APC, AD Differ on Progressivism

James Sowole in Akure

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo State and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) wednesday differed on the principle of progressivism and the ideologies of their candidates.

While the APC said the governorship candidate of the AD in the state, Chief Olusola Oke, was not progressive-minded but only pretending to be one by being in the party, the AD described the APC as hypocrites who only opened mouths without reasons.

The Chairman, Akeredolu Campaign Platform, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, who slammed Oke in a statement in Akure, warned the people of the state not be carried away by Oke’s alleged antics, alleging that Oke’s mission was resuscitate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and South-west states in general if he wins the governorship election.

Adetimehin further alleged that Oke’s spirit was still with the PDP where had spent 16 years before crossing to the APC and later the AD.

He added that Oke wanted to deceive the people of the state in order to get their votes in the forthcoming governorship election.

“Our people have had enough of PDP misrule in our state and they are waiting for the real progressives party to take over the state. Oke cannot be addressed as a progressive He spent all his political years in PDP.

“He was a former board member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He was the chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) and also held a key position at the PDP National Executive committee as their National Legal Adviser.

“Oke is one of those who allegedly mismanaged the resources of country during the 16 years of PDP misrule and our people must not be deceived. Oke is unfit to rule the state.”

The APC chieftain insisted that the APC’s candidate for the election, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu was the best person to pilot the affairs of the state, assuring that he (Akeredolu) would win the election. He also said the APC’s candidate was more popular than the AD’s candidate in the state.
However, in a reaction, the Chairman of Media and Publicity of the Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation, Mr. Kola Olabisi, said the APC was allegedly full of hypocrites who were not real progressives but were allegedly deceiving Nigerians.

“When Oke was with them some months ago, building the APC, he was a progressives then but now that he has been rigged out of the party, he is no more a progressives person. They are only afraid of their imminent defeat in the election.

“The APC people only believe in propaganda and rigging and now we are waiting for them next week. Because they know their candidate is not popular that is why they are doing all things possible to tarnish Oke’s image and that can’t work for them because the electorate know their choice.”