By Seyifunmi Odunuga
Ahead of the governorship elections across the country on Saturday, 10 political parties and 20 deregistered parties in Ogun State, on Thursday, formed an alliance with the gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Oguntoyinbo.
The parties include African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), African Action Congress (AAC), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
National Rescue Movement (NRM), All People’s Party (APP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Boot Party (BP), Atiku Support Group and others.
Representatives of the parties in the alliance Olowo John Bolaji, Sokeye Oluwalogbo, Sonde Rasaq, Amusa Sefiu, Bolaji Sunday, while speaking on why they adopted Oguntoyinbo, said they took the decision to rescue the state, stating that the four years of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration has rolled back the achievements of past governments and returned the state to the locust years.
According to them, “The state has moved backward under the present administration in the state and we must not squander this opportunity that democracy has given us.
“We believe that to right these wrongs, there is need for us to form a virile coalition with a party that can dislodge this administration that has shown itself to be lacking in development.
“That is why, after many meetings with major stakeholders even outside of our party, we arrived at Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP).
“Our decision is not based on anything than the development of our dear state. He has the record. He is not someone who would promise what he won’t do. He is as straight as that. All these said, we like to enjoin all of us to go out en mass and vote for him.
“In the last 46 months, governance has become something else in Ogun state. To save us, we are calling on everybody that have attain the voting age that on Saturday, March 18, 2023, we will make a decision that will determine the trajectory of our State for the next four years and more.
“It is not a decision to make lightly based on ethnic, partisan and religious sentiment. It is not a decision to make based on assumptions or emotions.
“This is your opportunity to place the power back in the hands of the people by choosing a candidate who is competent with the capacity, compassion, character and track record that shows resolute leadership to work for the good of our state.”
Oguntoyinbo in his remarks, thanked all the leadership and members of the parties that adopted him for believing in his competency, ability and capacity to move by Ogun state forward, pledging to transform the state for better and not let the people of the state down.
