Oyo ministerial nominee battles opposition

In from Olumide Olaoluwa … .
Confident that he is on the list of ministerial nominees as Oyo State candidate, Barr Adebayo Shittu, has commenced moves to stave off opposition to his nomination by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was learnt that he has taken his case to traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun zone, where he hails from, to prevail on the APC leaders not to deprive them the ministerial slot.
Shittu, sources close to him said, believes the traditional rulers will fight the opposition as one against their kinsmen.
He is banking on the fact that no monarch or kinsmen would be comfortable with such alleged plan to take a ministerial slot away from their domain because of party consideration.
But a source hinted that party leaders have been educating the monarchs that the case was beyond individuals or sentiment, stressing that all leaders and members would align with the position of the party.
He added that the party would prefer a substitute for Shittu from the same Oke-Ogun zone but who is a core party member and a team player.
Members and leaders of the party, particularly in the Oke-Ogun zone have been vehemently opposing his nominations since the ministerial list was presented to Senate President last week.
They contend that the nominee did not support the APC in the last election, particularly during the governorship and House of Assembly elections which the APC won convincingly in the 10 local governments in the area.
They also alleged that Shittu is not a team player.
Shittu was the governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011. He lost to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
He joined the APC when it was formed, and joined the race to contest as governor again in the 2015 primary but later withdrew.
Shittu, a two-time commissioner in the state and former member of the old Oyo State House of Assembly, described the position of the party chieftains as misleading.
He said it is against the interest of the larger majority of the residents of the state.

Read also: Senate to fix date for ministerial screening on Tuesday

Describing his nomination as one of the best things that could happen to Oyo State, Shittu said his was the first time a thorough-bred and grassroots politician would be nominated to represent the state as against the previous arrangement when those appointed had no grassroots appeal.
He also challenged party officials to produce results of the last elections in their wards and local governments. When put side by side, he said the APC performed better in his Saki West Local Government area of the state.
According to Shittu: “To the glory of Almighty Allah, I was the Chief Collation Officer of our party in my local government.
“It is on record that our party did not only win in the council but posted one of the highest results for the party.”
He said he has no ill-feeling against anybody because “as a man of‎ God, though, I’m not a professional cleric but I’m religious enough to appreciate that when God elevates, nobody can demote and that’s why I’m not moved.
“What’s more, the supports I have received either through visitation or telephone messages since the news filtered out are enough to make one feel elated and happy that the generality of the people of the state, who I’m going to represent are looking beyond such parochial and narrow-minded myopic view.
“By the grace of Almighty Allah, I’m going to be the Minister of the Federal Republic and I owe it a duty to work in synergy with the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who I hold in high esteem to ensure that our state gets its due at the Federal level,” Shittu maintained.

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