Youths in the Akure South and Akure North Federal Constituencies of Ondo State have raised funds and purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the lawmaker representing the constituency in the National Assembly, Honourable Derin Adesida.
With over N10 million donated to show support for the incumbent legislator ahead of the forthcoming party primaries, the youth described themselves as beneficiaries of Adesida's representation, hence the resolve to pool their resources to finance the lawmaker's re-election bid.
According to one of the constituents, Seyi Ogundipe, the decision to purchase the forms was borne out of the belief in the principle of good governance and appreciation for the lawmaker's previous interventions. Ogundipe disclosed that youths who have directly benefited from Adesida's goodwill and who share a commitment to accountable leadership decided to gather their stipends to mobilise support for the second-term legislator.
“We believe in the principle of good governance. It is on this parameter that some of the persons that have benefited from the good gesture of Honourable Derin Adesida come together with viable youths that believe in the principle of good governance and decide to come together to actually gather our stipends together to actually purchase this nomination form and form of interest to our ranking MHR. Relatively in millions, over N10 million was what we all were able to gather,” Ogundipe said.
While receiving the forms at his Akure residence, the lawmaker expressed surprise and gratitude, revealing that just days earlier, he had been making plans to personally pay for the forms when he received an unexpected phone call. Adesida explained that one of the youths, who currently serves as an assistant controller in the Nigeria Customs Service, informed him that a group of youths had been working on purchasing the forms on his behalf, disclosing that he initially declined the offer but insisted they had already planned the move and were preparing to present the forms to him.
The lawmaker, who described the moment as both surprising and encouraging, stressed that it served as affirmation that service to the people does eventually yield recognition. Adesida maintained that the spontaneous support from the youth, combined with other encouraging signs, has convinced him that he is ready to fight for his people and pursue re-election with full commitment.
The lawmaker, who bared his mind on the consensus mode of primaries and politics, argued that consensus works only when every party involved agrees unanimously. Adesida contended that the presence of even a single dissident invalidates any claim to consensus, revealing that he was part of the legislative system that enacted the bill which was subsequently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
While speaking on the purported move to impose a consensus candidate that excludes him, Adesida emphasised that while such a scenario is possible, he believed the system would not permit it, noting that with his supporters on the field and the national leadership monitoring proceedings from Abuja, any attempt to manipulate the process would be checked.
He said, “I'm really happy. I mean, it came in as a surprise to me because about three days ago I wanted to; I was planning to go and pick it up, I mean, to pay, but one of them called me. He's now an assistant controller in customs.
“My own take is that consensus works when everybody agrees. So if only one person, if there is a dissident, just one person, then it can't work; there cannot be consensus.”
