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The Southwest Zone of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday said that last-minute moves by President Goodluck Jonathan to curry the favour of Yoruba obas would not save him because his poor performance dashed the hope of good governance they had in him when they voted for him in 2011.
The party, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity in the region, Mr Ayo Afolabi, said no amount of money splashed on Yoruba monarchs at the eleventh hour can buy their conscience and that of their subjects because the people of the region vote based on their conviction.
APC said: “The latest move by President Goodluck Jonathan to court Southwest monarchs ahead of 2015 General Elections has no redemptive electoral value in Southwest because it is devoid of strategic assessment.
“The strategic question the President and his campaign managers should have tried to answer before engaging on the rash moves is: how many of such desperate and impromptu meetings were needed before Yoruba people voted for him in 2011? How much did President Jonathan spend to get Yoruba votes in 2011 and why should he think money will save him now?
All other regions extracted several promises from President Jonathan in the race to 2011 elections except the Southwest, which voted based on their firm convictions and commitment to justice and good governance.
“However, despite getting Yoruba votes effortlessly, what did the region get in return? In the last five years, Jonathan administration has shown unbearable contempt for the region and its people and their values, especially in the attempt to adulterate their leadership values.
For instance, many top Yoruba people in the civil service have been the victim of Jonathan administration’s nepotism. Under no compulsion, no Yoruba person will be proud of those President Jonathan has imposed as leaders representing Yoruba people in different capacities whether as Governor, Minister, or party leaders.
“From all intent and purposes, governance has stopped in Ekiti State as the governor has been functioning more as a campaign manager with the resources of Ekiti people than as a governor. Ekiti people deserve better than they currently get.
The Southwest APC is confident that Yoruba monarchs and voters are conscious of the implications of a Greek Gift and as the bastion of democratic justice and good governance, they will vote true to their cultural identity that loathes tyranny, corruption, and nepotism.
In fact, activities in the presidency in the last few weeks have confirmed that Jonathan did not realise the need for governance until it is evident that Nigerians have already embraced the opportunity of change offered by the APC.
“Nigerians deserve better than such a president and they will use their ballot to pass a vote of no confidence on the clueless and wasteful Jonathan administration on March 28.“
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