Mr. Alao Azeez Adelani, Media Aide to the APM Governorship Candidate at the 9 March 2019 election in Ogun State, Hon. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade, has debunked report that President Muhammadu Buhari directed Governor Ibikunle Amosun to prevail on his principal to withdraw from governorship election Tribunal his suit against the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
He said rather than such directive coming, the President actually told the major backer of the APC’s candidate, Chief Segun Osoba and the governor-elect that “the rule of law must stand”, even as he said President Buhari turned down their request to intervene in the matter.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Adelani, titled “”THE RULE OF LAW MUST STAND” – President Buhari tells Chief Osoba and Dapo Abiodun” which was obtained by The DEFENDER, the media aide said Osoba and other APC leaders had gone to meet President Buhari pleading with him to wade in on Akinlade so that APC states that used to be 24 to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s 16 but now 18 to 16 would not eventually further drop to 18/18.
The plea, according to Adelani, was not bought by the President, who insisted that anybody that has reason to be at the Tribunal should be allowed to seek redress through it.
The statement said: “Information reaching us is that contrary to assertions that Mr. President has directed Sen. Amosun to persuade Hon. Adekunle Akinlade to discontinue his challenge of the March 9th guber elections at the election Tribunal, in actual fact, Mr. President blatantly told them that he will not interfere in any legitimate legal process.
“The President further advised them to seek redress in court should they have any. Our source revealed that one of their bases of pleading for Mr. President’s intervention was that APC used to have 24 State, while the opposition has 12. Today, APC under Adams Oshiomole has 20 States, while the opposition has 16. Considering unfolding developments, it might end up 18/18. Deplorable to say the least!
“The joke in some quarters is that, why would the purported Ogun gov – elect need to go and present his “Certificate of Return” to Mr. President, VP, Asiwaju, Dangote, Oshiomole etc. Of all the governors elected on the platform of APC in Nigeria, Why Ogun?
“They campaigned on the bases that Hon. Adekunle Akinlade was Sen. Amosun’s stooge. If that was true, at least it is only Amosun he will be answerable to. In this instance, their man will be screwed from all sides. May God deliver Ogun State, Amen.
“The picture of Hon. Adekunle Akinlade with his petition shows clearly a man with great courage and resolve to pursue the people’s mandate to a logical conclusion just like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, H.E Adams Oshiomole (when he feared God), H.E Fayemi, H.E Aregbesola, H.E Akeredolu and other great men in our political history.
“We are told that DA (Dapo Abiodun) has equally filed at the electoral petition Tribunal. The question on people’s lips are: 1. Is he challenging his own “victory”? 2. Is he challenging the fact that the rigging was not perfected? 3. Is he challenging the rigged margin?
“Ogun people are watching with keen interest. Despite all that has been thrown at Hon. Adekunle Akinlade, he continues to show unparalleled calmness and maturity. True test of leadership,” it said.
