A governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state, Dr Peter Babalola, has argued strongly that not even the power brokers in the party would inhibit the chances of South West Senatorial District producing the successor to incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
The Chairman, Osun State Local Government Service Commission said the district would not only succeed the present administration but the successor must be a Christian.
Babalola said this in Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area on Tuesday at an inter-religious prayer programme organised to start his governorship campaign.
Babalola, who spoke in Yoruba however, commended the government of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for running the affairs of the state with good judgment.
The governorship aspirant, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria said Osun West would render good governance for the people of the state.
He said agitations by the people of West Senatorial for the governorship ticket of APC is real, adding that the zone would not compromise its stand no matter the interest of the power-brokers within APC.
He commended Governor Aregbesola for raising bar of development in Osun, saying in almost 8 years of his reign, the state has witnessed unprecedented development.
“I worked with the military administration and also with civilian government. Aregbesola’s has been able to outperform others before him since the creation of the state. We don’t want that to stop,” Babalola said.
The prayer was attended by the Chief Imam of Osun State, Musa Animasaun, and imams from all local government areas in the state as well as the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria led by the Vice Chairman in the state, Rev. John Adeniyi.
The Timi of Ede, Oba Adesola Lawal, led about 20 Obas to attend the prayer which recorded a large turnout of Christians and Muslims from across the state.
The Christian and Muslim clerics prayed for the success of the campaign and peace and prosperity in the country.
In his sermon, Chief Imam of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Dr. Taofiq Abdumhamid, said injustice within the fold of the APC caused rancour that dogged State and local Congresses the party recently held across the country.
He then warned Osun state chapter of the party to be fair to all aspirants seeking its governorship ticket to aviod needless controversies, adding that, if zoning is part of APC arrangement, then it should be respected by it’s leaders.
“I was watching television earlier today and I saw reports on rancour that characterised APC Congresses across the country. The root cause of the crises is injustice.
“In Osun here, if zoning is part of APC constitution, whether written or unwritten, it should be respected. Don’t cheat anyone. Be fair to all to avoid needless controversies,” the cleric concluded.
In another sermon, Rev. John Adeniyi, Osun state Deputy Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) chairman, urged Babalola to put his trust in only God, as he goes out to vie for APC ticket.
According to him, people seeking political offices must put God first in their and pursue their ambition in peaceful manner.
The service was attended by the religious leaders, politicians, traditional rulers and members of APC across the state.
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