2015: Awori youths kick against adoption of Gbeleyi as APC’s Lagos governorship candidate

A youth organisation, Awori Youths United, has kicked against perceived moves to adopt the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Ayo Gbeleyi, as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state.
AYU in a statement on Tuesday, signed by its National President, Hakeem Salako, said any attempt to adopt any non-Awori candidate in Lagos State will be considered undemocratic and against the tenets of democracy.
The group condemned the infiltration of non-indigenes in Lagos State seeking to contest what it described as “exalted and sensitive positions” against numerous qualified citizens of the state.
Salako said in the statement he endorsed on behalf of AYU: “We are not oblivious of moves to adopt Ayo Gbeleyi as the candidate for the next governorship election in Lagos State.
“We are not happy about this and we condemn it totally.
“From our investigations, Ayo Gbeleyi is not from Lagos, he is from Igbesa in Ogun State.
“He has done enough in Lagos, he should take his service to his state of origin.
“We have more and equally qualified Lagos citizens for the exalted office.”
The group doubted the sincerity of those who are clamouring for the adoption of Gbeleyi as APC’s candidate in the state, considering several qualified candidates among the Aworis in the state.
The group advised that the party should conduct a free and fair primary election for the emergence of a true and popular candidate.
It added in the statement: “It is only a transparent primary election that can determine a popular candidate for that post and if this is not done, the newly formed APC that is enjoying the sympathy of all and expected to fight for the cause of the common man may lose its credibility.”
The AYU urged chieftains of the APC to quash any plan to adopt Gbeleyi and organise a free and fair primary election for candidates who are truly of Lagos origin.