The national chairman of African Democratic Party, Ralph Okey Nwosu has predicted victory for the party’s governorship candidate in Ogun State, Biyi Otegbeye, in the forthcoming general elections.
Nwosu made the prediction on Sunday at a dinner Otegbeye held in his honour in Abeokuta.
Nwosu described Otegbeye as the governor in- waiting and Olatunde Awonuga as the Deputy Governor in-waiting, adding that the party will celebrate in Ogun State.
He appreciated the leaders of the party who were present at the event, and specifically mentioned Derin Adebiyi and Matemilola Adelanwa, the state chairman.
The national chairman described the emergence of Otegbeye as prophetic.
He said, “Sometime in August, one of my brothers here told me that the next governor of Ogun State will be ADC and that a former governor, SIA, will play a major role in moving Ogun State forward. By then I had not even heard about a Biyi. But today, when I reflect, I can see the wonders of God.”
According to the ADC national chairman, Ogun State is blessed with people of high calibre who have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria like “Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Moshood Abiola, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Earnest Shonekan and to add Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who is going to take over the leadership where the founding fathers left it.”
“Biyi, you are going to become a governor in a special time, the governor of a time to show in word and in faith that Ogun State is a true modest state.
“I can see your amiable Deputy Governor who is a perfect company. With the legal and finance background of our governorship candidate and the industrial background of the running mate, Ogun State will set a pace in development that other parts of Nigeria will follow.”
In his response, Otegbeye said he was happy to meet Nwosu, adding that he was able to survive the recent tussle at the national level because of his integrity.
He stated: “I had the opportunity of speaking with you twice during that crisis and I assured you at that time and I am reassuring you in the presence of everybody in Ogun State that we are solidly behind you. We will not allow your legacy, hard work and diligence you put in to build this party to this level to be rubbished by anybody.”
The ADC governorship flag bearer disclosed that he organized the dinner because he wanted the national chairman to see the quality of ADC representation at all levels and to show that the ADC in Ogun State is focused and ready to win the election.
He stated that the competitors of ADC did not take the party serious until a month ago when they saw the party’s large followership, and they resorted to intimidation and threats to members of ADC.
“But unknown to them, the more they intimidate the more we are strengthened,” Otegbeye added.
According to him, 24 lawsuits have been filed by the competitors against him and the House of Assembly candidates, saying such cases were frivolous, intended to distract and they will fail.
Speaking on the current leadership in Ogun State, Otegbeye lambasted: “I have never seen anybody so unprepared to govern like the man there. This was a man who wanted to address the state, and never read his speech until the time not the address only in the face of television to be correcting his speech. That’s just figurative of how unserious and unprepared anybody can be for leadership. But thank God their days are numbered and they only have four months.”
A leader of ADC, Derin Adebiyi, said the ADC is a party to beat in the 2023 election.
“Mr. Chairman Sir, if anybody tells you that ADC is not on the ground or that Senator Ibikunle Amosun is nobody, they don’t know what they talk about.”
The ADC deputy governorship candidate, Olatunde Awonuga, appreciated the national chairman for the visit stressing that the combination of ADC election office seekers will trigger unprecedented development in the state.
