A former Political Editor of Nigerian Tribune, Olawale Rasheed, has declared that only a newbreed candidate can beat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election of Osun State scheduled for 2018.

To him, while Osun people want change, they were not looking into the past but rather into the future.

Rasheed, Publisher/CEO of SAHEL STANDARD, an Abuja-based online newspaper, according to a statement by his Special Assistant (Media and Public Affairs), Idowu Isamotu, spoke in Ilesa, Osun State, where he flagged off his ambition to contest next year’s governorship election in Osun State.

He said: “Our people seek new face, new age leadership, a breath of fresh air, not aspirants that are part of the problem rather than solution. If we say Osun is in crisis, does it start with the current government? If we are looking for solution, how do you present problem as solution?”

Rasheed emphasised that the Peoples Democratic Party would win next year’s governorship poll by a wide margin provided “the party understands what Osun people are saying on the streets, what the youth are clamouring for, how eager they are to break from the past.”

He said: “Now is the time for a successor generation to aspire and be supported to lead the state. I am one of the many children of the PDP. Our fathers should support us to take the mantle of leadership.

“Overwhelming majority of voters in Osun State are fed up with the old political elite. If you want to beat APC next year, you should present a successor generation of leader within PDP. Without that, we may be digging for another failure.

“The PDP leaders will be insulting the voters and underrating their intelligence if they fail to consciously work to produce a candidate from the right zone, with new age outlook and with unblemished records.

“It is a lie to affirm that Osun people want to ‘change the change’ at all cost. While they want change, they are not ready to jump from frying pan to fire. The PDP can only become a viable option to the people when it demonstrates a true, not cosmetic break from the past.”

Speaking on his qualification for the governorship election, he declared that besides his administrative and political experience, “we have served our leaders, we have followed them from inception and we are mature.”