By Ismail Azeez
The spokesperson of the Imole Campaign Council (TICC) for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election campaign, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has withdrawn his earlier remarks concerning the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Olajengbesi, in a statement posted on his verified Facebook account on Thursday, said he personally withdrew comments that might have been perceived as disrespectful to the Edo State Governor
He noted that several eminent Nigerians and respected members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were also in Osun during the election and worked actively for their party without publicly disrespecting Governor Adeleke or diminishing the dignity of his office.
According to him, “I personally withdraw my earlier remarks that may have appeared disrespectful to the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“Governor Monday Okpebholo was in Osun State for the election and, in my view, conducted himself in a very uncharitable manner. But the election is now over.
“Going forward, I would respectfully advise the Governor to speak more through his media aides and reduce the activities of the two overzealous cheerleaders around him who are constantly shouting, hyping and hailing him.
“A lot of eminent Nigerians and respected members of the APC were in Osun State. Many worked even harder than Governor Monday Okpebholo for their party, yet none publicly disrespected Governor Ademola Adeleke or diminished the dignity of his office.
“I therefore withdraw any statement that may have appeared unduly insulting or disrespectful. Political disagreements should never prevent us from respecting public institutions and the offices people occupy.
“I equally encourage the good people of Edo State to continue to hold their Governor accountable. That is the responsibility of citizens in every democracy,” he said.
Olajengbesi’s comment came after Adeleke’s victory in the August 15 election. The governor ran on the Accord Party platform.
Before the poll, APC governors from other states focused on Osun and visited to support their party’s candidate. Edo’s Okpebholo was among them and became a target of the Adeleke campaign.