By Jude Opara, Abuja
Ahead of the forthcoming Ondo state governorship election later in the year, the incumbent, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has declared that there is no vacancy in the government house.
Aiyedatiwa spoke on Friday shortly after appearing for the screening exercise by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national secretariat of the ruling party in Abuja.
The governor also weighed in on the allegation that he was parading a forged certificate insisting that the effort was only an attempt by some other aspirants who feel threatened with his candidacy to run him down , knowing that there is no vacancy in the state house. He also advised them to go and campaign and convince the people to vote for them.
“I should just advice them to repent and try to go to the field and work. If they are interested in the seat and the seat is not vacant that is why they’re trying to do all that they are doing.
“I have been cleared that there are no issues, especially the issue that has to do with certificate that a petition was written, today that has been put to rest. My certificates are genuine and authentic. I think is just a kind of mischief by some other aspirants who find me to be an aspirant to beat trying to look for a way to discredit my person but that has been verified and put to rest.
“I think the issue really regarding that was a school they claim was established in 1980 and how come I was able to write my WASCE in 1982. If you are a student of history you will recall that in 1979, when the Governor of Lagos State at the time Lateef Jakande became Governor of Lagos State most private schools were taken over and schools were built for the communities. And Ikosi High school that I attended is one of the schools that were built by the regime of Lateef Jakande for the 1980.
“So, it is on record that the school was established in 1980 and at that time I was already in Form ‘3’ in a private school, New Nation is in Ikosi while Royal Comprehensive High School is Ajegunle Ikorudu very close to Ketu. So all of us were moved both New Nation and Royal Comprehensive High School and some other schools that were affected with flood we were all moved into Ikosi High School Ketu that was built by the government and that was how we wrote our WASCE in 1982 because we were in the first set”.
The governor also spoke on his chances, saying despite the fact that all the aspirants are indigenes of Ondo state, he stands the best chance because it is the people that have clamoured for him to continue with his good job.
“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. 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 for the day people and they are going about their businesses without fear”.
However, in a swift reaction after his own screening, another leading aspirant, Chief Olusola Oke said there is nothing to worry with the claim of the governor that there is no vacancy because every incumbent always think they would win.
He gave example with former governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode whom he said equally made such claims but failed to return to office.
“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”.
The APC primary election for the governorship election in Ondo will take place on April 20, 2024.
