The threat of Minister of Communication Adebayo Shittu not to support Oyo State All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship candidate in 2019 is empty, the party stated on Friday.

The APC said it has decided to only watch the various utterances of the Minister instead of joining issues with him.
The Minister told reporters recently he was shortchanged by Governor Abiola Ajimobi and denied the governorship ticket despite paying huge amount to purchase the expression of interest form.

He threatened not to campaign for the party’s flag bearer or work for its success in the election.
But the APC, in a statement by its Director of Media, Research and Strategies and Publicity Secretary, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, described the minister for making ‘an empty threat.’

Titled, “Rejoinder to Barr. Adebayo Shittu’s gaffe”, the statement challenged the minister to release the results of his polling unit, ward and local government in 2007 and 2011 for the public to know whether he is an asset or liability to the party.

The APC said: “The Party believed that, Barr Shittu’s contribution to the electoral victory of APC and the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 is not traceable beyond 30 minutes cameo appearance in the the public rally in ancient Mapo Hall, yet he is the greatest beneficiary by becoming a Minister.

“It is common knowledge that his two elections are colossal failures so this threat not to support Adelabu lacks condiments of substance and its infact an empty threat.

“A translated Yoruba adage has it that, A tree which one rest upon but could not support one, if such a tree decides otherwise, it’s impact would obviously be minimally felt.

“However, Barr Adebayo Shittu is expected to know that, Oyo state chapter of APC did not screen him as such we are aghast at his transferred aggression.

“Honestly, as a self acclaimed Islamic cleric, we thought he would live an exemplary live and be a role model, going by Quran 3:26 where it was explicitly stated that “Allah giveth Power to whom thou pleaseth…. “

•Sourced from The Nation report

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