LG Election: Aggrieved Youths Protest Against Ogun SSG’s Alleged Imposition of Odusanya in Ijebu North

• Youths Call for Direct Primaries to Ensure Fairness and Transparency

• SSG’s Media Aide Denies Allegations, Says Talabi Supports Democracy

Abeokuta, Ogun State – Aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) youths in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State have protested against the alleged plot by Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, to impose Hon. Mobolaji Odusanya as the consensus candidate for the chairmanship position in the forthcoming local government election.

The youths, who spoke through their spokesman, Kamoru Adeoye, warned Mr. Tokunbo Talabi not to set the local government on fire by selecting Hon. Mobolaji Odusanya as a sole candidate, which they claimed is against the wishes of the people.

According to Adeoye, the immediate past Chairman, Hon. Mobolaji Odusanya, was among the 17 council chairmen, including Wale Adedayo, who accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of embezzling the local government allocation.

The youths made their position known during a press conference held at Iwe-iroyin, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Wednesday.

They called on Governor Dapo Abiodun and political leaders in the local government to intervene and allow all interested candidates to engage in direct primaries to test their popularity and acceptability.

“We, the aggrieved party stakeholders of ljebu North Local Government, Ogun State, express our displeasure over an alleged plot by the Secretary to the Ogun State Government (SSG) Mr. Tokunbo Talabi to impose the immediate past Chairman of the local government, Hon. Mobolaji Odusanya on party executives and members”.

“We wish to bring to your notice that, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi (SSG) is planning to handpick Hon. Mobolaji Odusanya as the consensus candidate of the party which is directly against the will of the Governor”.

“This is after the state governor, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun has said any disloyal party member should not be considered by the Party for any elective position in the forthcoming local government elections in the state”.

“Recall that Hon. Mobolaji Odusanya was among the 17 council chairmen including Wale Adedayo that accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of embezzling the local government allocation”

“In fact he (Mobolaji Odusanya) was number 2 on the list signed; and he is also amongst the chairman that rejected the official vehicle purchased for them by His Excellency”

“Mr. Tokunbo Talabi’s (SSG ) impunity and lack of respect for constituted authority will throw ljebu North into an intractable crisis”.

“We, hereby call on the Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun and political leaders in the local government to intervene and allow all interested candidates to engage in direct primaries to test their popularity and acceptability. We say N0 to the imposition of a candidate by Ogun SSG, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi”

In his reaction, Ogunleye Odunayo, media aide to SSG, Tokunbo Talabi, denied the report, saying that Talabi is  a man that stands with democracy.

“Well, I am not aware of what you are saying and that can never be possible. The SSG is a man that stands with democracy and that has always been his position. Meanwhile, I’ll get back to you later for further comments”, he added.