Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, has officially joined the governorship race in the state.
Salaam who was at the state secretariat of All Progressives Congress in Osogbo on Thursday to submit his intent letter, also restated his support for the West zone of the state to produce the candidate of the party.
He said “in the interest of fairness, justice and equity, Osun West should be allowed to produce the next governor from our party.
Salaam took the teeming supporters and faithfuls present at the venue down Memory Lane by reminding them that the late Isiaka Adeleke who came from the West, only spent 22 months as Governor of the state, while Chief Bisi Akande has spent four years followed by Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s two terms from the Central.
The third time parliamentarian and leader of the state parliament noted further that the East where Governor Rauf Aregbesola came from, would complete their two terms of eight years in November after the expiration of his tenure.
He denied social media reports that he has collected money to step down for another aspirants, tagging the report as “fake and baseless”.
He painstakingly explained that the meeting he held in Lagos with Aregbesola, Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos state, and the Chairman of the party in the state, Prince Gboyega Famoodun, was based on how to ensure the victory of the party in the coming election.
Reacting to the allegation of incompetency, Salaam boasted that he his eminently qualified to govern the state with his experience from councilor to the number three citizen in the state.
He prayed for the executive of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the selection of party’s candidate for the September 22 governorship election.
He added that he was aware that the executives of the party are confused with the situation of things, praying that God will guide them in selecting a good candidate for the party.
“I know that you are at a confused stage in this matter, God will guide you in selecting a candidate that will win the election for our party.
In his remarks, the APC state Chairman in the state, Prince Gboyega Famodun said the party would give all the aspirants a level playing ground during the primary.
Famodun commended Salaam for coming out to declare his intention for the governorship position and wished him success.
