As preparations towards the Local Government congress gears up all over the country, Ibadan Southwest Local Government Area of Oyo state is presently on the watch list as one of the council areas where the election of party executives to steer the affairs of the party for another four years will be keenly contested.
Barr. Lowo Obisesan, a major stakeholder from the local Government area who was a one time commissioner for Environment in the state gave this hint in an exclusive chat with News Agency of Nigeria.
He said, “as at the last count, 13 very strong and articulate members of the party in my local Government have signified interest in contesting for the chairmanship position of the APC in my local government.
In his words:
“They have been running their campaigns and meeting with leaders and members of the party in all the 12 wards making up the local government”.
“The 13 of them are determined to go to the polls on Saturday. It is going to be a keenly contested election and I am happy about this. This is democracy at play”.
“Nobody can or will force any chairman on anybody. We are back to a democratic era in Oyo APC”.
“APC both at the national and state levels have decided to give the party back to the people, the duly registered members of the party to decide on the kind of leadership they want”.
As I speak to you APC in Ibadan Southwest council area is agog with activities. Mind you the calibre of aspirants we parade in the local government is unprecedented, we have an architect, an engineer, a school principal amongst the many array of eminently qualified candidates jostling for that seat.
“We have Arc. J. O Omoniyi, Prince Aderemi Oni, Mr. Kolawole Fasewa, Alhaji Rafiu Adepoju, Prince Tinuala, Mr Wasiu Koleoso, Engr M O Adeoye, Prince Adeyemo, Mr. Ubanu Bazil, Mr. Sunday Babalola, Mr Michael Onafadeji, Mr Williams and Dr. Ehinlaiye.”
“By the time we go to the local congress on Saturday and the election is over, I can assure that Ibadan south west local Government will come first with the calibre of seasoned professionals and technocrats we will parade as our party executives in the local Government”.
Asked if there would be a concensus candidate or option before Saturdays election, Barr. Lowo Obisesan said, the candidates have refused to step down for themselves, they all want to test the waters at the polls.
“That is the beauty of it, let the best candidate emerge through a free and fair contest.
“That also shows that APC is the party to beat in Oyo state. The effort of the leadership of the party in the state is paying off and we will continue to consolidate on that efforts”.
“The rebuilding process we all embarked upon as leaders and members of the party is yielding positive result. The success of the last ward congress we held has also increased our membership”.
“Members of the opposition PDP who were hitherto skeptical of the outcome of the repositioning drive of the Oyo APC are now more than convinced to join us now and they have been coming in droves in the last one month, this you can go and verify. The records are there. Our membership drive is a continuous drive that is still ongoing”.
“So this coming Saturday, is the day we are all looking forward to in Ibadan South West local Government area of Oyo state when the chairman of the party in the local Government will emerge and I am quite optimistic that the best will emerge rancour free by the grace of God” Obisesan concluded.
