The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has advised the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to first demonstrate that it has the national structure and political strength required to mount a serious presidential challenge before presenting Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde as its presidential candidate.
The organisation also accused Makinde of paralysing the 33 local government areas in Oyo State, alleging that his administration has undermined the effectiveness of the third tier of government.
Describing APM’s call for President Bola Tinubu to step aside for Makinde as laughable, SSACO, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, said it was the height of political hallucination for the party to suggest that Nigeria’s presidency could be secured through press statements and political theatrics rather than nationwide organisation and electoral support.
The organisation said Nigerians would not surrender the presidency to a candidate whom it accused of weakening local governments, which it described as critical channels of grassroots development.
“APM’s Makinde is averse to the third tier of government in Nigeria, and this is evident in his seven-year anti-local government administration in Oyo State.
“Declaring an ambition is one thing; building the political structure required to prosecute a nationwide presidential election is another entirely. The APM should tell Nigerians how extensive its electoral structures are across the federation and demonstrate its capacity to compete effectively across the states and the Federal Capital Territory. It must have candidates across various elective positions in at least one-third of the country to show seriousness.
“But can we blame the APM spokesperson for issuing a press statement at the end of the month in a subtle reminder to his hirers that his salary is due for payment?
“More importantly, even Governor Seyi Makinde, whom the APM now parades as its presidential candidate, has serious political battles to fight in his home state of Oyo, where he has paralysed the 33 local governments in the last seven years. In fact, he is gasping for breath politically in the state.
“A man seeking to conquer Nigeria must first demonstrate compelling political strength on his own turf. Charity, as the saying goes, begins at home,” the statement read.
SSACO said the 2027 presidential election would not be determined by whoever issued the loudest press statement but by Nigerian voters.
It added that Nigerians were witnessing what it described as the benefits of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including student loans, the establishment of new federal universities, the construction of expressways and the reconstruction of several inter-state and inter-city roads.
Credit: newspeakonline.com
