Worried by the feelers that some politicians from Ekiti North Senatorial District of Ekiti State are angling to be deputy governorship candidates for the June 18 poll, a political group, ‘Ekiti Progressives for Justice and Equity(EPJE)’, has told the leadership of the parties not to abandon the South in its calculation.
The body told the leaderships of the dominant parties, the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) and the All Progressives Congress(APC), to be reasonable and consider the South for their deputy governorship positions.
A statement by its convener, Chief Johnson Alade, in Aramoko Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area, on Sunday, said zoning the deputy governorship tickets to Ekiti North where Governor Kayode Fayemi comes from would buttress the suspicion that the APC in particular harbours hatred against the zone.
Alade said it sounds worrisome, disturbing and frightening that the progressive party(APC) had not considered the South for either governorship or Deputy Governorship position since the inception of democracy in 1999.
Alade was of the opinion that giving the deputy governorship to the South would help in dousing the tension created by agitations for zoning and creates the impression that there is no second class citizens in Ekiti.
The group said though it has its membership across the three senatorial district but considered it expedient that the APC must be careful in making the choice for the deputy governorship to avert the six local governments in the area from revolting and believe that the party is anti-south.
“Let me appeal to the traditional rulers, through their chairman and the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Adejumo, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti, Most Reverend Femi Felix Ajakaye, the APC Chairman in Ekiti, Paul Omotoso, Ekiti professionals and those in the diaspora to appeal to Governor Kayode Fayemi and Chief Niyi Adebayo to guide the party properly so it won’t treat Ekiti South with scorn and disdain.
“We are launching aggressive campaigns on social media, across palaces, and the 16 local governments to convince the people that South deserves this slot.
“We don’t want the APC in particular and being the ruling party to buttress the widespread notion that APC has hatred and resentment for the South by its actions.”
Corroborating his point further, Alade added that the APC has good politicians and technocrats like Muyiwa Ogunmilade, the present Chairman, Ekiti State Board of Internal revenue that can be considered fit and apposite for the position.
“Besides Ogunmilade, who is a former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank in Gambia, APC also has the likes of Hon Bamidele Faparusi, the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Funminiyi Afuye, Hon Femi Bamisile, Mrs Margaret Fagboyo, Hon Yemisi Ayokunle, Makinde Araoye, Muyiwa Olumilua, Finance Commissioner, Femi Ajayi as people that can be considered for the seat.
“We knew the role Muyiwa Ogunmilade has been playing to increase the revenue of Ekiti for Governor Fayemi to run the state smoothly and progressively. He also has international networks that can help the state. Hon Funminiyi Afuye has also stabilised the Assembly for the government. Why can’t they be rewarded with this seat?
“These are good products that can complement the party’s candidate, Biodun Oyebanji administratively and politically.”
Also for the PDP, Alade said the likes of an ex-banker, Kayode Adaramodu, Prof Kolapo Eleka, and Mrs Safe Akinrinmola, are good products that can complement Bisi Kolawole in running Ekiti seamlessly.