Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on politicians across various political divides in Oyo State to support Governor Abiola Ajimobi in order to promote good governance and leadership in the state.
Kalu made the call during a courtesy call on Governor Ajimobi in his office in Ibadan on Thursday.
According to Dr. Kalu, Nigerians should shun party sentiment in the process of choosing leaders, stressing that political party should no longer be the focal point in the selection of leaders in order to move the country forward.
He said: “There should be no party differences in leadership.
“Whatever name you may give a party, whether you call it the All Progressives Congress or the Peoples Democratic Party, what Nigerians need are leaders that will give them access to good water, electricity, good road network and good food on their table.
“I call on all politicians to stop making parties the focal point in choosing leaders.
“Once election is over, members of the PDP should support Your Excellency very well to run the government because government is not a personal thing.
“You are neither governor of APC or PDP.
“You are governor of Oyo State.
“There are many people who are not card carrying members of any political party.
“Likewise, all of us, whether we are APC or PDP, should also find time to support Governor Ajimobi in his bid to rebuild the state.”
The former governor also called on politicians in Nigeria to desist from politics of bitterness and rancour by giving total support to whoever emerges from a popular election irrespective of his political leaning, adding that this would ensure the enthronement of an egalitarian society and ensure development.
Kalu commended Ajimobi’s administration for its developmental strides across the state, adding: “I am convinced that you have done very well and I give a very high mark because I have been in Ibadan before and I can see the development that has taken place.
“We have seen a lot of changes.
“So people should stop talking about party.
“I am not interested about the party.
“I am not interested about who comes from a party but I am interested about a man who gives the right leadership to his people.
“I am not hiding my identity.
“I remain a member of the PDP, but if Governor Ajimobi had won election on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria and still wins on that of the APC in future election, he should be supported.”
Responding, Ajimobi thanked Kalu for the visit, stressing that he had both private and official relationship with the former governor.
He said that he found in the former governor the character which a right thinking person should emulate.
Ajimobi said that his heart was gladdened when the former governor was talking about leadership, adding: “Leadership, to me, has always been an ability to take people to where they ought to be rather than where they want to be and it takes a lot of courage to do that.”
He called on progressive-minded members in other political parties to pitch their tent with the APC which, according to him, is populated by people of high integrity and good characters and who are committed to the development of the country.
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