Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji
*ABEOKUTA* – A chieftain of All Progressives Congress and former Deputy Governor in Ogun State, Senator Adegbenga Kaka has denied insinuation that his governorship ambition is to negotiate for a juicy position in the party.
Senator Kaka who belongs to APC faction loyal to the former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba said he is rigid in principle to be manipulated by anyone on his governorship ambition.
He stated this on Monday while declaring his intention to run for the governorship race in the state held at the NUJ Press Centre, Abeokuta also claimed ignorance of any zoning system in the party in Ogun State.
The former senator in the 6th National Assembly pointed out that, zoning of the governorship ticket is not a decision to be taken by “single element” in the party.
He noted that, the agitation for the Yewa governorship agenda was to make create confusion in the state, stressing that there was no historical evidence that any section of the State was marginalized.
He stated that, there was no time the Yewa zone was disenfranchised from partaking in the governorship election in the state, saying the governorship race should be open for credible candidate.
“I empathize with our people from Ogun West, but we have to becareful in making assertion. At no point in time did any section of the State was denied from participating in the governorship election in the state.
“You would agree with me that, in 2011, the Yewa zone presented two governorship candidates in General Adetunji Olurin and Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, even in 2015, the zone still presented Senator Akin Odunsi and Gboyega Nasir Isiaka against Senator Ibikunle Amosun from the central.
“Governorship zoning is not something you can do in the confine of your room. I am not aware of any zoning in the party and APC should not make any group inferior, we should not go for Yewa or Ijebu governor, but let us present a formidable candidate that can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people”.
Speaking on the direct primaries adopted by the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Senator Kaka noted that, the advantage of open primaries outweighs other options as contained in the party’s constitution.
He maintained that, the direct primaries would allow all card carrier members of the party to be involved in the selection process of the party candidate.
He therefore eulogized Senator Ibikunle Amosun on the infrastructural projects in the state, but lamented the neglected of other sectors of the economy, promising to improve on the working conditions of the state civil servants.