Reconciliatory Meeting: APC Mulls Inclusive Government In Ondo
As part of efforts to appease the aggrieved aspirants in last Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to the current governor of the state and the embattled winner of the exercise, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to run an inclusive government.
Earlier, it was reported that the leadership of the party, led by its National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje had called for a reconciliatory meeting with all the 16 aspirants where 14 initially showed up, while the immediate commissioner for finance in the state, Wale Akinterinwa later joined.
Our correspondent gathered that only the National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the party, Isaac Kekemeke was unavoidably absent.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Duro Meseko, disclosed the outcome of the closed door meeting which lasted for over two hours.
Speaking with journalists at the Media Center of the party in Abuja, Meseko said while dialogue is still ongoing, the leadership of the party has appealed to the aggrieved aspirants on the need to work together as a united family.
“We are here this evening to brief you about the meeting that was held by the NWC with all the aspirants that participated in last week’s governorship primary in Ondo State. The candidate and the remaining 15 aspirants were invited, and two key resolutions were reached.
“One, it was agreed at the meeting that because of the complaints that trailed the outcome of the primary by some of the aspirants, there is a need for the party to continue dialogue with all the aspirants individually and collectively to have a common ground for the forthcoming elections in the state. Also, it is for them to be able to work together as a united family.
“Secondly, it was also agreed that the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, should immediately work towards instituting what we call ‘inclusive governance’ in the state by involving all the other aspirants. Of course, we know most of the aspirants won’t be able to participate in his government. But they have people that we can allow to make input. He should work and relate with them to move the state forward. These were the two key ingredients taken out of today’s meeting.”
Also speaking, the State Chairman of Ondo APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin buttressed Meseko, adding that the party cannot afford to lose the state to the opposition.
“As earlier disclosed by the deputy national publicity secretary, the NWC agreed after two-hour deliberation that we will continue to dialogue with all the aspirants. We will continue to engage both at the national and state level.
“The second resolution was to run an inclusive government in Ondo State. Our governor was there when it was taken and it is mandatory that it commence immediately. This must include the aspirants and other members of our party in Ondo State. We believe Ondo is a progressive state. We have a large chunk of party supporters in the APC.
“In the last election, we had three senatorial seats won by the APC. In the House of Representatives, we won eight out of nine seats. Out of 26 seats in the State Assembly, we got 22. I believe you will agree with me that Ondo is an APC state.
“What we came here to deliberate is to decide the mode of working together and to have less division within our party. I want to thank all the aspirants. Sixteen contested the last primary election.
Today’s meeting was attended by 15. That shows we have given room for dialogue.
That is what we are here to do,” he noted.
While Aiyedatiwa remains the potential candidate of APC, Agboola Ajayi who was the deputy to Akeredolu in his first tenure emerged the winner of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) primary election held on Thursday, in Akure, the capital city of the state.
Coincidentally, provided the outcome of both APC and the major opposition party in the state, PDP stand, the two deputy governors to the late governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu will be flying the flags of their respective parties in the November 16 governorship election.