Uzodimma Distances Self from Remarks on Davido’s Osun Election Appeal
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has dissociated himself from comments made by one Ambrose Nwogwugwu in response to an appeal by popular musician David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, over the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
The governor said Nwogwugwu was neither authorised by him nor by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Osun State Governorship Campaign Council to speak on the matter, stressing that the remarks were purely personal and did not reflect his position.
Davido, who is the nephew of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, had, during a media briefing, appealed to Uzodimma to use his position as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Chairman of the APC Osun Governorship Campaign Council to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.
Reacting in a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodimma described reports linking him to the controversy as misleading.
He said, “I neither authorised Ambrose Nwogwugwu nor anyone else to respond to Davido’s comments. Whatever opinion he expressed was entirely his personal view and does not represent my position or that of the campaign council.”
The Imo governor maintained that Davido remained close to him despite their political differences.
“Davido remains my son,” he said, adding that his participation in the Osun governorship election was strictly in his capacity as a loyal member of the APC and chairman of the party’s campaign council.
“I am not an Osun voter. My presence in the state is solely to support my party’s candidate and monitor the election. It is the people of Osun State who will decide who becomes their governor,” Uzodimma stated.
He noted that the APC had consistently advocated peaceful, credible, free and fair elections and would continue to canvass support for its governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
“There is nothing undemocratic about party leaders campaigning for their candidates and seeking the support of the electorate. That is part of the democratic process,” he said.
Uzodimma also assured Davido that his respect for him and the people of Osun State remained unwavering.
“My respect for Davido and the good people of Osun State is not negotiable. My visit to the state is only to mobilise support for our candidate and observe the electoral process, not to participate as a voter,” he added.
The governor urged Davido, the people of Osun State and the general public to disregard Nwogwugwu’s comments, insisting that they did not reflect his views.
According to him, the clarification became necessary to prevent what he described as attempts by mischief makers to distort his position ahead of the governorship election.
