By Dayo Johnson

Akure—THE Elders  forum of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, yesterday, warned party members and leaders to jettison ethnic bias and sentiments in their choice of a governorship candidate for the October election.

They, however,  called for the fielding of an acceptable, capable and experienced candidate in the coming election.

Chairman of the forum, Senator Olorunnimbe Farukanmi  said in Iju area of the state during a meeting attended from the 18 council areas of the state.

The forum said  that the choice of the candidate to be fielded by the party will determine it’s success at the poll.

Farukanmi said: “Many indigenes of the state are interested in this governorship position, we must all jettison ethnic bias and sentiments to choose a capable individual that is experienced, dedicated, sincere, focused and prepared to deliver in the interest of our people. We must search for an indigene who  is prepared to reposition the state by utilizing its abundant and. Numerous resources to improve the economic situation and welfare of our people.”

He noted that “The failure of the past administrations to utilize the stupendous resources from the sales of crude oil to diversify our economy in addition to the large scale corruptive actions of past governments at the national, states and local government have dumped the nation at the pit of poverty, under development and insecurity.”

Farukanmi said with the dwindling revenue from crude oil and attendant drop in the revenue from Federation Account, Ondo State needs an experienced person that would wake up the state to generate new sources of revenue to develop the state.

His words: “With the reduction to about 30 per cent of revenue accrued formerly to Ondo State, it is the duty and responsibility of APC leaders in the state to field an innovative and creative person who is versatile in wealth creation to fly the party’s flag in the next election. They must identify the best who can mobilise our people to be productive, be you farmers, artisans, transporters, civil servants and traders.”

He further urged party leaders to “jettison nepotism, ethnic bias from our political activities and choose an indigene irrespective of where he come from, while greater emphasis would be laid on his ability to rescue our people from the existing poverty”.