One of the aspirants who contested the All progressives Congress governorship primaries in Ekiti state, Engr. Segun Oni, has threatened to leave the party if his supporters are intimidated by any caucus. The former Govenor of the state who stated this during an interaction with journalists on Tuesday
expressed regret over reports of how his supporters were allegedly being harassed with threat that they won’t be accorded any recognition if the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi wins the July 14 poll.
He appreciated Fayemi’s gesture and respect by immediately visiting him barely six hours the election result was declared, saying unity of purpose and friendliness could only be sustained if the minister reined in his supporters to engender cohesion within APC.
“I am still in APC, we are loyal party men. I decided to contest to give our party the probability to win. The contest was not about me. Our people must learn a new lesson that when you enjoy goodwill and you lose a primary, the next thing is you to move to another party, with a thinking that you will win.
“Even if you enjoy goodwill, it is not good to expend it that way. So, we are not leaving APC, but I have a responsibility to protect my supporters . But this habit of winners take all and what we are hearing that Segun Oni boys will be in the cooler for four years if APC wins is what I won’t tolerate.
“We are approaching a windstorm, which is the election and I believe we need to take caution on both sides. As much as we are ready to work with the winner, they too must be receptive and be trusting.
“We are not scavenging, neither are we scavengers. We have been receiving pressures from different parties that we should come for the tickets, but we said no, because we want this to be an example and become a new thinking that when you lose the primary, you must stay in your party even when you are popular.
“But if they continue to harass my supporters, I may quit the party, because I have responsibility not only to protect them but ensure that they are not taken for a ride.”
Speaking on the role of money in the exercise that led to the emergence of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi as winner, he said
“Money played a prominent role in the election and virtually every aspirant was guilty of it. But let me say, our party won’t tread this path again, because a situation whereby few people are allowed to elect a candidate and see it as opportunity to maximize their profit is dangerous.
“Any serious political party must guard against that. So, I believe that every member of a political party must be involved. This will make it more representative and more inclusive than allowing few individuals turned themselves into opportunists and avenue to make making.”
