Members of the All Progressives Congress in Osogbo, Osun state capital have asked the leadership of the party to concede the ticket of Irepodun, Olorunda, Orolu and Osogbo Federal Constituency Ticket for House of Representatives to an indigene of the state capital.
This request was contained in a letter dated October 8 and written to the Deputy National chairman, (South) of the party through its Osun state chairman, Prince Gbenga Famodun.
The letter which was copied to the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole said Osogbo is the stronghold of the party and should be allowed to produce the Representative of turning federal constituency.
The letter written by members of APC from Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas of the state was signed by Ghasali Dauda Oladimeji, Jimoh Olaitan Asimiyu and Tunde Tajudeen on behalf of the Osogbo sons and daughters.
It reads, “We, members of the All progressive Congress in Osogbo, the capital city and a stronghold of our great party in the State of Osun, humbly crave the indulgence of the leadership of our great party, the All Progressive Congress at the Local Government, State and National level to have a deep and thoughtful consideration on the future of the party’s fortune and ideology in the choice of who bears the party’s touch for Irepodun, Olorunda, Orolu & Osogbo Federal Constituency in the forthcoming 2019 National Assembly elections.
“Consequently, we like to reteirate that the party should as matter of fairness, loyalty, voting strength and victory for our party at the poll concede the Federal House of Representatives ticket to Osogbo township with two Local Government (Osogbo & Olorunda) being the Local Governments that have through thick and thin remained undaunted and that has shown unblemished loyalty and commitment to the course of the ‘Progressives’ since the return of democracy to the country. Osogbo township have since 1999 remained the stronghold of the Progressives (AD, AC, ACN and now APC) but have continously been snubbed by the party on who represents the constituency at the House of Representatives. This to us has repeatedly manifested in lack of adequate representation of the town and her people at the National Assembly.
“Our demands were not only borne out of our numerical strenght alone but also because not conceding the ticket to Osogbo will amount to unfair treatment, demoralisation of party members and the electorates in Osogbo and most importantly the risk of the party loosing the election of the House of Representatives to any other political party that fielded an Osogbo indigene.
“It’s imperative to note that we have been fair to other towns and Local Governments in the past and most notably, the generality of our people, the Osogbo township have kept faith with the party on the assurance that the National Assembly tickets for the 2019 elections would be conceded to Osogbo without ado.
“Need we add that there was never a time the Progressives since the days of the Alliance for Democracy, Action Congress, Action Congress of Nigeria and now the All Progressives Congress deemed it necessary to pick her House of Representatives candidate from Osogbo, while we have protested this unfair treatment in the past, we have notwithstanding remained committed and have worked for the emergence of the party’s choice.
“Our party has made it habitual to rotate the House of Representatives ticket between our neigbhouring Local Governments, Irepodun & Orolu Local Governments. For the advoidance of doubt, Hon. Paul Oluyele Larinde & Hon. (Mrs.) Mope Ojewumi both from Orolu Local Government were the party’s choice in 1999 & 2003 respectively while Irepodun Local Government since 2007 have continously presented Hon. Lasun Yusuf. In 2003 & 2007 that the Progressive Party (AD, AC and now APC) lost to the opposition, it is on record that Osogbo township comprising Osogbo & Olorunda Local Governments casted majority of the votes recorded for our party, Irepodun & Orolu Local Governments performed below expectation.
“We have maintained this gesture in expectation that by 2019 Osogbo will have the privilege to present the party’s candidate for the House of Representatives . We are however saddened with the rumour flying around that Osogbo was not concedered in the choice of the party for the Osogbo Federal Constituency House of Representatives ticket. This to us is unfair and we like to say it loud and clear that it must be stopped.
“The cooked narrative that the Osun Central Senatorial alongside the Osogbo, Olorunda, Irepodun, Orolu Federal Constituency House of Representatives tickets cannot be conceded to Osogbo is a mirage, a ruse and an affront on the tolerant and hospitable nature of the Osogbo people. We call on the people peddling this shameful excuse to tell us where were they when in the last governorship election held in the State of Osun where Osogbo stood taller to rescue our party with a total 39,932 (Osogbo LG with 23,379 and Olorunda LG with 16,254) votes as against the abysmal 12,309 votes recoreded for APC in both Irepodun and Orolu Local Government (Irepodun =6517, Orolu = 5792). While APC won in both Osogbo & Olorunda Local Governments, our party lost the recently concluded governorship election to the opposition in Irepodun & Orolu Local Governments.
“We wish to appeal to our leaders to be scientific on their choice, we like to state that the dynamism of modern politics does not allow for continous neglect of legitimate demands of constituent with unbridled enthusiasm, superior numerical strenght and conviction in our collective pursuit and aspiration. Thus, while Osogbo via the effort of party leaders and members has consistently maintained unwavering support and in the process helped our party to win elections in the past. Other towns/Local Governments within the Osogbo Federal Constituency cannot boast of equal credentials.
“As members of a formidable political party we should be less concerned with the dos of other political party. That nonetheless, it is also strategic to know what is in the offing in the opposition’s camp. This we must say with all sense of objectivism, humility and loyalty necessitates the need for our party to choose her House of Representatives candidate from Osogbo as anything short of this would make the House of Representatives election an impossible to win for our party.
“In conclusion, the members of our great party and the generality of the Osogbo township have done a careful selection and presented election wining materials for the House of Representatives candidate of our party.
We appeal to our leaders to please shield our party from impending doom, we prevail on you to please listen to the voice of reason, ” it concluded.
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