Victor Akinkuolie,  Ado-Ekiti

The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) has said that if the Southwest fails to clinch the presidential ticket, prominent Yoruba leaders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be blamed.
The ARG said the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, party’s pioneer Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and the Chairman, Nigeria’s Governor’s Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi should deploy their strategic positions to unite the zone and clinch the presidential ticket that may likely be zoned to the South in APC.
The socio-cultural and political body also advocated for what it called “classical restructuring” of the country that would correct the highly entrenched lopsidedness in all zones and ethnic groups in phases.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, the ARG Publicity Secretary in Ekiti, Prince Michael Ogungbemi, said the APC may zone the presidency to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari two terms in office, and that the Southwest has the prospect of occupying the position and lead Nigeria to prosperity.
He said: “About 2023, ARG had met and we had concluded that the Yoruba nation is ready to lead Nigeria. We have a blueprint that we can present to any presidential candidate that can bring a better democratic governance to all Nigerians.
Speaking about restructuring, the ARG Chief told President Muhammadu Buhari that the country can’t run away from it, saying it remains the best panacea for peace and unity among diverse Nigerian citizens.
On the proposed reopening of schools during Covid 19, Ogungbemi appealed to the Federal government to fumigate all schools before reopening, in order not to endanger the lives of the children.
Ogungbemi also commended Governor Fayemi’s giant strides in the areas of education, industrial development, job creation and infrastructure since he assumed office.
“Governor Fayemi is a product of ARG and he has done well in infrastructure like; Ekiti State Cultural or Civic centre, Oja Oba Market, dualised Ado-Iyin road, construction of neighbourhood markets, Ilupeju-Igbemo-Ijan road, the UN-proposed 50,000 housing units, Ibuji-Igbara- Odo road, cargo airport project, state secretariat, Lagos Governor’s Lodge , College of Agriculture, laying of 172 kms of water pipes in Ado Ekiti, revamping of Ero, Egbe Dams, renovation of 342 school buildings, fencing of 171 schools , sinking of 120 boreholes , free WAEC fee, attested to the fact that governance in Ekiti has not failed us”.