* Demand transparent primary from APC
By Ezeocha Nzeh
Two front line aspirants to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the June 18,2022 Ekiti state governorship election, Demola Popoola and Oluwatoyin Afolabi on Wednesday returned their expression of interest and nomination forms with a vow that they will not step down for any candidate what so ever
The aspirants also called on the leadership of the APC to ensure that it conducts a transparent primary election irrespective any form it chooses to use, adding that they have the grassroots support to win the ticket if it is conducted free and fair
Speaking after returning his forms, Popoola said he would not step down for any aspirant, including the purported anointed one even if he is offered as much as $200 billion.
There have been rumours that the incumbent governor of Ekiti Fayemi Kayode has endorsed the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Abiodun Oyebanji for the race
Both the Governor and Oyebanji have however denied the allegations
Popoola who acknowledged the Kayode’s refutal of the endorsement rumour said the Governor has not even attempted prevailing on him to drop his ambition for anyone but rather advised him to work for the emergence of APC in the State.
The Aviation expert and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emmanpop Ventures made his position known while addressing journalists shortly after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja on Wednesday.
He said: “Governor Kayode has not called me once to tell me Demola step down. Never! He never! All he tells me is, ‘all I want is who will win the election for APC in Ekiti. I am not going to stop anybody.
“So the story of annointed he has refuted so let us take it that way. So I am not anybody’s annointed candidate and I will not step down for anybody. Not even for $200 billion”.
Popoola assured that if elected as Governor, he will bring in partners who are already set to invest $2.1 billion into agriculture through construction of rural roads for transportation of farm produce and warehouses to prevent wastage.
“I intend to build industries and in contact with foreign financial gurus and businessmen who have signified intention to come and support Ekiti State. The unemployment that is facing Ekiti State, we will set up some cottage industries. I am working with my people, I think it will be a good thing if Ekiti can do free education.
Speaking in the same vein, Oluwatoyin Afolabi, a United States of America (USA) trained nurse, dismissed insinuation that he was being sponsored to block the chances of some aspirants and smoothen the path for others, adding that he was in the race through self sponsorship, having saved at least $50,000 he got from his investments in the United States of America.
He said: “I just told you that I got $50,000 last year which is equivalent to more than N22.5million. Since I have the ambition to do something for my great people of Ekiti, I kept the money in the bank. How about that. I’m sponsoring myself.
“My goal is to come back to Ekiti State to create jobs. To help our young ones. There are lots of youths who are riding Okada here and there. They don’t have any viable job to sustain their lives and that is part of the peculiar reason why I have decided to run to be the Governor of Ekiti State this year by the grace of God.
“My goal is to be able to help a fellow human Ekiti Indigene to attain their potential. They have so many potentials in them. We have the intellectuals there. We don’t have people who can come there and established factories and industries who can create business opportunities all because some of the people that are at the hems of affairs are not giving them conducive environment to be able to do that.”
