AGAINST the backdrop of the 2018 governorship poll in Osun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in state on Sunday declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be thoroughly defeated again, no matter who the party field as its standard bearer.
The ruling party expressed optimism that with visible achievements of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in terms of education, provision of roads and other infrastructural facilities, among other feats, the PDP stands no chance of winning the governorship election.
In press statement issued by the APC director of publicity, research and strategy, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune yesterday, the party contended that any of its members who decamp to collaborate with the PDP would be disappointed, stressing that “we would win the governorship election in 2018 convincingly by repeating the feat of 2014.”
The statement reads in part, “what the PDP failed to understand ‘is that it has such a terrible image in the state that no matter who, from the APC defects to PDP, the good people of Osun can’t choose PDP as an alternative to APC, notwithstanding what happened in Osun West Senatorial District in June this year.
“So, those who may be tempted to jump ship and align with the PDP are very well aware of the monstrosity they will be moving into; an action that will amount to cutting their noses to spite their faces. That’s not a winning strategy. The PDP in Osun suffers multiple political defects, which worsen by the day, as a result of the lack of respectable, focused and dignified leadership that Osun people can trust.”
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But, some chieftains of the PDP in Osun, who spoke to our correspondent on Sunday argued that the APC were living in fool’s paradise, saying the dismal performance of the ruling party under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola had created strong apathy on the part of the masses to the party and whatever its represents.
One of the stalwarts of the PDP, Dr Bayo Faforiji affirmed that “the APC as a party had lost connection with the people of Osun, considering the hardship and frustration being suffered by the majority in the state.”
He stated that “the sacrosanct fact is that they are very much afraid of the impending and unavoidable electoral defeat, staring them in the face. Economy of Osun has totally collapsed. Some categories of civil servants in state have been receiving half or what they termed modulated salaries since July 2015. Doctors in public hospitals are also not exempted from receiving half salaries since 2015. Pensioners are also dying in droves.”
Another leader of the PDP, Senator Olu Alabi, who is a former chairman of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) said “it is quite certain that the APC are disillusioned and cannot fathom the level of rejection they are already suffering from the people of not only Osun State, but also the entire Nigeria. The party cannot win 2018 governorship poll in this state. The signs are too visible to ignore.”