…Youths Kick , Call For Oyetola’s Intervention
Controversy over the zoning of the ticket for Osun West Senatorial District is now creating rumpus in the district’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general election.
THESOURCE learnt that there is pressure on the leadership of the party to zone the ticket to either Ejigbo in Ejigbo local Government Area, Ede in Ede North local Government Area or Ikire in Ayedaade Local Government Area, if it must emerge victorious in the coming election
Contrary to the demand of members , the leadership of the party were said to have agreed to zone the senatorial ticket to Iwo, Iwo Local Government Area of the state, the home town of the current Senator, Adelere Oriolowo.
The pressure groups are seeking to deny Oriolowo, the current senator from the district, the ticket to return to the Senate.
The long internal agitations was made known to the public on Sunday when members of APC in the senatorial district protested against the zoning formula adopted for the Osun West Senatorial ticket in the 2023 general elections.
It was learnt that during a meeting held in Iwo members of APC attacked leadership of the party in the district for zoning of the party’s senatorial ticket to the town.
The leadership of the party in the area it was learnt, summoned a meeting of stakeholders in the district, comprising of ten local government council areas and was attended by the incumbent senator, as well as those contesting for the ticket with the supporters.
The meeting which was held at the federal constituency office, Agbowo, Iwo had barely started when crisis erupted over the elders decision zoning the ticket to Iwo.
In his opening remark, the party’s senatorial Chairman of the district, Hon. Oluremi Omolaoye informed the gathering that the Senatorial apex body has agreed to retain the Senatorial ticket in Iwo.
“To ensure that all political interests are properly factored in, the Apex body of the Party in her meeting held on the 23rd of April 2022 unanimously resolved as follows: that the Senate seat of this District for the 2023 election is herein zoned to Iwo Federal Constituency”.
Following the announcement, supporters of other aspirants from other zones started shouting, “Ikire, Ikire”, “Ejigbo, Ejigbo”, Ede, Ede” during which the meeting became unruly and members started charging towards the high table.
Sensing the danger, the leadership quickly ended the meeting and ran out of the venue to avoid attack.
Some of the party chieftains at the gathering include; Hon. Yunusa Amobi, Hon. Ayo Omidiran, Hon. Patricia Eteh, Professor Mojeed Alabi, Professor Ladipo among others.
Speaking on the development , the convener of a socio-political group, Osun West Youth and Women Forum (OWYWF), Comrade Olalekan Ojasope decried the decision of the elders of the party in the zone saying such decision might affect the results of the coming gubernatorial election in the area.
He hinted that they would continue to press home their demands among which are the ceding of the ticket to a women Politician and zoning the position to other local government areas in the zone.
“The decision of the leadership of the party to zone the Osun West Senatorial ticket to Iwo could be best described as a “Politics of Ghana Must Go”.
“The so called leadership never sought the decision of other members of the party in the Senatorial District before arriving at that self-centered decision.
“As a matter of fact, when the main Elections come you would no see some of these so called elders again. it’s we youths and women that do sacrifice our time, even our resources and make sure we vote ensure that our votes count. Most of them would not be where to be found.” He said
While speaking on the agitation of the youths in the district, OWYWF convener said there is the need for stakeholders within the party to give a female the opportunity to represent Osun West Senatorial District in 2023 at Senate and the ticket should not be zoned to Iwo this time around.
“There is the need for a woman to take over from the present senator , because it is the only woman who can provide better representation for us unlike what we are witnessing now.
“We do not want a lawmaker who gain pleasure in petty empowerment such as distribution of motorcycles, grinding machines among others.
“We want a female senator who can deliver more government spending to their districts unlike male senators do.
Ojasope said they are very optimistic that if a woman is given the opportunity to occupy the seat, it would bring resounding development to the people of the constituency.
Ojasope said their decision to root for a female Senator was borne out of their desire to bring Osun West Senatorial District out of the woods.
“We don’t want a senator who would be flexing muscle with the incumbent Governor, Gboyega Oyetola because of the position he occupies. If the ticket is given to a man , he would be the one who would be aspiring to be the next governor of the state.”
They however, appealed to the Governor of the state , Mr Gboyega Oyetola to wade in and ensure that the will of the people of the senatorial district is giving consideration.
