Leaders of the All Progressive Congress in Owo and Ose local government areas of Ondo state have disagreed over the endorsement of governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the party’s candidate ahead of next months primary election.
Recall that the deputy governor of the state, Dr Olayide Oyelami had led others to endorse the governor at an event held at Owo on Monday.
A statement issued by the office of the deputy governor, said that local government chairmen, ward excos, unit chairmen, leaders and party faithful have endorsed Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as governor of Ondo state in the 2024 election.
It quoted the deputy governor to have said that “there are many reasons why the governor is the right choice for the people of the state and must be given the chance to continue the good work he has started.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa has excellent ideas on how the state will be transformed and he is really working on it.
“We must all look for our APC membership cards and bring them out when they matter. We are lucky in Ondo state that God has brought Aiyedatiwa at this point in time to pilot the affairs of the sunshine state”
But in a swift response, leaders of the party in Owo/ Ose council areas dissociated themselves from the endorsement of Aiyedatiwa.
A statement issued by their representatives, Fatai Olushina, a former Special Adviser to the late governor Rotimi Akeredolu, on Natural Resources and Elefola Solomon, a former chairman of Ose council and former vice Chairman of the party in the state, said that ” the alleged endorsement has become a contentious topic amongst our townsfolk, the state, and the nation at large.
We are, therefore, constrained to quell the spreading of this disinformation, and halt this falsehood from gaining further traction within the public domain.
” Succinctly we assert that the report claiming APC leaders in Owo and Ose have endorsed Aiyedatiwa is both egregiously fallacious and patently deceptive and misleading.
“The event that transpired in Owo was, in fact, a gathering of those loyal to Aiyedatiwa, convened at the Oba Olateru Olagbegi Civic Centre for a political meeting, as evidenced by the attendees.
” The assemblage included Deputy Governor Olayide Oyelami, former Chief of Staff Gbenga Ale, and Femi Idris, all of whom have since aligned with Governor Aiyedatiwa’s camp. Also, Hon. Olayemi Adeyemi, the coordinator for the Aiyedatiwa faction in Owo, was present.
This group has previously opposed Aketi’s interest in the state. Chief Gbenga Ale has been with Aiyedatiwa before our late Governor passed away.
Similarly, Mr. Femi Idris’s defection to Aiyedatiwa’s faction was motivated by personal interest, including securing his wife the promotion at the Local Government and maintaining his position as the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission.
“Should there ever be a genuine consensus to endorse a candidate within the Owo and Ose APC chapters, it would be championed by our renowned and steadfast leaders, whose political acumen is well recognized.
“Such a meeting would necessitate the presence of influential personalities like; Member representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe; Member of the House of Assembly representing Owo Constituency 1, Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi; Member representing Owo Constituency 2, Hon. Morenike Witherspoon; former Special Adviser to the late Governor on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr. Dare Aragbaiye; former Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands, and Housing under the late Akeredolu, Engr. Raimi Aminu; son of the late Governor, Babajide Akeredolu; Pastor Akin Olotu; former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Oyato Aribo; member of the Federal Character Commission, Chief Olufemi Omosanya; Chairman of the defunct ANPP, Chief Yinusa Adeola; Chief Tola Awoh; among other stalwarts of the party.
This unfolding spectacle is as amusing as it is troubling. We remain vigilant of Aiyedatiwa’s escalating desperation and his campaign’s attempts to manufacture endorsements across the state.
“Our resolve is firm in Owo and Ose, and within the broader APC family, to not let misrepresentations prevail.
“The loyalists of the late Governor Akeredolu’s leadership in Owo and across the state stand united in their rejection of Aiyedatiwa’s tactics to secure the party’s nomination.
” It is well documented that Aiyedatiwa’s treatment of the late Governor was profoundly inhumane and deeply callous.
The leaders said that they await direction from President Bola Tinubu, on the flagbearear of the party