By Julius Alabi, Akure
As the April 20th date for the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in the November Governorship election of Ondo fast approaches, all eyes are set on who among the frontline aspirants would clinch the ticket.
No fewer than 16 aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket have undergone screening at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
The 16 aspirants include; Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Olusola Oke, Prof. Francis Faduyile, Dr Funmi Waheed-Adekojo and APC National Vice Chairman (South West), Isaac Kekemeke.
Others are Akinfolarin Samuel, Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Okunjimi Odimayo, Adewale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema, Gen. Ohunyeye Olamide, Morayo Lebi, Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan and Ifeoluwa Oyedele
The incumbent Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa was cleared as the first aspirant after some fuss about his educational records.
His adversaries alleged certificate forgery against him, which many thought could threaten his chances of clinching the party’s ticket.
But given the present scenario in the All Progressives Congress, Aiyedatiwa stands atop among the 16 aspirants jostling for the flag of the party. Apart from being the incumbent governor, the National leadership of APC seems to also favour him.
One of these signs emerged when Honourable Ife Ehindero, a House of Representatives member representing Akoko North Federal Constituency and a loyalist of the Minister of Interior, Honourable Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (BTO) joined Aiyedatiwa’s campaign train last Monday in Ilaje local government area of the state.
The governor also has a groundswell of support among grassroots politicians in Ondo. One of them is Honourable Femi Adekanmbi, a former Commissioner who has pledged his support for Aiyedatiwa.
According to him, “Our National leader has directed us to give him absolute support for both the primary and the general election.”
The comment from Adekanbi is an indication that some of the political heavyweights in the APC are at home with Aiyedatiwa’s aspiration, like Rt. Hon Victor Olabimtan who is a seasoned politician and currently Chairman of the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. O N. Akeredolu, Hon, Tayo Oluwatuyi (Tukana), the Secretary to the State Government who is a Grassroots mobilizer.
Other political gladiators behind the Governor are the newly inaugurated Commissioners, including Pastor Segun Ayerin, Mr Olaolu Akindolire, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, Dr Banji Ajaka, Mr Boye Ologbese, Mr Sunday Akinwalire, Deaconess Lola Fagbemi, Mr Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, Mr Rasheed Badmus, Mr Olayato Aribo, Mr Adewale Akinlosotu and Barr Gbenga Olaniyi.
On the Assembly side of things, the Speaker and members of the State Assembly have thrown their weight behind Aiyedatiwa.
Also, Special Advisers to the Governor on Special Duties, Gani Mohammed, Engr. Alabi, Mrs Olamide Falana, Attorney General of the state, Kayode Ajulo SAN and other party leaders, like Barr. Tolu Babaleye are all in the project of ensuring that Aiyedatiwa clinches the APC’s ticket.
Even some elders in the party also known as Ondo APC Aborigines led by Ambassador Sola Iji agreed to support the state governor. The elders, who made their decision known recently at a meeting held in Akure, the state capital said Aiyedatiwa scored the highest points out of the three aspirants shortlisted by the group.
The other two frontline aspirants picked by the elders are the late Paul Akintelure and a former Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa.
What could have ended Governor Aiyedatiwa’s political career was the alleged academic certificate forgery which has been put to rest by the screening committee. The excited Aiyedatiwa told journalists at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja after he was cleared by the screening committee that the matter had been laid to rest.
According to him, “Screening is one of the processes aspirants have to go through. Mine has just been done and all documents that were submitted have to be verified and questions asked where some are not too clear to the screening committee. Questions were asked and answered.
“At the end of the day, I have been cleared, especially on the issue that has to do with my certificate that a petition was written. Today, that has been put to rest. My certificates are genuine and authentic.
“I think it is a kind of mischief by some aspirants who see me as the man to beat and had to look for a way to discredit my person,” he said.
With the present scenario, a new window of opportunity has again opened for Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to define his politics. He is on the move to fulfil his destiny. “What shall be, shall be.”
