ONDO 2016: THE REAL REASON WHY ABRAHAM WILL GET APC GUBER TICKET - PARTY LEADERS SPEAK

Some of the party leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state have come out to state the najor reasons why frontline aspirant, Olusegun Abraham will win the party's gubernatorial ticket in the upcoming primary elections in the state.

These leaders have come out to outrightly downplay the rumours of an imposition, stating unanimously that, the real reason behind Abraham's gale of endorsements from delegates, party heads, and even the people is majorly hinged on the aspirant's evident capabilities to transform Ondo's dead economy, judging first, by his professional antecedent as a successful international businessman, and by his political antecedent as a longstanding and loyal progressive.

A former Chairman of the party in the state, Comrade Olusola Iji, while addressing press and a group of concerned Ondo citizens on yesterday in Okitipupa, maintained that Abraham will win the party's gubernatorial ticket in a free and fair primary election, and he expressed reasons why he is confident of the fact.

In his words, "The truth is that the economy of Ondo is in a sorry state, the poverty level has deepened into a level where words can't even describe. For a host of discerning elders in this state, it has become a shame we Iive with, a shame that causes heartache.

Despite the vast amount of natural resources we have, the state keeps bleeding so much she has become one of the states with the hugest debt profiles, with months of owed salaries. It is a shame".

"This is the reason why you see the party leaders and delegates supporting Olusegun Abraham. The man is the only aspirant among the lot who has actually succeeded at creating wealth without hopping from one political office to the other. This is the kind of experienced person Ondo needs to lead from the front, someone who can use his expertise to revive Ondo's economy for the sake of the long-suffering citizens".

Iji, who is also a former governorship aspirant back in 2012, added, "I will tell you unequivocally that the gale of endorsements that Olusegun Abraham has received since the campaigns began are not motivated by sentiments at all, rather, they are well informed decisions borne out of months of consideration. This is applicable to his endorsement by the AD aborigines within the party, the Akoko APC Elders, the more than two-thirds of the APC Ward-Chairmen, the many Youth Organizations, and others. They all considered the truth of the situation and made an informed decision".

Another elderstatesman, Prince Olu Adegboro, a two-time commissioner in the state and former national secretary of the party, described Abraham as an astute professional that the state needs at this pressing time to help with her economic transformation.

"I'm not surprised that Olusegun Abraham is getting support both in Ondo and even from our national leadership. It is not farfetched at all. Apart from the fact that Abraham is the only founding and funding member of the progressive party among the aspirants, he is the one with the practical experience needed to transform our economy in Ondo state. I am the director-general of his campaign, and he is the only aspirant who goes from ward to ward, not with abusive political swansongs, but with proven and tested examples on how he will use our natural resources and local manpower to bring wealth into Ondo state. You tell me any well meaning Ondo citizen who will reject that..., I can assure you that you'd find none.", Adegboro said this while addressing party delegates in Akure.

Another leader within the party srructure in the state, the Chairmen of the conference of the 203 APC Ward Chairmen, Chief Kolawole James, expressed his displeasure at the whims of those within the party, who have chosen to misconstrue Abraham's endorsement by individuals as a direct imposition, adding that, while a fair primary will be held, Abraham's candidacy is indeed popular because of what he stands to offer the state in terms of transformation.

Kolawole, while addressing the press after a session with his members in the past week, said, "It is a sad thing that there will always be Judases who will always attempt to betray common good. The few within our party structure, who have gone out to spew unfounded lies about the upcoming primaries are desperados who do not care about the consequences of their lies simply because of their selfish interests. The state chairman, Kekemeke, the party's national secretariat, for the umpteenth time has said that the primary election will be free and fair, yet, these reteogressives amongst progressives remain hellbent on quashing the process by rabble rousing. Well, we thank God that they are an ineffective few who neither have a grip on the mind of the delegates, nor respect from the party leadership, some of who have gone ahead within their rights, to endorse Abraham as our next governor".

In his own words, a party leader and elderstateman from Ifedore local government, Pa Muyide Adu was quoted saying, "Ondo does not deserve a jester Governor at this very trying time in the history of our state, we can't continue to be a joke as a state where there's high poverty despite our wealth of Natural resources. Now, we need a practical Leader who will work hard and smart to restore Ondo to a place of wealth and pride. I will work with and for Olusegun Abraham with an open mind to achieve the kind of leadership we need in Ondo state".

Abraham has received statewide and national acceptance since joining to gubernatorial race, and has remained a favorite to clinch the APC ticket following his massive orientation of the delegates and party hierarchy alike, about his practical plans to revive the state's economy.