Ondo leaders caution APC fielding Aiyedatiwa as guber candidate
…says ticket will short-change south people …insist on Olusola Oke
Leaders in Ondo State, under the aegis of Moment of Truth, said they are against the incumbent governor, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, running for the governorship position in the November 2024 election, because doing so will lead to short-changing the people of Ondo South, where the governorship position is zoned to.
The leaders gave this position at the weekend at a press conference which took place at the office of Dr. Benson Enikuomehin in Oyingbo, Lagos, noting that Ayedatiwa, though qualified to contest, being from that zone, but now about completing the term of his boss, late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, would constitutionally be entitled to only one more term if elected into office.
Speaking on behalf of the leaders, Dr Enikuomehin, who was flanked by the leaders, including Barrister Eniola Ayenuberu, Kayode Mogbojuri, Laizer Ebiwanno and Primate Olowolade, said those supporting Aiyedatiwa were people who never meant well for the people of Ondo South.
Enikuomehin argued that since other senatorial zones in the state enjoyed two terms of eight years, the people of Ondo South should not be deprived of their two terms as enjoyed by former governors in the state.
He urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the state to look in the direction of Olusola Oke (SAN) when they go for their primaries on Saturday, saying that he appeared the most credible and experienced among the aspirants, even as he added that Oke identified with the people of the state more than any other in the race.
“We appeal to our people, to do the needful as regards the primary election. We don’t want a situation whereby a candidate not known in the state is thrown up. We should throw up a credible and reliable person.
“If APC get it wrong, the PDP must get it right,” he warned.
“We have a man is Agaguism, who knew how Agagu performed in the state and where he stopped in terms of landmark projects across the state.
“Of all the aspirants, Olusola Oke shines forth. All the delegates should look at this direction and give it to Oke. He can lead, he can govern, he can direct and go to a committee of states to direct our affairs aright,” he stated.
Speaking further, Enikuomehin said as stakeholders in the Ondo election, there was imperative for them to voice out on who should take over affairs of the state, noting that with two major political parties in the governorship poll, any decision taken by the two parties would affect the state directly or indirectly.
“As stakeholders in Ondo election, we felt it is necessary to speak with you as leaders, on who takes over affairs of the state.
“There are two major political parties that will participate in the governorship poll. The decision taken by the two parties will affect us directly or indirectly. We owe it a duty to speak to the people of Ondo State, we owe it a duty to tell our people the direction they should go. We decided to speak up to prevent things going awry. The choice of governor of a state should be taken seriously,” he said.
Also speaking, one of the leaders, Barrister Ayenuberu, warned APC against fielding Ayedatiwa as its candidate to avoid playing into the hands of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), due to the raging controversies surrounding the academic certificate he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which may be contested in court, and may lead to his disqualification.
Ayenuberu, while throwing support for Oke, described him as good material for the position, noting that he was a tested and trusted leader, who while serving in OMPADEC and NDDC boards used his position to facilitate development in Ondo State.
“Oke, when he was serving in NDDC ensured that all the projects cut across the Ondo State, all the employments also cut across the entire state.
“When he was OMPADEC, the same thing he also did. He is a man with large heart, not parochial. All the people refer to him as leader,” he said.
“Of all the aspirants, Olusola Oke stands tall. We need someone who understands our plight. He is a man who can serve eight years constitutionally,” he said.
