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The Oyo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 2019 election, Adebayo Adelabu, has reacted to the choice of Mr. Sunday Dare, as ministerial nominee from Oyo State.
Adelabu was among those being projected to be nominated from the state. It was believed that the nomination could be a compensation for losing the governorship election despite the sacrifices and financial contributions he put in.
Others that were projected were immediate past minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, former governor, Abiola Ajimobi and former governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe.
In a statement issued Tuesday evening, Adelabu congratulated Dare, and advised those who might feel disappointed that he was not nominated, to keep calm and “rejoice with our new ministerial nominee for Oyo State”.
“To those of our members that were expectant of my nomination as a minister, you should please not be bothered or dissappointed or brood over nothing as ministerial role is by appointment and not an election” he said.
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He then expressed hope that Dare “will use the office to benefit the party and contribute his own quota to the reconciliation process about to begin within the APC fold to enable us have a stronger and more formidable party ahead of 2023 general elections.”
He added: “Mr Sunday Dare is our brother, an accomplished journalist and party faithful from Ogbomosho who has in his own little way been contributing quietly to the success of our party APC, both at the state and national levels. Therefore, his nomination for the ministerial position is highly welcome and deserved and I plead with all of us to give our support for him to succeed.”
Adelabu congratulated all the ministerial nominees especially those from the southwest zone. They include Dare (Oyo) Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Mr Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Otunba Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Dr Olorunnibe Mamoora (Lagos), Arch. Olamilekan Adegbite (Ogun) and Chief Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo).
“Your nominations are all well deserved and professionally diversed as you have all distinguished yourselves in your various chosen fields,” Adelabu said.
“I am convinced you will all use your expertise to contribute to the economic growth and development of Nigeria as a whole and South west region in particular and consequently better the lots of the common man. I want to remind you that Nigerians’ performance expectations of you are very high and I plead with you to ensure those expectations are not only met but surpassed. I wish you all successful screening and confirmation by the Senate.”