Youths in Ikere-Ekiti, have berated a Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Gbenga Aluko, former member of the Senate over his derogatory comments on the two gubernatorial aspirants and former deputy governors from the town, Abiodun Aluko and Bisi Omoyeni.
Speaking under the aegis of Ikere Youths Movement (IYM), the youths said in a statement signed by its Chairman, Wole Adebayo and Secretary, Biola Morakinyo, that it was an insult on Ikere-Ekiti and its people for Aluko to have sponsored newspaper publications, casting aspersions on Omoyeni and Abiodun Aluko.
The youths, who vowed to work against the PDP should the party present Gbenga Aluko as its governorship candidate, said the entire youths of Ikere town were caught aback by the description of Gbenga Aluko as better known than Abiodun Aluko.
“How can anyone write that; Abiodun Aluko is often mistaken for Gbenga Aluko, on account of Senator Aluko being better known?
“Apart from becoming a senator on the account of his father’s name and achievements, what else has Gbenga Aluko achieved in his life?
“ When Abiodun Aluko was delivering maximum votes for the PDP in Ikere-Ekiti in 2003, was Gbenga Aluko not working for the ANPP? And if Gbenga Aluko is better known than our own Abiodun Aluko, why didn’t he win the governorship election in 2007 when he contested under Labour Party?
“And has Gbenga Aluko forgotten so soon how he soiled his family name with his involvement in the ram scandal when he was in the Senate, such that Guardian newspaper had to do an Editorial titled; ‘Aluko: Like father, unlike son?,” the group said.
The youths also described Gbenga Aluko’s submission that Omoyeni does not have the required training to beat Governor Fayemi in a proper contest as preposterous.
They said; “Why couldn’t Gbenga Aluko, who had the required training to face Fayemi defeat him in 2007 governorship election in which he (Aluko) had less than 5,000 votes?
“Today, the PDP Excos in Ikere Local Government and the wards have endorsed Omoyeni. Can the PDP Exco in Gbonyin Local Government where Gbenga Aluko hails from endorse him? Is Gbenga Aluko in control of the PDP structure in his Local Government?
Speaking further, the Ikere youths described Gbenga Aluko as an agent of the APC, whose candidacy is being propelled by the State Government.
“Our advice for Gbenga Aluko is that he should go back home and convert his family members who are members of the APC to the PDP. His elder brother, Prof Bolaji Aluko is a known supporter of the APC. Three of his siblings are also part of Fayemi’s government,” the youth submitted.
