Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun on Sunday led some monarchs on a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Present at the meeting were the Alake of Egbaland and Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas, Oba Aremu Gbadebo; the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; and a former Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo.
Speaking at the end of the meeting, Amosun denied reports that he has defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over political developments in the state.
Prior to Sunday’s meeting, Amosun had visited the Villa for over four times within the past three weeks where he met separately with President Buhari and the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The APC National Working Committee is believed to have forwarded the name of Prince Dapo Abiodun to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections.
Abiodun was declared winner of the Ogun State APC governorship primary by the APC NWC panel sent to conduct the primary in the state.
The declaration was against Amosun’s preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, who was elected governorship candidate at another primary conducted by the state APC officials.
Amosun had allegedly accused some political interest group of misinforming President Buhari about the political situation in Ogun.
The governor has now pledged his political loyalty to the president and vowed to support his political ambition in 2019, saying, however, he would hand over the mantle of leadership to his preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, in 2019.
“We will stick with him (President Buhari). So, I want them to know that we are not going anywhere.
“I’m going to be with the APC, we are in the APC and even after his second term, which by the grace of God and the support of all Nigerians he will win,” Amosun said.
Oba Gbadebo, who also spoke after the meeting, said his visit to President Buhari, whom he described as his boss in the army, was a routine one.
A statement released by the Alake’s palace later stated that “Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, CFR and the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, had gone to Abuja to intercede in the ongoing disagreement between Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the APC national leadership on the Ogun State APC governorship ticket dispute.”
Anisulowo said the people of Ogun would vote massively for President Buhari and all APC candidates in 2019.
“Ogun is very peaceful and is a very progressive state. Ogun is Baba Buhari’s state and we cannot allow anything to happen contrary to our wishes for him for his second term in office,” she said.
