***Proposes Strategic Meeting
The First Female Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly and Ondo South Senatorial Aspirant, Rt Hon Jumoke Akindele, has urged her fellow Aspirants on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform in the zone to prioritise the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over personal ambitions as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.
Akindele, in a press statement addressed to fellow aspirants and made available to newsmen in Akure on Monday, stressed that while individual aspirations could be adjusted, the second-term bid of President Tinubu must remain sacrosanct.
“I must be frank, while our ambition at this moment is negotiable, the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is non-negotiable,” she said.
She noted that party stakeholders in Ondo State had already set a target of delivering not less than one million votes for the President, warning that internal divisions could undermine the collective objective.
“Since we have all agreed that from Ondo State alone we must give him not less than a million votes, we must do nothing to jeopardise that goal, particularly on the altar of our personal goals,” she said.
The former Speaker emphasised the need for unity among aspirants, cautioning that political contests should strengthen rather than divide the party.
“Our contests should sharpen us, not scatter us. The very platform that carries our aspirations must not become collateral damage in the pursuit of individual goals. A fractured house wins no mandate. If the foundation shakes, no structure stands.
“Our political relevance today is anchored in a larger force and leadership that inspired us to step forward. Our strength flows from that centre, and it must remain intact,” she stated.
As part of efforts to foster cohesion, Akindele proposed a strategic engagement among aspirants to align interests and map out a unified approach.
“Let us meet. Let us talk, frankly, intelligently, and purposefully. Let us align where it matters most,” she urged.
She also appealed to other aspirants to act with strategic thinking rather than emotion in pursuing their ambitions.
“We must each ask ourselves: are we acting strategically, or merely reacting emotionally? Ego has its place, but not at the expense of opportunity,” she said.
She further offered to personally host the proposed meeting, stating that the gathering could hold in Akure, Lagos, Abuja, or any other mutually agreed location.
“I am ready to host this engagement at my own cost and convenience, either in Akure, Lagos or Abuja or any other place we may all agree upon,” she said.
“So that we can shape a path that preserves our strength, sharpens our strategy, and secures our collective future,” she added.
Akindele, however, urged aspirants to rise above personal interests and embrace unity for the success of the party and the country.
“History rarely remembers those who merely contested; it remembers those who understood the moment. Let us be those people.
“In unity and purpose, we can secure not just victory, but a lasting future for our party,” she concluded.
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