*Declares ‘My support for President’s re-election not tactic but open’
*Says APC leaders back Akure Rally, explains Tinubu’s absence
*Exploration of Bitumen in Ondo State commences this year – Fayemi
*Governor’s performance in one year is unique – Adetimehin
Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has added his voice to the loud voices of Nigerians particularly as one of governors of All Progressives Congress (APC) calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election come 2019.
Governor Akeredolu, who at an APC Unification Rally held at eh MKO Abiola Democracy Park in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Saturday in commemoration of his first year as governor of the Sunshine State, expressed the readiness of the people of Ondo State, especially members of the APC to support the re-election of President Buhari, hinted that Buhari’s re-election campaign office will soon be unveiled.
The rally was attended by the state’s First Lady, Arabinrin Betty Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, his wife, Ajewole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Deputy National Chairman (South) of APC, Chief Segun Oni, Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, his wife, Betsy, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as well as the Minister of State for Niger Delta, Prof. Claudius Daramola.
Akeredolu also appreciated the support and encouragement from the President and expressed optimism that he will win the 2019 election.
Governor Akeredolu said, “My support for President Muhammadu Buhari is not a tactic support. It is an open support. I am one of those Governors asking that he should come again.
“I’m one of those Governors who will give everything it takes for him to remain in office beyond 2019. I have been open and frontal about it, I support the Government.”
He said that the state was satisfied with the numerous achievement of the President and therefore will support his second term ambition.
”Ondo State is satisfied with the achievements of our President and we want him to continue and nothing can stop this.”
Akeredolu was flanked at the rally by the National chairman of the party John Oyegun, Edo state governor Godwin Obaseki and the his Ogun state counterpart Ibikunle Amosun and former Ekiti state governor Kayode Fayemi.
To give a bite to the endorsement, the governor said that the Buhari/Osibanjo presidential campaign office will be opened in the state capital very soon.
He said so even as he promised the people of the state brighter days ahead, noting that “we have just started. You people have not seen anything in terms of achievement.”
Governor Akeredolu declared support for Oyegun, describing him as a man who is protecting the truth and integrity of the party.
The governor also broke silence on the leadership crisis rocking the state chapter of the party, saying Ade Adetimehin remains the authentic chairman of the party in Ondo State and that any other claim is a counterfeit.
He said anyone who wishes to fight should continue, stressing that Adetimehin is the only Chairman of the party recognized by the APC both in the state and national level.
On the absence of some leaders of the party at the rally, Akeredolu said all leaders of the party supported the programme but noted that those who were not in attendance gave reasons for their absence.
He said, “All the leaders of APC supported this programme and those who are not here gave reasons for their absence. And for instance who may want to ask why is Asiwaju Tinubu not here, but Asiwaju called me this morning that he woke up with a very bad cold.”
Akeredolu said he would continue to embark on projects that will take the state from pedestrian politics to a higher level of governance.
The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the national secretariat of the party was proud of the achievements recorded within the last one year of Governor Akeredolu.
Oyegun pointed out that, “President Buhari’s trust in Akeredolu was not misplaced going by his achievements in the last one year.”
The state chairman of the party Ade Adetimehin described the achievement of the governor as rare and laudable despite the “whopping financial burden inherited from the immediate past administration.”
Adetimehin appealed to the people to continue to remain disciplined, loyal and dedicated while the party will continue to uphold the tenets of fair play and respect for members dignity at all times.
In their good will messages, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Governor of Edo State Godwin Obaseki lauded Akeredolu over his wonderful achievements in just one year despite economic challenges in which he took off.
Fayemi described the last one year of governor as a year of “unrelenting engineering which is committed to progress, commitment, competence and hard work.”
Fayemi, whose Ministry is in charge of solid minerals, said exploration of Bitumen in Ondo State would commence this year.
Obaseki said Akeredolu had not disappointed the party and the people of Ondo State who voted for him in the last one year.
