It is no longer at easy in the fold of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ondo state as a chieftain of the party, Victor Olabimtan who is the current Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has expressed dismay in the recent political appointments made by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
In a leaked audio obtained by Thefrontrank, the former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, lamented that the governor was disregarding input and contributions from the party and stakeholders in decision-making.
“There must be a system where those who worked for the party can be compensated.
“Our youths will work for us, at the end of the day, what did we give them? Nothing. What we ought to give them are given to thugs.
“But now, there’s no system that is working, everything is in shamble.
“And by this system we’ve turned our governors to God, because they are the one picking everything.
“Many of the people given appointment in Ondo State now, we don’t know them,” he lamented in the leaked audio.
He commended a former Governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Agagu for ensuring party supremacy in political appointments during his tenure under the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
Olabimtan stated that Akoko has the highest number of votes in Ondo State, promising to ensure that someone from Akoko succeeds Aiyedatiwa in 2029.
Thefrontrank reports that reactions have continue to trail Olabimtan’s comments following his aspiration to become the next Ondo State APC Chairman.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of APC in the state, Engr. Olufemi Kolawole, has defended Olabimtan over the leaked audio.
Kolawole, in a statement shared on his Facebook page, condemned the secret recording and its public release, saying it was the handiwork of a mischief-maker aimed at creating disunity within the party and misrepresent Olabimtan’s genuine intentions.
He described the development as a calculated attempt to damage Olabimtan’s reputation and frustrate his ambition to emerge as APC State Chairman.
“I have listened to the audio recording, which was made by an unscrupulous person who saw an opportunity to bring Hon. Olabimtan down.
“It was secretly recorded and deliberately released with the selfish aim of damaging his image and truncating his aspiration to lead the APC in Ondo State,” Kolawole stated.
According to him, contrary to the false narratives being pushed around, there is no credible evidence in the audio suggesting that Olabimtan indicted Governor Ayedatiwa or acted against the interest of the party.
“What I observe is that the opposition is celebrating what they perceive as negativity.
“This is nothing but an attempt to strain the cordial relationship between Hon. Olabintan and the governor,” he said.
