The Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria (ACMWAMN) have drummed support for one of the aspirants that contested the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) primary, Dr. Olusegun Abraham.
ACMWAMN’s stance came amidst the controversies that have trailed the party’s September 3 primary.
According to the association, Abraham is the only one who can rescue the masses from the debilitating effects of poor governance of the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration.
The association added that the party must settle the agitation against the allegations of fraud that rocked the election that produced Rotimi Akeredolu as winner.
Speaking yesterday at their secretariat in Akure, the Iyaloja General, Mrs. Olabisi Ojo Babatunde, said: “We the market women and men of Ondo State are true progressives; and this move to align with the progressives started since the days of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN).
“And this time around, we are united in the decision to throw our weight behind Olusegun Abraham to rescue this state from the poverty experienced by the masses.”
She added: “As stakeholders in determining how the state functions or otherwise, we believe that this is our way of contributing to the achievement of better governance in Ondo State.
“The state deserves a leader with integrity, who understands how to make money and how to make money flow within the polity. We have met almost all the people aspiring to govern the state as from next year, and we have seen by his antecedence that Abraham is the most fit for the job; no doubt.”
According to Mrs. Babatunde, the Iyalojas and their executive members were constituted to act as liaison officers between the APC and the members of the ACMWAMN to ensure smooth-working relationship that would translate into mutual benefits.
She appealed to the party to resolve the petitions against the APC primary election as soon as possible to pave way for a truly free and fair primary.
“We join many of the well-meaning voices that have rejected that primary election that was unfortunately marred by fraud. It should not stand. “Therefore, we appeal to the party’s headquarter and leadership to resolve this electoral fraud issue quickly to allow the people make a better choice in a truly free and fair primary, which we are sure Abraham will emerge victorious.”
“In fact, the 18 of us, all the Iyalojas from all the 18 local governments in Ondo just made our stance known to our national leader, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Alhaja Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, and we believe they stand by us to support a practical governor in Abraham, for our state,” Mrs. Babatunde added.
The group is the umbrella body of the Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria (ACMWAMN) under Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo.