A South West APC Elders meeting with presidential, gubernatorial and National Assembly aspirants from the zone ended on Friday night during which the leaders resolved that every aspirants has a right to contest.
The meeting, held behind closed doors, at Lagos House, Marina, also resolved that name callings and other personal attacks should no longer be encouraged by aspirants and their supporters.
A source at the meeting said “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 was convened by the first Chairman of All Progressives Congress (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 Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Also at the meeting, apart from the aspirants were the former Governor of Lagos State and Works and Housing Minister Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Governors Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state and Governor Oyetola of Osun state.
Others included former Osun State Governor and Interior Minister 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 all 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 emerges as the party’s candidate, stating that the cohesion of the South West must be sancrosanct.
Some supporters of the Vice-President had one day ago kicked against having the meeting holding at the Lagos House, Marina, Lagos.
“We are saying that a meeting of such nature could be held but NOT at their preferred location and not conducted by two notable figures who are unrepentant loyalists of one of the major contenders.