As Oyetola predicts victory for Tinubu in 2023 poll
A former Ife Federal lawmaker and frontline aspirant in the last primary election of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Ife House of Representatives seat, Rotimi Makinde, has reaffirmed his loyalty to the party and political leader, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, despite his inability to clinch the ticket during the controversial primary.
In a chat with journalists in Abuja, Makinde pledged to continue to support and work for the progress of the party, and also expressed gratitude to his numerous supporters and delegates who took part in the last exercise.
He further extended his appreciation to his supporters who firmly stood by him before and after the party primary despite the level of threats, intimidation and harassment meted out to him in the course of the electioneering process.
He, however, urged them not to dump the party or work against APC despite the unhealthy experience of the past.
Makinde, who represented Ife Federal Constituency during the 7th Assembly (2011-2015), expressed optimism that the party will overcome all challenges rising against it, noting that there are still large numbers of committed party members that believe in the party in Osun State and Nigeria by extension.
He equally assured that Oyetola will regain his stolen mandate at the Election Tribunal and that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge victorious in the 2023 presidential poll to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said: “I really don’t like talking about the last primary election in my constituency which should have ordinarily given me the opportunity to serve the people of Ife as a ranking federal parliamentarian of the 10th Assembly, and also putting to bear my experience and ability to the benefits of my constituents. It was a missed opportunity that could have guaranteed and attracted jobs, federal projects, monumental developments, socio-economic empowerment, human capital development and capacity building, and quality and well-intentioned representation, among others.
“However, wise counsel and the spirit of civility, decency, maturity and sportsmanship in me made me put all that behind me now and move on as a true party man who is loyal, committed and unshaken, no matter the strength of the storm. I need to also admit that this is also an opportunity for me to specially express my profound gratitude to all delegates that voted for me and also my supporters across Ife and the entire state.
“I am particularly excited and grateful for the massive support and acceptance gave to me from the beginning and all through the process leading to the primary election. I appreciate them for standing strong despite the level of threats, intimidation and harassment meted out on me in the course of the electioneering process. Those who feel intimated by my rising political profile and tried to block my rising are only trying to play God. But I tell them the law of retribution will surely catch up with them.
“Today I am happy I have won the hearts of my people and I will never let them down. I will be there for them and continue to fight for them always and I will often be there. I congratulate the APC on their choice and winner of this race and wish the party well in the forthcoming general election. Meanwhile, I also want our party leadership to also improve on their reward mechanism for loyal members.”
Asked about the July governorship election which gave victory to the PDP candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Makinde said, “Well I am not a lawyer, but you will agree with me that the outcome of the Osun State governorship election is still under judicial searchlight and you should know that it would be subjudice to comment on that matter the way I would have love to. But let me make some very salient points here. Politics is said to be local and we can not shy away from its dynamics at the local level. I may not have the ticket today for the House of Representatives seat, but one thing remains sacrosanct and that is my support base, the people are always with me and that was evident in the results of the last gubernatorial election in July. I delivered overwhelmingly and the opposition PDP could also feel the hit during the process. APC won in my locality through my political strength, the records are there and my prayer is that our hardworking governor will have his mandate restored back at the Tribunal. Many golden rules in the Electoral Act were flouted and these form basis for our arguments and prayers at the Tribunal.”
Makinde in his response to the controversy trailing the decision of the APC and Tinubu to settle for Kashim Shettima, former governor of Borno State, who is a Muslim, as a vice-presidential candidate, the Ife-born politician said there is no cause for alarm.
“People really don’t know how politics works. I can assure you that Shettima is a perfect match for Asiwaju Tinubu as a running mate and let me also make it clear that Asiwaju sought and made wider consultations from all party stakeholders within and outside Nigeria before that choice was made. Asiwaju didn’t just want to appear on the ballot, his mission is to record a landslide victory in 2023. As a party, we expect Tinubu to take the presidency and recent developments have only reinforced our thinking.
“It does not appear that a Muslim-Muslim ticket will diminish Tinubu’s electoral chances. Remember I am a founding member of SWAGA ’23 during our nationwide tour, public perceptions evidently have it that Asiwaju will take over from President Muhammadu Buhari through a landslide victory in 2023. The support and love for him across the 6 geo-political zones are unbelievable.”
Makinde also reiterated that his willingness and resolve to continue working with the APC to attain success across board is unrelenting. Just as he said he will continue to lift up people and contribute his quota to building Osun State that the citizens desire.
