*Oyo Deputy Gov Reconciles Aggrieved APM Members In Ogbomoso As Guber Candidate Declares ‘Bottom-Up Approach’*

The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, on Monday reconciled aggrieved members of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, in Ogbomoso at a stakeholders meeting held at Oja’gbo Town Hall in Ogbomoso North Local Government.

The meeting was attended by several leaders and stakeholders of the party in the zone, including chairmen of the five local government areas, party candidates, the Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, Hon Akinwole Akinwale, also known as Wolekanle, as well as the APM governorship candidate, Hon Bimbo Adekanmbi and his running mate, Engr Muftau Open Salawu.

Addressing party members, the deputy governor noted that with seven months to the election, those who are yet to benefit from the party will be taken care of.

While assuring that Governor Seyi Makinde will address all their grievances, he maintained that ensuring the party is re-elected will create greater opportunities for everyone, particularly those yet to benefit.

Barr Lawal directed local government chairmen to ensure grading of roads across their councils, noting that Oriire, for instance, is a very big local government that needs grading across wards.

He urged the chairmen to copy him in letters to be addressed to the Ministry of Local Government, assuring that he will ensure their appeal for road grading is attended to.

While disclosing that he assisted in the release of funds during the Yawota incident when the chairmen approached him, the Deputy Governor added that the Oyo State Government will continue to support development and the people of the state.

He assured that those who have left will be replaced with immediate appointments, noting that it was part of the reason the reconciliation meeting was convened to accommodate those yet to benefit from government.

The Deputy Governor, however, charged all candidates of the party to be up and doing and always present in their various constituencies, noting that elections are won at ward level.

He stressed that Ogbomoso is blessed to have the deputy governorship candidate slot, saying Open Salawu is number two in the state, while stressing that constitutionally, the deputy governorship position is key.

“Open Salawu, being the Babalaje of Ogbomosoland, needs support and we must ensure all our candidates emerge victoriously,” he said.

The Deputy Governor added that Governor Seyi Makinde sent his appreciation to the people of Ogbomosoland for voting him en masse in the last election, calling on everyone to support all candidates of the party.

He equally called on party members and the people of the state to support Governor Seyi Makinde who is contesting for president, maintaining that the governor must be supported to secure the presidency as it will bring opportunities to the people of Oyo State.

Earlier in his remarks, the governorship candidate of the APM, Hon Bimbo Adekanmbi, stressed a bottom-up approach at the local government level.

He noted that the gathering was about reconciliation, saying APM belongs to all and everyone must be united to ensure victory.

While stressing that the movement is about continuity of Omituntun 1.0 and 2.0, the guber candidate noted that 3.0 will go down to the grassroots.

He assured members that their feedback will be taken care of, adding that government will not decide local government appointments but it will be left to leaders of respective local governments to decide.

“There is no state in Nigeria that is running autonomy. There will be bottom-up approach to ensure everyone is accommodated,” Adekanmbi said.

He appealed to anyone angry or aggrieved to be patient with the coming Omituntun 3.0 which will serve their interests.