By Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
IBADAN – Engineer Aderemi Abass Oseni, a House of Representatives member representing Ido/Ibarapa East, has defended the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus candidature model, insisting it remains compatible with internal democracy.
Oseni, who is an aspirant for the Oyo South Senatorial district ticket ahead of the 2027 elections under the APC banner, made the remarks on Saturday during the Ijebu-Jesa Social Club Branch Day and Award Ceremony held in Ibadan.
Fielding questions from journalists at the sidelines of the event, the lawmaker said: “We are always beloved sons and daughters, so if the President has done that (that is in support of consensus candidature), I wouldn’t say there’s anything wrong in that.”
He added: “What I know is that APC is a big party. It is a party that is committed to internal democracy. It is a party that believes in hierarchy and orderliness.
”It is a party that knows that people can be rewarded based on their input in the party.”
Oseni cautioned against entitlement, arguing that the party does not reward those who “wake up overnight and claim what is not yours without sowing sufficient effort.”
”It is not a party where you wake up overnight and claim what is not yours without sowing of making sufficient effort,” he said.
“If you deserve something, you work sufficiently in the party and you need to be compensated, but you’re not in a position to fight for yourself because of the structure of the party.”
Addressing concerns over how consensus primaries work, Oseni referenced the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stating: “When it comes to the nature of the type of primaries that we intend to do now in line with the constitution, I want to clarify that on that note, the party leaders when it comes to consensus, their voices count at that time.
”The voice of the leadership counts when it comes to primaries. You don’t go into consensus when you don’t recognise primaries, leadership, capacity and contribution of members.”
The lawmaker concluded by reaffirming that service, not ambition, drives his political journey.
”My desire to serve has always been my motivation in aiming for the best,” he said. “Be it councillor, perhaps chairman of a council, perhaps house of assembly or representative, senator or governor, my focus doesn’t change.
”My focus remains about service, and when it comes to service, you serve from the bottom of your heart. Whatever you’re doing, if you have the opportunity to project beyond where you are, then you should move forward.”
Highlights of the event was the conferment of awards on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adewolu Rashidi Ladoja, and posthumous awards to Pa Rauf Aderibigbe Adelabu, alias Penkelemes, who was an old student of Ijebu-Jesa Grammar School (IJGS), between 1957 and 1952, late Yeye of Ijebu-Jesa, Chief Mrs Felicia Aderemi Ilaka, and past president of Ijebu-Jesa Social Club between 1999 and 2007, Prof. Akin Fajola.
