BY EZEOCHA NZEH
Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has come under attack by his co aspirants to the governorshiip ticket of the ruling of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following his claim that no vacancy exists in the state government house
This is as aspirants strategize for the April 21 governorshiip primary election of the ruling party, as the 16 aspirants jostling for the APC ticket appeared before the screening committee on Friday in Abuja
Three aspirants, Olusola Oke, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and Isaac Kekemeke have described as a big lie, the claims of incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa that there is no vacancy at the Ondo state government house
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was the first to be screened by the committee declared that no vacancy exists in the state government house.
Aiyedatiwa who made the declaration while speaking to the press after his screening dismissed claims by his opponents that he has no prerequisite document to contest the election insisting that he has the required political structures and that the stakeholders in the state were asking him to continue what he described as his good works
Aiyedatiwa, who was recently sworn in as substantive governor of Ondo state, following the death of former governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said within the few months that he assumed office the Ondo state people have seen clearly that he is the best man of the job.
He said: “You see, we are all indigenes of Ondo state and we are all qualified to run to be the Governor of Ondo state but there is a sitting Governor, no vacancy. That’s what I am saying that I have the structures; the people and the competence.
“Within the few months that I assumed office they have seen clearly that this is the best man of the job. Yes because of the peace in the state and some of the programmes that have been rolled out to the people.
“In fact, like I said the other time, my coming out to continue as Governor of Ondo state wasn’t borne out of my own ambition or desire but because of the yearnings and aspirations of the people; the endorsement of the traditional rulers, the students, artisans, everybody; the community leaders, even the civil servants, everybody are happy with the current state (of affairs); peace and security, and people are going about their businesses without fear.”
When asked whether he has confidence of winning the forthcoming governorship primary, Aiyedatiwa said: “When the people are calling me that I should continue, these are people that are going to vote, they are clamouring for me, they’re the ones that will vote; I can’t install myself, it is the people.
Don’t forget that we have to pay for our party members because according to the rule there is only the financially up to date members that will be allowed to vote. So as a government we have to pay for our members. Other aspirants also have to pay some money but I paid the highest for our members to have the opportunity to vote.”
Responding to the governor’s comment when asked after his screening by the APC officials, Senator representing Ondo South, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim, described Aiyedatiwa as a joker.
Senator Ibrahim, who has consistently flouted his several academic certificates obtain from both local and international universities said, “He’s joking. It is a big joke. He can’t continue in government with P8, P7. The governor is joking, big joke, huge joke, he is cracking with you. He is out of that place by the time we finish primary next week, he is gone and there is nothing virtually he can do about it.
“I don’t normally go against people, to me, clear everybody, let them go for primary, let the electorate determine. I have won election as Senator, I won in six of the six local government areas, 65 of the 66 wards, 111,677 votes against Agboola Ajayi 60,000 votes.
“What is the governor talking about? This governor has never won an election, he contested for the House of Representatives, he didn’t win one local government, just two local governments, he could even win one.
“He was a pair to Aketi, we didn’t vote for him, we voted for Aketi. But I can assure you, the governor is a huge joker.”
In a similar reaction, another aspirant, Chief Olusola Oke said: “It’s an aphorism from all incumbent persons, I heard this one in Lagos when Ambode was there. Ambode said “no vacancy”, he had to leave when he needed to leave. It’s a statement of wish and desire by the governor and it’s a statement that is intended to undermine a democratic exercise.
“If we are going to primaries and the people will have to determine, how would anybody have the gut to say there is no vacancy?
“There is no vacancy between now and February next year, no doubt, but after February, his one year term will be exhausted and then there’ll be a vacancy.
“I don’t intend to take over from him before the expiration of his one year in office. So, the essence of this exercise is that there will be vacancy after one year term, and that he or somebody else will occupy the seat. Having regard to my wide contact with the people, I believe that I’m succeeding him.”
