Olanusi’s Statement On Mode Of Primaries Misleading, Manipulative – Ondo Govt

The Ondo State government has condemned the statement credited to a former deputy governor of the state and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, describing it as a mix of mischief and double speak.

According to media reports, the former deputy governor purportedly condemned the adoption of Indirect Primary by the state chapter of APC ahead of next year’s general elections.

But a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Olowolabi, said the statement by Olanusi was “intricately woven to misinform, mislead and manipulate sacred facts to achieve clearly perverted political goals.”

Olowolabi stated further:

“Our attention has been drawn to media reports credited to the Former deputy governor of Ondo State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Ali Olanusi, who purportedly condemned the adoption of Indirect Primary by the state chapter of APC ahead of next year’s general election.

This report smells like a mix mischief and double speak intricately woven to misinform, mislead and manipulate sacred facts to achieve clearly perverted political goals.

“For the record, Alhaji Ali Olanusi was not only present but he also actively participated at the Ondo State APC Executive Committee Meeting on Wednesday September 5, 2018, where stakeholders unanimously adopted Indirect Primary to select the party’s candidates for the 2019 general elections.

“In fact, Olanusi actually set the tone for the debate which culminated in the rejection of direct primary with his personal story “I joined the APC 48 hours to the presidential election in 2015. Up till now , I don’t have APC membership card. You can then imagine, if, as a senior member of the party, I don’t have a membership card, what then is the fate of other people who are members of the party?” Olanusi wondered, describing direct primary as a recipe for confusion since the party was not yet prepared for all requirements of direct primary.

Other speakers toed this line of reasonable thought and consequently agreed to go with indirect option.
“From the foregoing, therefore, it is inconceivable for the highly respected politician to turn around and condemn the collective decision of Ondo State APC stakeholders including himself.

For the avoidance of doubt, Alhaji Olanusi’s seminal and illustrative contributions at APC State Executive Committee substantially helped in arriving at the final decision to dump the idea of direct primary.”