From: Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
A former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, has commended Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, for his public endorsement of the Ogun West zone as his successor.
Ogun West zone of the state is yet to produce a governor 41 years after the creation of the state.
But Governor Amosun recently expressed his resolve to support the Ogun West district for his party’s ticket in the build-up to the 2019 governorship election.
Speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta, on Tuesday, Akinlade said the governor has chosen to follow the path of justice and equity, adding that posterity will not forget his bold step.
According to him, Ogun West has been the most marginalised of the three zones in the state, adding that it is only just and right for all political parties in the state to follow the path of Amosun and the All Progressives Congress (APC), in zoning their governorship ticket to the zone.
Said he, “As a stakeholder in our state, I want to commend our governor for daring the odds and publicly identifying with the Ogun West people in our quest to break the over 40-year-old jinx in the state. Posterity will not forget him and we believe that the zone will succeed him in 2019.
“I want to urge our people to put our house in order and eschew the practice of the past that debarred us from reaching the Promised Land.”
While urging for a seamless process that would produce the candidates of political parties from the zone, Akinlade, who represented Yewa South-Ipokia Constituency the House of Representatives between 2003 to 2015, urged traditional rulers and elders in the state to support the governor and other leaders committed to the Ogun west course.
“We must put our house in order and ensure that the groundswell of support we are getting from other zones and the governor does not fade away, we must work hard and ensure that our aspirations are channeled in the right direction.
“I want to urge other political parties in the state to follow the path of APC and the governor by zoning their party’s ticket to Ogun West senatorial district. We salute the governor and we pray for wisdom for him. He has displayed courage, forthrightness and leadership; we believe he will midwife his successor from the zone without any hitch.” He submitted.