All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, yesterday said that he is on a rescue mission in the State of Living Springs.
He said his antecedents and pedigree as former Finance Commissioner have prepared him well for the assignment, adding that his administration would make a great difference if elected.
However, Oyebamiji said Governor Ademola Adeleke and his Accord supporters should halt the pattern of violence for the state to have a peaceful election.
He said: “We appeal to the government in Osun to allow free and fair elections. We will abide by INEC and security rules. The antecedents of the APC are not violent. Violence is associated with the opposition parties.
“We are not violence-driven. It is not in our habit. The Accord planned to use vehicles; the supporters of Adeleke branded in APC logo to cause violence. They should desist from violence.”
Oyebamiji spoke with reporters in Lagos on his plans for the state, chances at the poll and conditions for free and fair elections.
Accompanied by his campaign manager, Wole Oke, Media Campaign Manager Remi Omowaye, former Information Commissioner Mrs Funke Egbemode, and Alhaji Ismail Omipidan, the candidate described himself as the best man for the job.
He said Osun would be safer under him and his running mate, Benjamin Adereti, whom he described as an embodiment of youthful energy, competence, vibrancy, brilliance and loyalty to the party.
Oyebamiji added: “I came to the Osun government and stabilised the finances of the state. I blocked the leakage. We did the auditing. We expanded the revenue base. We will expand the revenue base. We will guide the government’s spending.”
The candidate noted the slight split in the Osun progressive camp, but said it would not affect his chances at the poll.
Oyebamiji said: “Politics is about numbers. As of now, we have the numbers on our side. I spoke with Najeem Salaam. I want him to join us. If he does not join us, we will still win.”
Omowaye said Adeleke, who has received N1 trillion as allocation, lamented that he has nothing to show for it.
He said: “Our university is charging up to N1m as fee. Our schools are in a sorry state. In health, doctors are sacked. After Katsina, Osun has the highest number of abandoned hospitals. They are building event centres instead of hospitals.
“Adeleke said he would bring investors. Three and a half years, none has been attracted. With N16 billion monthly, there is no achievement. There was an audit, and it was found that N13.7 billion was paid to ghost workers yearly.”
Omowaye added: “The governor knows that he has no achievement to campaign with. He blackmails the APC. Over 25 members of our party have been killed. Thugs are brought to the Government House.”
He added: “The government is trying to scare away voters because he knows his time is up. I am a presidential appointee. I have been attacked before.”
Oke, a member of the House of Representatives, said: “We want INEC to be neutral. Let the security agencies be fair to all.”
He said the consensus is that Adeleke is grossly incompetent, adding that the state deserves a good governor.
He stressed: “Osun is rich in education, human capital, economic resources, and agriculture. But the governor does not have capacity. Ambo and Adeleke are miles apart. We have gone round the length and breadth of the state, across the 3,733 units.”
The Nation Newspapers
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