The embattled lawmaker representing Ondo South District,Yele Omogunwa at the weekend said his emergence as the All Progressives Congress(APC) Senatorial candidate was ordained by God.
He urged his detractors to know that absolute power belongs to God which nobody could manipulate.
The lawmaker who is the former commissioner for works in the state,wondered why some people were wishing him dead, describing the action as sheer political desperation.
Omogunwa whose clearance by the National Working Committee(NWC) has been generating friction among some stakeholders in the APC particularly from his district,however appreciated the party’s leadership for the opportunity given him to emerge the candidate.
There was a protest at Ore ,headquarters of Odigbo local government on Thursday where party members mobilised themselves from Eseodo, Ilaje, Okitipupa, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo,Irele and Odigbo local government areas to protest the candidature of Omogunwa.
They emphasized that his adoption by the party would spell doom on the fortune of the party ahead 2019 polls.
The protesters urged the leadership of the party at the national level to substitute his name.
Both Omogunwa,Boroffice and Alasoadura,the three sitting Senators in the state were cleared to contest 2019 election by the NWC because of their loyalty.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is said to be supporting the commissioner representing Ondo state on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) Lucky Ayedatiwa instead of Omogunwa for the seat.
Omogunwa in an interview with reporters in Akure said “my mandate, is divine with the support of the citizenry in the state.It underscores the capacity of APC to engender dialogue, robust discussion and compromise to pilot its affairs, without recourse to disagreements”.
The lawmaker pledged to strive hard in protecting the ticket and mandate given to him, towards ensuring that the APC becomes victorious in the south senatorial District, Ondo state and Nigeria as a whole.
This, he said was because of his belief in the ability of APC to take Nigeria to greater heights with Buhari bringing economic prosperity to the citizens.
The senator said “We must not go back to Egypt.I am aware of series of reactions and protests trailing my emergence as the party’s senatorial flag bearer, this is understandable in any political contest of this nature.
“But denigrating and wishing a fellow human being dead for the sake of occupying a political office is a desperation taken too far. Some of these reactions which came as a direct attack on my person, defaming my character in news papers and social media is sinful “.
The Irele-born politician however noted that this is not the time for personal aggrandizement or agenda, but the time to think collectively for the sake of APC and Nigeria.
He hailed Akeredolu, party leaders in the state and the NWC for the inspiring leadership they are providing to re-position it for victory at the general election.
Omogunwa re-affirmed his unalloyed loyalty to the APC and its leadership, while pledging his support to President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of next year election.