‘Forgone ambition’ Babafemi Ojudu opens up on reason he abandoned governorship aspiration

Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, has cautioned that the rift and discord among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State is a terrible portent that could cost the party the governorship election in 2022.

Ojudu said he opted to forego his governorship ambition in 2022 and remain neutral to allow him to arbitrate and address all lingering concerns in order for the party to win the June 18 election.

On Monday, he issued the warning in Ado Ekiti, while meeting with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and kinsmen who paid him a visit at his residence in the state capital.

Ojudu praised his supporters for sticking with him since he entered politics, promising not to let them down when it came to distributing democratic dividends.

“What we are seeing today in Ekiti APC portrays a very poor portent for our party,” Ojudu told party members, “but we will salvage the situation so that we can recover whatever remains for the benefit of all of us.”

“I am very delighted by your affection despite the fact that I am not contesting, you continue to support me. This demonstrates that we have merged into one family.

I’ve decided not to run in this election so that I can take on a leadership role mediating between candidates.

“Divisions exist everywhere. I even learned that a large fight broke out at the governor’s residence yesterday (Sunday), with people throwing water sachets and yelling “ole, ole.”There appears to be no one in charge of the gathering.

“My own worries about APC is that I don’t want the party to be divided and lose the coming election in Ekiti. Someone like me should be able to unite our members after the primary so that the APC can retain this state.

“I don’t want to be part of the problems, but a part of the solution. The party should be able to look up to people like us in times of crisis like this. Let me be sincere with you, my preoccupation now is not how to be governor, but rescuing APC from losing Ekiti is my concern.

“I was the one leading the battle for Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency in Ekiti in 2015 and we struggled to get Mr President 25 per cent as required by law. So, the issue of unity and how our party should be together is the main target”.

The Senator charged his admirers to form a committee and take decisions on whom to support at the APC primary, saying ”I am not going to support anyone so that the party won’t have more problems”.

Ojudu added that part of the problems of Ekiti APC was the fact that the party lacks a leader who could be a unifying factor, saying the time has come for people to volunteer on how to fill the vacancy in the interest of the party.

“We don’t have a leader in Ekiti APC and this is really affecting us. The governor, who ought to play that role is partisan. Let me use my neutrality to be able to effect some changes,” he said.

Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.