Amosun’s loyalists endorse Buhari as APM begins campaigns

Loyalists of Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday kick-started the campaign of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in Abeokuta, the state capital.

They handed the party’s emblem to the party’s governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade.

Other candidates of the party for various electives offices also got their flags as APM candidates.

The party’s National Chairman Yusuf Dantale   led the campaign kick-off at the MKO Abiola Stadium.

APM also declared President Muhammad Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its adopted presidential candidate for next year’s presidential poll.

Addressing the rally attended by transport unions and association’s drawn from across the state, Dantale said it was a collective decision to adopt President Buhari.

Curiously, the national chairman presented the party’s flag to Akinlade with instruction to pass it on to the President, who the party said was impressed with his performance.

Akinlade collected the flag on behalf of President Buhari, assuring the party that he would hand it over to him through the state APC Chairman Chief Derin Adebiyi, and Governor Amosun.

The APM candidate justified his defection from APC, saying it was driven by the need to forestall plans by some forces to truncate the achievements and legacies of Governor Amosun.

He described his new party as a new movement which would fight for freedom and ensure welfare of the people.

Akinlade said: “We kick-start this campaign to continue the good work of Governor Amosun. We have enough resources and they should be used for the welfare of the people.

“Ogun people have the right to choose their leaders without the input of anyone outside the state.”

The Director-General of Abdulkabir Akinlade Campaign Organisation, Tunji Sarafa Ishola, said the state needed continuity in governance.

He added: “We need continuity in Ogun State and that continuity and orderly succession residing in our son and candidate, Abdulkabir Akinlade.

“APM has decided to adopt President Buhari. In APM, we have adopted Senator Amosun as senatorial candidate in Ogun Central.

“We don’t have a senatorial candidate in Ogun East and we have adopted Lekan Mustapha as our candidate. Other candidates will be discussed later.”