A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, Mr Benson Enikuomehin, has declared that Chief Olusola Oke towers above all other aspirants from Ondo South jostling for the governorship seat of Ondo State.
This is as he asserted that allowing the incumbent governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to contest the election will amount to short-changing the people of Ondo South.
Mr. Enikuomehin made the declarations on Thursday at a press conference held in Lagos.
He said the pedigree of Oke and his understanding of the issues regarding how to develop Ondo State stood him out.
He added that apart from the other factors, Oke was the only one among the aspirants who is not having any political appointment at the moment and has been financing his campaign.
Enikuomehin spoke about the grave implication of Governor Aiyedatiwa running for the office again after he had succeeded his late boss, Rotimi Akeredolu.
According to him, allowing Aiyedatiwa to contest for the governorship seat would amount to short-changing the people of Ondo South.
He said Governor Aiyedatiwa could only spend a term going by the amendments in the constitution that says, “Once you succeed your boss, you can only spend a term.”
Enikuomehin explained that the constitution talks about two term of eight years, hence Oke should be allowed to clinch the seat.
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He added: “Providence has thrown up Aiyedatiwa as the governor at this moment, and we are not quarrelling with that. Assuming that the providence would allow him to do two terms, it would have been better. We’ll be short-changed if Aiyedatiwa is allowed to contest.”
Speaking on the imperative of the need to allow Chief Olusola Oke to become the next governor, coming from Ondo South, Enikuomehin stated that former Governor Olusegun Mimiko from Ondo Central spent eight years and was closely followed by late Rotimi Akeredolu, from Ondo North, who spent almost eight years before his death. So, Ondo South deserves eight unbroken years and this is where the choice of Olusola Oke becomes important.”
He reiterated that of all the aspirants from Ondo South jostling for the governorship seat, Oke stood out, particularly in view of his pedigree.
The APC chieftain, who said he had nothing personal against Governor Aiyedatiwa, stressed that he was among those who fought for him not to be impeached during the political turbulence, adding that “what is at stake now is bigger than him.”
“We cannot allow a greenhorn to run the state.
“When I listened to Chief Oke’s manifesto and what he promised to do, it’s very extensive, and it shows that he understands what the issues are,” Enikuomehin added.
He said “Chief Olusola Oke can finance his campaign, and he won’t be the one the EFCC will be pursuing after his exit from government.”
