Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has tendered an unreserved apology to Christian clerics over his previous comment supporting Muslim-Muslim ticket of his party the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, Akeredolu appealed to the clerics to accept what they have to offer, adding that they should forgive and give them a chance.
An aide to the governor and the chief press secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde, gave the speech on behalf of the Governor on Monday in Akure the state capital.
According to the statement, the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum spoke on Sunday at the 40th Holy Ghost Convention Dinner of The Sword of the Spirit Ministries held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Akeredolu called for understanding on the need for power to return to the Southern region years after tilting towards the Northern part of the country.
The statement reads in part: He said, “I understand our feelings because I am one of you. I am a Christian. All of us here are worried. What will be our gain, and that, why is my party, the APC, throwing up a Muslim-Muslim ticket?
“It has been a real issue for all of us; even members of the party. We have debated it, fought it and done so many things about it. I have always said to people, that my fight was for a Southern President. Now it has come to the South-West, will I now throw the baby away with the bathwater? Can I, in all honesty, do it? Should I, in all honesty, do it?
“We call it a matter of coincidence. It is a matter of conscience. All of us are here, why don’t we look at it from one angle? The buck stops on the table of the President. Do we have a capable hand who can manage the affairs if given the opportunity? Do you have a man who is bold enough to challenge incursions into our land? That is it.
“All of us here have lived together for years, and we didn’t allow religion to cause a fight among us. We have Muslims in our families and there is no fight. We have many leaders in Yoruba land who have both Muslims and Christians in their families and there is no fight.
“So, we want to appeal to our people that this is our time. I want to appeal to all our senior pastors and general overseers to help talk to their followers. We politicians can only do little. This is our time, please don’t be angry.”