A coalition of Non Governmental Organisations in Ekiti State, the Movement for Peace and Good Governance in Ekiti State, has counselled the Minister for Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) on his ambition to become the state governor in 2014, saying: “The minister must begin the process of assuaging the feelings of the people of the Southern Senatorial District of the state, who believe that the next governor of the state must naturally come from the zone.”
Rising from its meeting in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, MOPEGO said since the minister’s governorship ambition was no longer hidden, he should take the issue of North/South Agenda, which made the Northern Senatorial District produce the governor in 2007, into consideration.
In the communique signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Dr. Tunji Oluwasanmi, and Secretary, Comrade Ebenezer Olaleye, MOPEGO said Olubolade should not see himself as being capable of achieving the governorship ambition alone, adding: “He must carry all leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state along.
“From our findings in the 16 local government areas in Ekiti State, it is established that Capt. Olubolade’s ambition to contest the 2014 governorship election in the state is real.
“Among the eight serious aspirants that we have identified, Olubolade ranks among the top contenders. This is because of his position as a minister, which gives him access to fund, links in the top echelon of government at the federal level and patronages to supporters.
“Also, apart from former governor, Ayodele Fayose, who is also said to be interested in the governorship, Olubolade is the only aspirant from the Central Senatorial District, which produced the state governor between 1999 and 2007.
“However, Fayose’s non-formal admission into the party, as made known by the immediate past National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, in an advert placed in the Nigerian Tribune of March 18, 2012, where it was stated clearly that Fayose was yet to be admitted into the party, gives Olubolade advantage over Fayose in the Central Senatorial Zone.
“Olubolade will therefore need to reach out to political leaders and traditional rulers in the Southern Senatorial District so that his candidature would not jeopardise the PDP electoral fortune in the zone.”