A socio-political organisation, Ekiti Concerned Citizens’ Group (ECCG), has warned governorship aspirants from Ekiti South senatorial district against accepting deputy governorship slot from any political party.
The group’s Chairman, Mr Femi Babalola, said at a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday that whoever agreed to settle for deputy governorship slot among the aspirants would be seen as the ‘Judas Iscariot of the zone’.
Babalola’s warning came ahead of the governorship primaries of PDP and APC, slated for January 26 and 27 respectively.
He insisted that APC, PDP and other political parties must pick their standard bearers from Ekiti South senatorial district.
Babalola expressed regret that the zone had not produced governor since the advent of the current dispensation in 1999, describing it as ‘outrageous marginalisation’.
According to him, the time to correct the anomaly for the purpose of equity, fairness, justice and the future generation of Ekiti is now.
“Governor Kayode Fayemi promised our zone in 2018 and we are now bothered that he is not keeping to his promise. We are really bothered, but we thank God that the people are sympathising with us.
“If the bigwigs in the party that produced Fayemi could be saying that presidency should come to the South in 2023, why are they now depriving the South senatorial district governorship?
“Let me say that the people of the zone will regard any governorship aspirant from the area who takes deputy governorship slot from any candidate as “Judas Iscariot”. What we want is governorship,” Babalola said.
He expressed displeasure with the alleged systematic infusion of what he described as “apartheid” in Ekiti politics.
“All the aspirants from Ekiti South have the competence, experience, comportment, skills and mastery of the state to successfully steer the ship of Ekiti as governor.
“These aspirants are strongly recommended to their respective parties for internal mechanisms that will be favourable to Ekiti South senatorial district,” he said.
Babalola, therefore, urged all qualified voters and delegates to vote for any of the southern aspirants of their choice in the forthcoming party primaries.
He said: “We wish to appeal most passionately to the electorate to vote wisely during the 2022 governorship election in order to secure the future of our children.”
Babalola noted that the group, with membership drawn from different parts of the state, is striving not only to promote the essence of Ekiti homogeneity, but to propagate the core values of fairness, equity and justice.
He described as disturbing the fact that the ‘relegated South’ had the highest number of local governments in the state.
Babalola, however, warned that there should be no room for do-or-die politics, thuggery and political brigandage in the coming primaries and the election proper.
“Rather, political parties should focus on credible aspirants, their skills, knowledge, talents and experience that will endear them to the electorate in order to facilitate the progress and welfare of Ekiti people,” he said.
