Following the resolve of the Oyo state chapter of the All Progressive Congress,APC, to adopt the indirect primary to select legislative flag bearers in constituencies that failed to agree on a consensus candidate, the leaders and elders of the party in the Atisbo/Saki-East/Saki-West Federal Constituency have endorsed Mr Olajide Olatubosun, a serving member of the House of Representatives, representing the constituency to run for a second term on the platform of the party.
Olatubosun is the immediate younger brother of Oyo State head of service, Mrs Hannah Ogunesan, who is believed to be one of the power brokers within the APC.
The party at the constituency level said they decided to endorse the lawmaker to put to rest the debate of who would represent the constituency at the 2019 general election and also discourage other aspirants from wasting money on purchasing nomination forms.
According to the elders, the resolve was reached after due consultation with relevant stakeholders and party members within and outside the federal constituency.
The stakeholders made the declaration in separate meetings held recently in each of the three Local Government Areas of the constituency during a courtesy visit paid them by the federal lawmaker.
The Atisbo LG meeting held at the Ago-Are residence of Chief Samuel Adekola, Oke-Ogun APC leader. Other party stalwarts including Mr Lateef Ajemeje, Mr Yisau Adebayo and the Atisbo LG APC Chairman, Hon. Ojebisi Moses, wards party chairmen youth leaders, women leaders among others were present at the meeting.
The situation was not different in Saki East LG where party leaders and stalwarts in Agbonle, Ogbooro, Oje-Owode, Ago-Amodu and Sepeteri received Olatubosun with enthusiasm and endorsed him unanimously for the second term.
Party leaders present at the meeting included Pa A.O Ayankunle, Pa Salau Maruf, Chairman Saki-East LG, Prince Goke Adeleke, Chairman, Ifeloju LCDA, Saki East APC Chairman, Badmus Jimoh, Mr Jimoh Rewire, Mrs Riskat Eleyele, Prince Oyediran Yinusa among others.
In Saki-West LG, the council executive committee and ward chairmen led by the APC Chairman Alh. Azeez Ayinla and numerous stakeholders including the Chairman of Asabari LCDA, Mr Kareem Adegoke unanimously endorsed Hon. Olatubosun for a second term in office.
Earlier, during a visits to the party elders and leaders in Saki-West LG including Mr. Yekini Arikose, Alh. Raimi Ojongbodu and Chief Mathew Adeyemo, Olatunbosun was commended for good representation and for bringing the “dividends of democracy to the constituents”
While lauding the federal lawmaker for being an ‘unequalled and selfless representative of the people’, the party leaders pointed out that no one in the history of political office holders from the constituency has ever taken the fulfilment of electoral promises and improvement of the electorate’s welfare as sacred priority like him.
They said that aside the legislative functions being performed “wholeheartedly”, the federal legislator “has assisted his constituency in the area of provision of potable water, construction of school buildings, rehabilitation of roads, awarding of scholarships, securing of jobs for some unemployed graduates and other unemployed persons, empowerment programme for farmers and other constituents.”
The party elders said they throw their weight behind Olatubosun to run for the second term as a federal lawmaker in the interest of the constituency, vowing to work for his victory in the forthcoming general elections.
Responding, Olatubosun said his gesture was in fulfilment of his campaign promises to alleviate poverty among his people through skill acquisition, job creation and regular donation of cash and materials.
Explaining that he considered his election into the National Assembly as a call to service, the lawmaker promised to continue to work for the well-being and welfare of the constituents.
He maintained that although he won the election on APC’s platform, he was meant to serve everybody in his constituency.
He, therefore, solicited the co-operation and unflinching support of the constituents in his efforts to chart a new course for the area and give a new lease of life through the alleviation of people’s suffering and improvement of their standard of living.
