… Says Imposition attempt in APC is an “expensive joke”
An aspirant contesting for the House of Representatives in Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2, Efon, Ekiti West and Ijero Local government areas of Ekiti state, Victor Olumuyiwa Kolade, popularly known as VOK, has expressed determination to set the record straight and ensure impactful representation for his constituency in the National Assembly.
The aspirant stated this while speaking with Journalists on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, as the APC holds a primary election for the House of Representatives on Friday.
Kolade declared that he would make a difference, adding that constituents need to benefit from the dividends of democracy much more than the present situation.
He decried unwarranted political attempts on the part of his opponents and alerted the ruling party to be cautious of an imposition attempt for the sake of the party structures and forthcoming elections.
He stated that he’s fully in the contest and has scaled through the procedures for the primary election.
His words, “There had been so many empowerment projects by my predecessors, but I found that the empowerment projects were not properly structured.
“Structured in the sense that there are misplaced priorities. So, I’m here, I’m offering myself, when I get there, to scale up the issue of empowerment.
“People are not really feeling them. But I can ask you, between you and me, what is the impact, you know, of this belt, the National Assembly, in our different areas?
“So, if Obafemi Awolowo, that we remember so much today, had cultivated the idea of giving us clipper, wheelbarrow and pepper grinder in those days, I mean, there is no way we will remember him today.
“So, we need to direct our efforts to a kind of empowerment that remains with our people, uplifts them, and changes their lives.
“What we have now is a situation where you want to empower a tailor, and you are giving him clippers. Or you give him a wheelbarrow.
“What does he need that for? You know, the last result is that a tailor giving a wheelbarrow as an empowerment will sell that wheelbarrow, and he will use the money for something else. And before you know it, he’s already forgotten about that empowerment.
“So, we need to scale up these things, make sure that empowerment is properly structured.”
The aspirant lamented that society and its citizens are suffering from inadequacy and setbacks.
He added, “When we have people who have gone to the National Assembly to represent us, and we have cases like that, we need to scale up, see and structure that empowerment to fit into what is the need”.
He stressed women’s empowerment as key to Family development and stated that the state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has not endorsed any candidate calling for transparency in the primary election for the sake of democracy.
“One aspirant said he has been endorsed by the sitting government, while the other one said he has been endorsed by the former governor. So I don’t know how you intend to convince your party members to vote for you.
“Nothing stops me from saying Mr Governor has endorsed me. And you see, the issue of clinching yourself, carrying Mr Governor into your campaign.
” If you have the support of those who are going to vote for you, you don’t need to be shouting Mr Governor’s name. I have 33 wards in my constituency.
“I’ve toured everywhere. I’ve touched everywhere. I’ve spoken to and mingled with my constituent members.
“And I know how they receive me. So, anybody can say, yes! Mr Governor has endorsed me. But I’ll tell you, Mr Governor has no list.
“Mr Governor has an election before him. And I don’t think it would be right and politically sensible for anybody to have an election before him. And now say you are supporting a candidate against another one. So I believe, Mr Governor, who I can say, with all due respect, is a fair person, will not take that side.”
The aspirants who alleged that their supporters were attacked and detained, condemned and described the act as against the tenets of the ruling party.
“They are doing something that is against party supremacy, disobeying party supremacy.
“I have not received anything from anybody that I have not scaled through the process. And in essence, I’m informing you that I was cleared. I’m not in doubt about that. And I’m ready for the election tomorrow.
“My message is that the party should remember and they should always bear it in their mind that we all belong to the party. We’re not contesting against another party.
“We have all contributed our sweat, our time, our resources to build this party. So, if they want this party to move ahead, they should create a level playing ground for everybody.
“We’ve heard that they want to write the results. We have heard so many things, and what I’m saying in essence is that they shouldn’t try it. It is an expensive joke!” the aspirant said.
Reacting to the alleged imposition, the spokesperson of the ruling APC, Barrister Segun Dipe, stated that the APC is a political party that upholds democratic tenets and would never condone any act of imposition.
“Our party, regarding the National Assembly elections, I’ve said it, I’ve written it in black and white over time, has not taken any position regarding the candidacy.
“We are a party with democratic tenets. We believe in democracy. However, people have the right, just like I have the right to endorse.
“I will use this time to say we are conscious of that June 20, and we will not allow anything to affect our cause, our search for our 500,000 votes. It’s not easy to get. We need a unified homestead.
“We need our people to be in one, and that is why we will ensure that there is a smooth conduct of the coming National Assembly elections. We will not affect it in any way,” Dipe said.
