Contrary to the accusation that the constitution of the 24-member BAO State Endorsement Committee was an attempt by Governor Biodun Oyebanji to impose himself as the party candidate, the Chairman of the committee, Surveyor Biodun Aluko has stressed that the committee was not set up by the Governor but stakeholders exercising their fundamental human rights.

Speaking during the inauguration of various sub-committees set up for the endorsement programme, Surveyor Aluko stressed that the planned State-wide endorsement is nothing more than the unification of the series of unanimous endorsements for the Governor’s second term in office by critical Stakeholders across the State, describing any contrary claim as mischievous and a misconception of the reality on ground.

The former Deputy Governor noted that, unprecedentedly, all former Governors in the State have called and expressed their support for Governor Oyebanji’s second term in office and wondered if it is possible to have bullied or bought these distinguished people all at once, stressing that a rational mind would understand that their endorsements was not engineered by fear or coercion but natural responses, obviously out of their freewill, to a successor that has delivered beyond expectations.

He added that succession of public endorsements immediately followed including but not limited to the ones by the leaders and people of each of the three senatorial districts in the State as well as a number of groups and individuals comprising the State Caucus of All Progressives Congress (APC) which is the highest organ of the party in the state, the State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), all Primary School Teachers in the 16 Local Government Areas of the State, the State Chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Students and youth groups as well as communities and traditional chiefs across the state, stressing that these events were obviously organized independently by groups who are genuinely moved by the governor’s performance.

Aluko asked if the comedian claiming that the constitution of the BAO State Endorsement Committee by stakeholders is a disregard for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call for internal party democracy are aware that not only had APC governors from the north-central geopolitical zone recently passed a vote of confidence on Tinubu’s administration, the entire Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has formally endorsed President Bola Tinubu as the sole candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 presidential election.

Emphasizing that everyone is entitled to their opinions, he however queried why the people should be harassed for supporting a Governor that has given them reasons to believe again or when they should show their support and appreciation for the Governor whose impact has been significantly felt across all sectors including road infrastructure or healthcare investment; welfare of workers and pensioners; investment in agriculture, educational support, care for the elderly and vulnerable citizens, and human capital development.

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The former Deputy Governor stressed that Governor Oyebanji’s endorsement by the leaders and people of the State is something that has been done and cannot be changed adding that the formulation of the committee was to ensure proper organization of the programme.

“If almost everybody in the State is rooting for the Governor’s second term in office and perceive him to have tremendously impacted positively on the State, what can we do but to help midwife the process for seamless transition? The number of the people calling and begging BAO to run for second time are too numerous and stronger than anyone can ignore and as the saying goes “Vox populi, vox Dei” the voice of the people, is the voice of God. So where is the problem? ”, he said.

He advised people in the State to continually support and pray for wisdom and power of God for the Governor to enable him sustain the pace of rapid development and the prevailing peace in the State.

Sub-committees constituted included the Central Organizing Committee/budget headed by Surv. Biodun Aluko; Fund-raising with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele as Chairman and Security led by Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana.

Others are the Media committee with Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun as Chairman; Rt. Hon. Femi Bamisile leading the Mobilization and Entertainment; Rt. Hon Adeoye Aribasoye heading the Venue sub-committee and Dr. Banji Filani superintending the Medical committee.