Ekiti 2022: Why I dropped my governorship ambition – Ojudu

Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has warned that the division and disunity among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State signals a bad omen that could deprive the party of victory in the 2022 governorship election.

Ojudu said he decided to sacrifice his governorship ambition and maintain neutrality in 2022 to afford him the opportunity to mediate and resolve all nagging issues for the party to be victorious in the June 18 election.

He gave the warning in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, while interacting with selected members of the APC and kinsmen who paid him a visit at his residence in the state capital.

Ojudu thanked his followers for not abandoning him since he forayed into politics, promising not to fail them in terms of the dispensation of dividends of democracy.

Addressing the party supporters, Ojudu said: “What we are seeing today in Ekiti APC portrays a very bad omen for our party, but we will salvage the situation so that we can rescue whatever that remains for the benefit of all of us.

“I am particularly happy for your love. I am not contesting and despite this, you still stand with me. This shows that we have become one family. I have decided not to contest this election so that I can assume a leadership position mediating among aspirants.

“There are divisions everywhere. I even learnt a big fight broke out at the governor’s residence yesterday(Sunday) and people were throwing water sachet and shouting ‘ole, ‘ole. No one appears to be in charge of the party.

“My own worries about APC is that I don’t want the party to be divided and lose the coming election in Ekiti. Someone like me should be able to unite our members after the primary so that the APC can retain this state.

“I don’t want to be part of the problems, but a part of the solution. The party should be able to look up to people like us in times of crisis like this. Let me be sincere with you, my preoccupation now is not how to be governor, but rescuing APC from losing Ekiti is my concern.

“I was the one leading the battle for Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency in Ekiti in 2015 and we struggled to get Mr President 25 per cent as required by law. So, the issue of unity and how our party should be together is the main target”.

The Senator charged his admirers to form a committee and take decisions on whom to support at the APC primary, saying ”I am not going to support anyone so that the party won’t have more problems”.

Ojudu added that part of the problems of Ekiti APC was the fact that the party lacks a leader who could be a unifying factor, saying the time has come for people to volunteer on how to fill the vacancy in the interest of the party.

“We don’t have a leader in Ekiti APC and this is really affecting us. The governor, who ought to play that role is partisan. Let me use my neutrality to be able to effect some changes,” he said.