank at the Saturday meeting that should he decide to sponsor candidates on another platform to contest the election,he will succeed in demystifying himself.
It will be recalled that Amosun had insisted on Abdulkadir Adekunle Akinlade, his preferred candidate replacing the dully affirmed and returned APC Governorship Candidate in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
Apart from paying youths and Councillors to protest in the last few weeks, the governor had transported Monarchs and Religious leaders at various times to Abuja to put pressure on the Presidency to effect an to change the candidate
Failing in his bid ,Governor Amosun was said to have decided in fielding his loyalists either in Democratic People’s Party DPP, or the Allied People’s Movement APM.
The APC Chieftain belonging to his group was said to have unemotionally advised against any such move as it would spell doom for him because unknown to him, the electorate would finally have an opportunity to take their pound of flesh for all the hardship he had inflicted on them in the over seven years.
He was said to have given him the example of Otunba Olugbenga Daniel, a sitting second term Governor who fielded his loyalist in Peoples Party of Nigeria PPN in 2011 only to be roundly trounced.
The leader said to be a National Officer was said to have told the Governor that he would be staying put in APC as he was having various opportunities with the National board appointment he recently got and has no intention of cutting his National Career short due to emotions.
Meanwhile, the Amosun “consensus” candidate has insisted on contesting the 2019 election Abdulkabir Akinlade in a statement by his media aide Azeez Alao Adelani said irrespective of the situation he is contesting in 2019
He said “my attention has been drawn to an unnecessary argument orchestrated by the people of the other camp in Ogun State All Progressives Congress (APC) to drag my principal, Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade’s (Triple A) good reputation through the mud.
“I wish to state here clearly that we will not join issue with our brothers and sisters in Ogun All Progressives Congress as we are one family but mind you, we will not tolerate such from the opposition.
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“I hereby appeal to our teeming supporters to remain calm as we await the outcome of the substitution window of our great party before we decide our next line of actions.
“Also, Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade (MHR) will formally address the good people of Ogun state next week.
“Dear patriots, be rest assured that Triple A is running for the gubernatorial seat of our dear state and with the help of Almighty God and your support, we are confident of victory come 2019 governorship general elections.”
