HOW I WAS LURED INTO FAKE GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANTS SCREENING‎ EXERCISE, GBOYEGA ISIAKA

 

‎The statement titiled ‘Setting the Records Straight’,the two time governorship candidate in the state explained that,what was later coloured by some mischievous leaders in the zone was designed as a interactive session to share political experiences.

 

He said he was invited to the session to further share his experience to other aspirants, and best way for the zone to go,in realising the desire for the zone to produce next governor.

 

 ‘The attention of the media office of Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) has been drawn to some news reports over certain endorsement by a group that goes by the name Ogun West Consultative Forum’,he said. 

 

‘In the reports, the name of our principal – GNI was mentioned among the aspirants said to have been purportedly screened before their final choice of Senator Olamilekan Adeola representing Lagos West as the group Candidate for 2019 gubernatorial contest in Ogun State’,the statement reads. 

 

The statement said,there was need to react to the purported screening exercise,following a lot of enquiries  been made by numerous supporters and admirers of the politician.

 

 He,however,admitted that,It was a fundamental right of any group of people to endorse, adopt and or even present any aspirant for election and he has no issue over that, ‘but mentioning my name amongst the participants in a screening process that never happened will necessitate my setting the records straight so as to provide the right information to my supporters across the State as well as the generality of our people”.

 

Isiaka said he was about‎ three months ago invited by a leader in the zone,Kayode Ajibola to come and interact with members of his group; Ogun West Consultative Forum at Ilaro and he obliged. 

 

‘This is one of several of such interactions that have happened and will still happen in the process. I honoured the invitation with some of my supporters strictly within Ogun West in attendant’,the aspirant said

 

‎He added that,the anchor of the session,  Prof Tope Popoola while giving an introductory remark said the interactive session was a “family meeting” to learn from ourselves over various experiences we have had in our efforts as a people to govern Ogun State.

 

He also added that, chairman of the group, Mr Kayode Ajibola in his opening remarks said they felt he(Isiaka)should be invited first having had previous direct experience at the gubernatorial level and other “major” aspirants will be invited and finally all of us contesting for the gubernatorial position from Ogun West will thereafter be invited together; adding that such is the least “this interactive session” should achieve as part of the forum contribution to foster more unity amongst us the aspirants. 

 

He buttress his explanation,that all these are available in audio visual records,adding that he was thereafter‎ called to address them. 

 

‘I appreciated them, highlighted my understanding of the past mistakes and what I felt should be done as we move into 2019 contest and I submitted by stressing my strength and comparative advantages in the race’,.

 

Isiaka said,he concluded by imploring the group to get more involved and start engaging other stakeholders particularly those rooting for aspirants outside the west towards fostering unity and solidarity in Ogun West.

 

He added that, ‎members responded and appreciated his insights while the chairman Mr Kayode Ajibola told members that he(isiaka) has justified why they invited him as the first aspirant because ‘I brought experience and capacity to bear for them to ponder over as I have further assisted them in suggesting solution (s) to our past slip-ups’. 

 

He said he was surprised that,after the session, he started reading about screening and endorsement of a consesus candidate,which never took place nor agenda of the meeting.

 

‘ I have attended previous screening exercises in my bid to govern Ogun State and I know the minimum irreducible criteria for a screening exercise that will produce a minimum acceptable result. NONE of these happened in this case’,he said. 

 

‘The session was called INTERRACTIVE not Screening; and the purpose was meant to be fact finding and proffering solutions not for endorsement or whatever name it is called. Nobody ever mentioned that I was to come for screening and the session never acted as one.’

 

 ‎’I am aware of ongoing discordance tune that reigns within the membership of the forum over this sudden metamorphosis or policy summersault from interactive forum to “screening” forum. I will advise the forum to retrace its steps toward the purpose it sets for itself as explained to us’.

 

‘I only attended an interactive session among supposed family members from Ogun West on invitation and not for a screening’,he stressed.

 

 ‘Therefore, such session attended could only lead to roadmap at best not an endorsement, adoption, presenting, etc so, count Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka out of any process that stands to divide us as a people’,the statement declared.