- A former Ogun state chief of staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi, has justified the reason behind his decision to leave governor's cabinet
- Addressing newsmen, Odebiyi said his decision to part way with Governor Amosun was because of his loyalty to remain in APC contrary to governor's directives
- He also said the decision to work for President Buhari and maintain the legacy of his father made him bow out
Barely four weeks after his resignation from the administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state, a former chief of staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi, has cleared dust surrounding his shocking decision call it quit from the cabinet.
The Punch reports that Odebiyi, who was addressing press men on Monday, December 24, at his Iboro country home, in Yewa north local government area of the state, said his resignation was due to his desire to remain in All Progressives Congress (APC).
Legit.ng gathers that Governor Amosun, following the disagreement that ensued out of the APC primary election in the state, which saw the governor's anointed candidate lose out, directed his loyalists, including the ex staff chief, to dump the party for Allied People’s Movement (APM).
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Odebiyi, who is the Ogun west APC senatorial candidate, said his his loyalty to APC made him resign, instead of crossing the bridge with other governor' allies.
He said: “It was a painful decision to go a separate way with Senator Ibikunle Amosun, but it has become a honest decision.
“I decided to quit the cabinet of Governor Ibikunle Amosun because I don’t want to be seen as a mole. I don’t have any personal grouse. I have respect for his office and I have learnt a lot from him while working under him.
“The main reason for leaving Governor Amosun’s government was when the issue of going to a new party cropped up. Because the preferred governorship candidate of the governor was not recognised by the national working committee of the APC, he decided to move to another party, but I said, no!“
“When Governor Ibikunle Amosun mooted the idea of moving to APM to me, I said I would think over it and get back to him. When I consulted my people in Ogun west over it and they were all aversed to the idea.
“When I reported back to Governor Amosun on the decision of my people, it was not well received by him.
“But I told him I had to be mindful of my late father’s legacy. My father was a true democrat and a progressive."
Speaking further on his decision, Odebiyi said the need to leave was because of his commitment to work with President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
He also added that the need to respect the decision of his people made him resign, adding that Ogun west is completely loyal to the ruling party.
He said: "As a result, the APC tenets take after the past progressive parties, like Action Group, Unity Party of Nigeria, the Alliance for Democracy and the Action Congress. So, they are like family parties.
“Turning my back on the APC would amount to turning my back on my people in Ogun west. My loyalty to the party and my commitment to ensuring President Muhammadu Buhari is re-elected remains my steadfast and show of loyalty to the party.
“I don’t like switching political parties, because, I respect party’s supremacy. Also, my political pedigree has to be maintained. I stay put in a party and to help build it.”
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state had reportedly vowed to work against the state’s governorship candidate of the APC, Dapo Abiodun, in the 2019 governorship poll.
Amosun, who is the party’s candidate for the Ogun central senatorial district, reportedly made the statement on Monday, December 3, when addressing his supporters in Abeokuta, the state capital.
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Source: Legit.ng
