Oni, who appreciated Fayemi’s gesture and respect by immediately visiting him barely six hours after the polls said that unity of purpose and friendliness could only be sustained if the minister could rein in his supporters to engender cohesion within APC. The party chieftain revealed that he would only return to his former position of APC National Deputy Chairman(South) if leaders of the party ask him to take up that challenge. Addressing journalists in Ifaki Ekiti on Tuesday, Oni said he was ready to change the mindset of Ekiti politicians that defection remains the only option after losing an election as a popular and acceptable politician by staying put in APC. He said: “Our people must learn a new lesson that when you enjoy goodwill, and you lose a primary, the next thing is for you to move to another party, thinking that you will win,” he said. “We are approaching a windstorm, which is the election and I believe we need to take caution on both sides.
As much as we are ready to work with the winner, they too must be receptive and be trusting. “We are not scavenging, neither are we scavengers. We have been receiving pressures from different parties that we should come for their tickets, but we said no because we want this to be an example and become a new thinking that when you lose the primary, you must stay in your party even when you are popular. “But if they continue to harass my supporters, I may quit the party, because I have responsibility not only to protect them but ensure that they are not taken for a ride. On the level of money that was involved in prosecuting the primary election, Oni revealed that money played prominent role in mobilizing the delegates for the highly pulsating poll. “Money played a prominent role in the election, and virtually every aspirant was guilty of it. But let me say, our party won’t tread this path again, because a situation whereby few people are allowed to elect a candidate and see it as an opportunity to maximize their profit is dangerous
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