Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on Wednesday night broke his silence on the controversial the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries which produced two candidates in the state, insisting that he would not back down on his anointed candidate, Adekunle Akinlade.
Amosun, who spoke in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dayo Adeneye, described the report that he had been prevailed upon by party leaders to support an oil magnate, Dapo Abiodun whose candidature had been ratified by the national leadership of the party.
He further described the allegation as another in a series of political propaganda to tarnish his image, saying he “stands solidly behind the duly elected consensus candidate of the APC, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade.”
The governor added that those behind the rumours were doing so to heat up the polity ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The statement read: “The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has followed with deep reflection and consternation, the false and embarrassing reports in some sections of the media, that he had been prevailed upon by some party leaders in the state to support the purported emergence of Prince Dapo Abiodun as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“He described the allegation as nothing, but another in a series of political propaganda to tarnish the image of Governor Amosun, who stands solidly behind the duly elected consensus candidate of the APC, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade.
“Those behind the unfounded rumours are doing so to heat up the polity ahead of the 2019 general elections. They are doing it on behalf of their paymasters for cheap political motives. It has become a routine of many political jobbers in Ogun State.
“There are no slaves in Ogun State as insinuated by some aggrieved politicians. Everyone under our watch is free born and the Amosun administration will continue to defend the freedom of the masses and work for the socio-economic advancement of the state till our last day in office.
“He implored political actors to be wary of statements that could de-market the state and reverse the enormous gains of the recent years.”