Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, says he will not rule himself out from vying for the office of the Senate President if the opportunity presents itself.
Amosun, who spoke against the backdrop of demands by some of his constituents, stated that he might be disposed to seeking the Senate Presidency whenever the slot is zoned to the South-West.
The governor spoke during his ward-to-ward senatorial campaign in Ewekoro Local Government Area of state, which is one of the six local governments in Ogun Central Senatorial District.
Fielding questions from reporters at Asayobo ward, Amosun, who is a senatorial candidate for Ogun Central on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), said he was happy that his people wanted him to serve the country at the national level.
He also flayed some unnamed party leaders who accused him of allegedly concentrating development in Abeokuta, the state capital, and the Ogun Central zone to the detriment of other regions of the state.
The governor expressed confidence that he would become a ranking senator once he returns to the upper chamber of the National Assembly having served there between 2003 and 2007.
He, however, declared that there was no way he could become the Senate President since the South- West geopolitical had already produced the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Amosun said: “When we went before, we were not that experienced. Of course, we had limitations, but now, you and I know that I am not that rookie senator. I would be a ranking Senator by the time I get there.
“You know within the context of Nigeria and the context of our party, people from South-West are number two, the Vice President.
“So, there is no way we can have both the Vice President and the Senate President at the same time.
“For me, I am happy that we are now considered worthy of number two in the country. So, we are running round to make sure that Prof. Osinbajo remains our vice president and we will concede the Senate President to some other zone.
“But you never can tell, maybe in future, if it (Senate Presidency) comes to South-West, why not?”
The governor said it was uncharitable for anyone to accuse him of developing Abeokuta over other areas in the state.
He noted that though priority was given to the state capital, his administration had never abandoned other areas in development drive, insisting that his critics were only unnecessarily jealous of his achievements.
Amosun said: “Why am I being castigated? Abeokuta was made the state capital over 40 years ago and the only offence I have committed is to have developed Abeokuta. But I tell you, no sane governor will neglect Abeokuta, else that governor will see the result.
“I have never neglected other areas. We have one of the best flyovers and roads constructed by our administration in Sagamu.
There are two flyovers in Ijebu- Ode with good roads and the same things are done in Ijebu-Igbo and Yewa.
“What we’ve done is that when we do three things in Abeokuta, we do two or one in other places and we are running round day and night to get this done. I am not the first governor in Ogun State, but I appreciate what they’ve done. But no governor worth his salt will abandon Abeokuta.”
The governor, who used the opportunity of his campaign to inspect the airport project at Wasinmi area, said the Federal Government had not abandoned the project.
According to him, the airport project is on course and President Muhammadu Buhari would touch down on its runway by May, this year.
He promised more dividends of democracy to people of Ogun Central Senatorial District if elected.
According to him, “the Federal Government has started the airport project and this community will be the biggest beneficiary because the airport will be linked with a standard gauge railway and once this is done, this place will not only be transformed into a mega city, 24- hour power supply will be guaranteed.”
The governor urged the electorate to be wary of unscrupulous politicians and resist the temptation of trading their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for monetary gains.