Ahead of the governorship primary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has declared no vacancy in the state government house.
Aiyedatiwa said 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.
The Governor will be contesting the primary election alongside 15 other aspirants in the exercise slated for 20th of February, 2024.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after his screening at the national secretariat of APC Friday in Abuja, Governor Aiyedatiwa 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.
The Billionaire Senator 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 forthe 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.”
Also responding to the governor’s claim, another aspirant, Chief Olusola Oke while fielding questions from journalists after the screening exercise, said such comment is undemocratic.
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.”
