The All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo State chapter stated that Victor Kolade Akinjo had criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and was not fit to serve under him.
They strongly opposed Akinjo’s appointment to the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Tinubu. Akinjo, a member of the opposition party – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had made derogatory remarks against President Tinubu during the last presidential campaign.
Director of Media & Publicity for APC, Ondo State, Steve Otaloro, communicated these concerns in a press release.
He stated that
“Akinjo, a member of the opposition party – PDP, has a history of rebuking President Bola Tinubu during the last presidential campaign. He demeaned the President, questioning his mental capacity to govern Nigeria, and even went as far as to describe him as lacking postural reflexes and incapable of concentrating on writing legibly. Akinjo’s derogatory remarks indicate his lack of respect for President Tinubu and his ability to lead a nation like Nigeria. Such statements demonstrate his lack of faith in President Tinubu’s ability to lead a great nation like Nigeria. The question to ask him is why would he be willing to serve under a man he didn’t believe in his capacity to lead our nation?”
The APC noted that his statements revealed a lack of faith in President Tinubu’s leadership abilities, prompting the question of why he would be open to serving under a leader he lacked belief in.
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The party alleged that Akinjo had taken an indirect approach or entered by an unconventional means.
“It is appalling that after Victor Kolade Akinjogunla was defeated at the poll by the APC candidate in the last election, he has chosen to represent himself to represent the people who rejected him through the back door. Akinjo has nothing tangible to bring to the table, let alone contribute to the meaningful development of NDDC as a board member,” the statement revealed.
The APC called upon President Bola Tinubu to reconsider Akinjo’s appointment and select a more suitable APC member from Ondo State. They highlighted that Akinjo’s nomination did not align with the preferences of the oil-producing communities of Ondo State, who had expressed their disapproval of him in the recent polls.
Furthermore, the APC made an appeal to the Senate, urging them to nullify their confirmation of Akinjo’s appointment. Their rationale was that such a confirmation wouldn’t serve the best interests of the Ondo State population. They emphasized the necessity of having a representative who would sincerely advocate for the needs of the oil-producing communities, rather than someone who had faced rejection from the public.
They also challenged Akinjo to reject the NDDC board membership extended by President Tinubu. They suggested that he redirect his efforts towards revitalizing his PDP party within the state.
“If Victor Kolade Akinjo truly values integrity, he should reject his nomination as a board member of the NDDC. It is hypocritical for him to accept a position offered by President Tinubu, whom he so vehemently detested. Akinjo should instead focus on rebuilding his depleted PDP party in the state.”
The APC held the viewpoint that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu might not possess complete knowledge of Akinjo’s actions. They speculated that Akinjo’s appointment could have been an unintentional omission and appealed to the President to rectify the situation.
Furthermore, they underscored the dedication of their party members who had stood by the President during the presidential election.