Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo
“Assuming it was PDP that took over in 2018, Osun would have crumbled entirely. The economy is bad but we are still able to manage and we will continue to manage until things get better. ”
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Sunday Akere said the above on Tuesday while expressing confidence that APC would emerge victorious in the 2022 gubernatorial election.
While fielding questions from journalists, Akere, a former Commissioner of Information and Strategy in the State said, “In 2022, we are going to emerge as the by God’s grace. The difference is clear. We have learnt that it is better to be united in forming a government and managing it than being in the opposition.”
Speaking on the rumoured rift between the present Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Honourable Akere debunked the rumour, noting that “There is no double APC in Osun.”
He said, “The constitution is clear. Whoever is the governor is the leader in a state. Ogbeni Rauf was governor for 8 years and we all referred to him as the leader. Now, Governor Oyetola is the, and he is the leader of the party. And it behoves on all of us to rally round him and support him till he succeeds.”
Akere described Oyetola as a silent achiever whose impact is felt in all sector of the economy despite the paucity of funds.
According to him, “Oyetola doesn’t have to climb the rooftops before we know that he is working. He is doing his best and we must commend him.
“We must give it to Oyetola. Of course, he has not been making noise but he has impacted so much in the over two years of his administration.
“Some people may say payment of salaries is not an achievement. But I know that his colleagues’ governors often ask how he has been able to achieve so much.
“Workers are getting promotion and full salaries. Infrastructure is not stopping. He commits 708 million to pension and gratuity every month.
“Osun is an elitist state, and we deserve the best. If the PDP comes today, what will they use to campaign? Oyetola deserves a second term because of all he has achieved,” he added.