Afeez Bolaji Repete, the outgone deputy national youth leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, this evening bought and submitted form to contest the national vice chairman (southwest) of the party which has been micro-zoned to Oyo State.
The former students union leader, who made this known in a chat with OYOINSIGHT.COM said that it has become very important for all men of good conscience to join politics to salvage the country.
Queried why he is no longer contesting the youth leadership, Repete, who hails from Ona Ara local government, said the leadership of the party in the southwest has micro-zoned the position to Lagos.
He explained that “A wild actor leaves the stage when the ovation is loud. I would have loved to contest the youth leadership but apart from the micro-zoning, those who aspire to vie for the position are my younger ones and those I feel have the capacity to lead the youth. Bearing that in mind, I believe I should move up. I believe I am no longer young. Most of my age mates are already aspiring and assuming bigger roles. So I feel I am not too young to become the next national vice chairman (southwest) of our great party. I have the same experience and what it takes to steer the office. I have relationship with the governors and leaders of the party in the zone which I believe I can leverage on. By contesting this position, I think I am also encouraging many young adults to join politics and contest leadership positions. We are leaders of today and not of tomorrow. If we don’t do it now, when will our children have the chance,” Repete who is in his mid-40s said.
Meanwhile a top party source has told OYOINSIGHT.COM how the positions was micro-zoned among the six southwest states.
According to the source, the position of national secretary has been zoned to Ondo while Oyo got national vice chairman (South West) and zonal leader (People Living With Disabilities); Osun, deputy national auditor and zonal youth leader; Ekiti, zonal secretary; Lagos, national youth leader while Ogun got national leader (People with Disabilities) and zonal organizing secretary.
But another source said that Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo initially wanted Isaac Kekemeke as secretary but Muhammadu Buhari was said to have told the senior advocate that he has interest in Ife Oyedele “and that is why he has asked Kekemeke to obtain the the national vice-chairman’s form.
Continued the source: “Angered by the development, two of the southwest governors are working on sponsoring a former deputy governor from the zone to tackle Buhari’s choice of Oyedele. And Buhari is aware. So he seems to have thrown the game open and he is billed to speak with the northern governors to mobilize support for Oyedele, his supporter during their days in the defunct Congress for Progressives Change, CPC.”
