Former Guber Aspirant will not Dump APC in Kwara,  Says Aide

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A former governorship aspirant on the platform of  the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2019 general election, Hon. Mashood Mustapha, popularly called MM, would not dump the party for another party as being insinuated in certain quarters as a result of the Kwara Hotels concession issue.

The Special Adviser to Hon. Mustapha on Political Matters, Dr. Opeyemi Aregbesola, stated this in Ilorin in a chat with journalists.

He said that the former guber aspirant has remained committed to the APC and would continue to work with the Kwara State Governor, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, so as to ensure electoral victory of the party.

 Aregbesola, who debunked the claims that Hon. Mustapha is planning his exit from the party as a result of the Kwara Hotels concession issue, said that “the claim is a figment of the peddlers’ imagination.”

He noted that “the issue of Kwara Hotels concession is purely business and, therefore, has no political undertone.”

He said: “Over the past couple of days, there have been insinuations that Hon. Mashood Mustapha is planning to jump ship following the informal termination of the Fix and Operate Concession of Kwara Hotels granted to his company, Crystal Group, by the Kwara State Government.

“The rumours are not only laughable but also a figment of the peddlers’ imagination. Hon Mustapha is one of the few politicians who are consistent and stand firmly for what they believe in.

“It is imperative to state that he has been a member of the APC since its inception. Even when the tides were against him, he stood firmly by the party.

“Mashood Mustapha is one of the major forces behind the unity and stability of the APC in his ward, local government, and the state at large.”

He added: “Mustapha has written his name in gold in the hearts of well-meaning Kwarans following his invaluable contribution to the success of the Otoge movement in 2019.

“It’s on record that he placed the interest of his party above his personal interest during the 2018 APC Governorship primary election where he was disqualified unjustly.

“Instead of proceeding to court, MM rallied support for the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who later emerged as the governor of Kwara State in 2019.

“Since the formation of the APC till date, MM has contributed to the success of the party in no small measure.

“He (MM) was one of the few persons who remained in the APC when the majority of the party members decamped to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2018.”

Aregbesola pointed out further that “it is, therefore, preposterous to assume that someone who has gone to such great lengths for the success of the party will suddenly exit the party over a mundane issue like hotel concession. MM does not mix business with politics. Hence, his stand on following due process.

“MM’s open letter was not meant to embarrass anyone. Rather, it was an avenue to vent his displeasure over how the government handled the issue.

“The fact that a high-ranking member of the APC was treated in such a manner leaves much to be desired, especially, since his expertise in the field of hospitality cannot be questioned.

“I want to reiterate that MM remains a bonafide member of the APC, and he will continue to contribute his quota to the success of the party both at the state and national level.”