Gboyega Adefarati, son of the former governor of Ondo State, late Chief Adebayo Adeferati has explained why he refused the invitation to join the cabinet of Governor olusegun Mimiko.
According to the Nation, Gboyega said he refused to join Mimiko’s camp due to the fact that he knew him as a man who will never stand by his words since the days of his father’s administration.
He spoke with reporters shortly after organizing a rally for All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at Akungba-Akoko in Akoko South West local government area of the State.
The rally later became a mega rally as Osinbajo, who is in the state for a tour of some communities such as Oke-Agbe, Arigidi, Oka, Isua, Owo, Ore; Okitipupa also visited the residence of Adefarati in Akungba in company of leaders of the party.
Osinbajo, who only spoke shortly in Isua-Akoko said “let us protect our votes, we should stand by our votes. We must ensure they count the votes in our presence before leaving the polling units.
Osinbajo’s convoy was reportedly received with jubilation and praises as market women, artisans and students warmly show their support for the APC with shout of “change” from them.
However, Adefarati’s son said the people eyes are now clear and no amount of sweet words or dollars being shared by Mimiko would garner votes for President Goodluck Jonathan.
He boasted that Akoko has been the bed rock of Progressives in the state, adding that it would be a landslide victory for Buhari in the state, particularly from Akoko.
The APC chieftain noted that despite his father is no more, Akungba-Akoko has always stood by him by voting for progressives.
“We have never lost Akungba-Akojo to Mimiko, even during the time of ACN, when the party was not strong in 2011, ACN still won the wards in Akungba. Despite our party lost the governorship election in 2012, we gave our party 1,800 votes to LP 400 in Akungba.
“So, our people are yearning for change, forget about the endorsement, it is just a name or associations that are endorsing not members. Associations can’t vote but members will votes. We have been meeting the people who are the members of these association and they are reactions were that they want change.
“Mimiko cannot deceive them anymore, they were deceived in 2007 when Mimiko claimed to be part of progressives in South West, in 2011 he deceived the masses with cosmetic projects, in 2012, he lied to them but this time around, our people cannot be deceived again. I knew him since the days of my father’s administration. When he invited me, pleading that I should join him, I said to my people Mimiko is not a man that can stand by his words.
Gboyega urged the electorate to collect dollars being shared by President but vote according to their conscience.
Mimiko who like his Ekiti counterpart, Ayo Fayose is a strong supporter of Jonathan has received severe criticism from political critics and politicians alike after he defected to the ruling PDP.
Meanwhile, the APC in Ondo state has denied Mimiko’s claim that the people of the state preferred President Jonathan to the presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
The APC replied saying that the people of Ondo state would express their anger on President Jonathan in the Saturday presidential election by voting against his re-election.
