A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and aspirant for the House of Representatives in Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency, Arc (Dr.) Hassan Giwa has scolded Hon. Wasiu Lafioye Akinmoyede over alleged masterminding of zoning of the House of Representatives ticket in Lagelu Local Government.
Arc Giwa, who appealed to all leaders and party executives in the council area not to be subjected to any form of intimidation by the former House of Assembly member over his proposed zoning plan, said Hon. Lafioye is scared of going into primaries to test his popularity, hence the reason he is championing the zoning arrangement to favour his candidacy.
Speaking after submitting his nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja, the renowned architect, stated that the proposed zoning arrangement of the House of Representatives ticket by Hon. Lafioye is a manifestation of his insensitivity to the development of Lagelu Local Government and Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency by extension, adding that the move portends serious danger to the unity of the party.
Arc Giwa, who said that all efforts of Hon. Lafioye to coerce some leaders and executive members of the party in the local government to key into his proposed zoning arrangement have been revealed, saying that the move is to prevent the people who are entitled to sign aspirants’ forms from doing so.
According to Arc Giwa, “Just like every other, Hon. Wasiu Lafioye Akinmoyede is an aspirant and there is no reason he will be one to determine whether to zone the ticket or not. It is the responsibility of the leaders and the party executive to determine modality to adopt and how candidates for the elections will emerge. Why is it that Hon. Lafioye would be intimidating the leaders and executive of the party to favour his candidacy?
“I am a committed party man and I have contributed immensely and greatly to the betterment and welfare of this party just like some other people, therefore, everybody has a right to aspire without being intimidated or molested. We can not allow someone to kill APC in Lagelu Local Government because of his own selfish agenda.”
While calling on the leadership of the party at the state and local levels to rescue APC in Lagelu Local Government from Hon. Lafioye, Arc Giwa, said that the people of Lagelu/Akinyele deserved the best hand that will give them quality representation in the House of Representative.
“as an aspirant, I believed in our leaders and executive members because I believed in the principles of our great party, APC. Be that as it may, as an aspirant, my opinion is that we should allow aspirants to go for primaries as a reflection of true democracy because power belongs to the people and we believe people should be given the chance to decide who they want to represent them.
“I believed in the leadership of our party at the national, state and local government levels even up to the ward level. I know our leaders and executives in Lagelu Local Government will not be allowed to be subjected to intimidation or molestation by a particular aspirant. And just like some leaders have taken a bold step by dissociating themselves from the illicit zoning proposition, as an aspirant and a bonafide son of Lagun, I say no to the proposed zoning of Lagelu/Akinyele Federal House of Representatives ticket in Lagelu Local Government and that if anybody wants to test his popularity, he should be ready to pass through due process, which is the party primaries and not to cut corners,” Giwa said.
