Submit to APC’s Supremacy, Ambode, Shettima Urge Aggrieved Aspirants

Submit to APC’s Supremacy, Ambode, Shettima Urge Aggrieved Aspirants

Eromosele Abiodun

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, and his Borno State counterpart, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, wednesday continued their reconciliatory efforts to pacify aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-west over the outcome of the recent party primaries, with a call on aspirants from Lagos and Ogun States to accept the party’s supremacy and work for its victory at all levels during the 2019 elections.

Ambode and Shettima, who had earlier met with aggrieved aspirants in Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo States, said it was important for members of the party in the South-west to accept the outcome of the primaries and the party’s supremacy in order to approach the general elections with a united front.

The two governors, who are both members of the National Peace and Reconciliation Committee set up by the APC to pacify aggrieved party members in the South-west, said those aggrieved should consider making the necessary sacrifice no matter how difficult it is, in the overall interest of the party.

Speaking at the meeting held at Lagos House, Marina, Ambode said while it was gratifying that there was no issue in Lagos State largely due to the personal sacrifices that were made, but added that the same could not be said of Ogun State.

He urged concerned party members to do the needful to ensure peace.

“More significantly, we can see from the reflection of those here and I can declare that we do not have any issue in Lagos State and that we are one family. But again that is not to say that there is no platform for reconciliation; we do not know whether there are some aspirants in the crowd who are aggrieved but we can say affirmatively as a party that we are one family in Lagos State.

“This is not, however, to create any prejudice to whatever is happening in Ogun State. Without the setting up of this Committee, it is very clear that things are not the same in Ogun State like we have in Lagos State and we do recognize that. That is why this Committee is more or less anxious to see whatever it is that we can use as ingredients in creating peace in Ogun State.

“Whatever happens in Ogun is a reflection of what is happening in the whole of the Southwest and we are ready to make sure that this our Committee brings everybody back into one family fold. So, we have come with open minds and even when closures have been made, the feelings and input here is what we are taking to Abuja tomorrow and also making sure that NWC (National Working Committee) get a very clear picture of how you feel and ultimately if there is a need to let the highest organ of the party intervene in a way that everything that is happening in Ogun State reflects what is happening in Lagos State, we would be very happy to do it and we are committed to making sure that every representation is taken to party headquarters for redress and whatever it is that can be done,” Ambode said.

Also speaking, Shettima said the meeting in Lagos was the last for the Committee in the South-west after similar meetings were held in Ekiti and Ibadan earlier in the week, saying that the recommendations and solutions gathered from the interaction with the aggrieved aspirants would be collated and sent to the National Working Committee for further actions.

He, however, reiterated his appeal to aggrieved aspirants to take a cue from Ambode and forget the past and begin to galvanise support for the party to ensure total victory at the polls, assuring that the everyone would be better for it at the end of the day.

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