After been presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni in Abuja, Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu requests that Agboola Ajayi should honourably resign if he has any honour left.
He further said that whether or not Ajayi resigns, a new administration will soon be sworn-in in a few days time.
Recall that Ajayi had left his party All Progressive Congress (APC) to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) to run as their flag bearer in the just concluded gubernatorial elections.
He, however, says that if Ajayi is contrite, he is ready to receive him with open arms. Speaking to journalists, he said he is not ready to have enemies for life and that that statement was a political statement.
“God has given us victory who am I to harbour enmity against anybody, it is not necessary. So if he comes back, if he has honour anyway, he should resign and leave as Deputy Governor if he has honour. But if he decides not to if opportunities are there, I am sure the party will take a decision on him because he is no longer in our party, he has gone to another party.
“He has been in three parties within a month, wonderful man. From APC to PDP, from PDP to ZLP, he is a wonderful man. So, for me, I have nothing against him but I can tell you, we will be able to live with him if he wants to remain that way. If he stays back in his ZLP, we will live with him. It will soon fly off, the days he is thinking that is long is not long, and his days are numbered. Another journey will start in February.”
About his discussion with the president, he said, “He didn’t ask me to tell you, leave that to us. We had a father to son, son to father discussion, he is our president, he is our leader. It’s a leader to members/followers discussion, so he didn’t ask me to tell you what he told me.”
However, he explained that the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni presented the Certificates of Return issued to him and the deputy governor-elect, Lucky Ayedatiwa to President Buhari.
He was also accompanied by the Chairman, APC Caretaker Committee, Chairman of the Campaign Council and Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF and governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, PGF, Atiku Bagudu and the Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru.
“All of us went to the battle in unity. And it is clear to us that when we are united, no force can move us. APC is a very strong force. We are a strong party in this country. So, we have gone to prove in Ondo that Ondo is not Edo. They were dreaming.
“Now, they must have woken from their slumber. Ondo is not Edo. We have proven that. This is only possible with all of us working together, all the governors, the Bagudus of this world, the Badarus of this world, Fayemis of this world, Sanwo-Olus of this world, the Yahaya Bellos of this world, all of us went there to fight a good battle.
“And I’m sure Mr President was happy. He also states that when we are united, we will always win. And it’s proof. All of us have decided that we will continue to be united. And all aspirants with me in Ondo did tremendously well. All worked together to make us win.
“This is a win that will ensure continuity, it’s a win that will make sure that all of us, the APC family is well received,” Akeredolu said.
