Ahead of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary election in Ondo State, a group of indigenes under the umbrella of Ondo South Citizens Forum, Lagos State branch, has called on members of the party not to support any aspirant that would limit the governorship chance of Ondo South zone to anything less than eight years.
The group made the call in Lagos on Tuesday at a press conference addressed by its chairman, Otunba Sola Olatunji.
Addressing the press conference, Olatunji said the zone would only support aspirants eligible for eight years.
He said the people were not going to support any aspirant that would be limited to four years.
He said any aspirant pursuing such aspiration to limit Ondo South zone’s chance to four years was being driven by personal ego and not in the interest of the public.
His words: “In the last few months, if we are conversant with the event unfolding in the political space in Ondo State, we should have known that another election circle is in the offing in Ondo State. In a matter of few days, the primary election of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC will take place, precisely on April 20, 2024.
“It will interest you that 16 aspirants who are majorly drawn from Ondo South, which is the zone that should produce the next governor, based on a political understanding of our past leaders to guarantee equity, inclusion and power balancing across the state in the race. It should also be noted that Ondo Central and Ondo North had produced governors for eight and seven years, respectively. It’s now the turn of Ondo South to produce a governor for eight years like their counterparts from Ondo Central and Ondo North, respectively. These two zones already had their chance.
“We are alarmed that out of these 16 aspirants who have been cleared by the APC screening committee, including the governor, while the majority of the aspirants are insisting on eight years for Ondo South, the governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa is the only one who is clamouring for four years because he is already limited by law. He can’t be sworn in more than twice, which will ultimately short-change Ondo South.
“While we recognise his right to aspire to any position of his choice, we have made frantic efforts to prevail on him to drop his ambition and think of other alternative political options he can pursue after his current tenure expires in February 2025.
“We are very much aware of the collateral damage his emergence as the flag bearer of APC will cause the party in the November 2024 gubernatorial election. All efforts to prevail on Mr Governor to see reason why his ambition is not being supported by his people back home, but he has remained adamant with his ‘No vacancy in Alagbaka’ propaganda.
“In his desperation to realise his selfish objectives, we are also aware that Ondo State treasury has since been flung open, and people are cashing out as stomach infrastructure-induced endorsement is in the air.”
The forum alleged that some party leaders from Ondo Central were working with the governor to shortchange the people of Ondo South.
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“We are more disturbed that some respected party leaders, mostly from Ondo Central, have joined forces with the governor to sabotage the eight years of Ondo South without looking at the grave implications of their actions.
“While we are not questioning their rights to associate, we see this unholy alliance as a conspiracy hatched to sabotage the political interest of Ondo State. We see this conspiracy by some political gluttons in Ondo Central who are hell-bent on ensuring power returns to Ondo Central within four years, as against the expected eight years.
“We are saying that this conspiracy will produce nothing but political upheaval and will be too unbearable to the conspirators. A stitch in time saves nine, as often said. That is why we are making this clarion call to the leadership of APC and political gladiators in Ondo State to weigh the consequences of hurting the Southern citizens and their capacity to revolt through their votes in November.
“To us in Ondo South, where we have people with impeccable characters, capacity and credible credentials to function effectively for eight years amongst the aspirants, we affirm that only aspirants eligible for eight years will be supported in Ondo South. We are not going to support any aspirant who is limited to four years, only by law. As such, any aspirant pursuing such aspiration is driven by personal ego and not in the public’s interest,” he said.
