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By Samuel Adegoke
All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart in Oyo State Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) has revealed that he would contest for governorship election in 2023 if God spares his life.
He disclosed this at an interactive session with members of the South West Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP) in Ibadan, Oyo State on Tuesday.
Explaining the undercurrents that led to his failure to secure the party’s governorship ticket in 2018, Akintola said he announced his retirement from partisan politics at the time because he felt betrayed by party leaders including the late former governor Abiola Ajimobi.
He had announced his withdrawal from partisan politics at Adamasingba Stadium in August, 2018 when he was prevailed upon to stand down for Chief Bayo Adelabu.
Akintola said he made the announcement at the heat of the crisis but he revealed that some leaders have made him see reasons to reverse his decision.
He posited that the Nigerian system has created a huge social problem where feudalism thrives to the detriment of the values of hard work and dignity of labour. According to him, politicians now promote free money and stomach infrastructure instead of offering good governance that will enhance job creation, hard work and other African values.
“We must dismantle the system that prevents our best people to emerge as leaders. We must keep trying until we break the glass ceiling one day. We can not afford to give up.” He said.