Youths to Aiyedatiwa: Your ambition will kill Ondo South’s interest

The Ondo South Youths Forum (OSYF), a youth group in Ondo State, says Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s ambition will not only deprive the Southern Senatorial district of eight years of government but kill the interest of zone.

OSYF noted that, according to the ruling of the Supreme Court, Aiyedatiwa is only permitted to be sworn in once more, since he already took the Oath of Office on December 27, 2023, following the death of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

The group in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Barrister Kingsley Omogbehin, therefore, urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu not to consider Aiyedatiwa when it is time to choose the party’s candidate.

The group said that Ondo South’s interest is to produce a candidate who is legally eligible to serve eight years in office.

It, therefore, asked Aiyedatiwa “to drop his governorship ambition and support any of the aspirants from the Southern Senatorial district.

The group listed eligible aspirants from the Southern district to include Dr. Paul Akintelure, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, Hon. Gbenga Edema, Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin, and Hon. Jimi Odimayo.

OSYF questioned why Aiyedatiwa’s popularity is increasing on a daily basis in Ondo Central, while major stakeholders in the Southern Senatorial district are hesitant to align with him.

“Our people are aware that Aiyedatiwa’s ambition will only deprive the South of eight years of government while also benefiting Ondo Central.

“That is why someone like Hon. Abiola Makinde from Ondo West in Ondo Central supports him because he believes Aiyedatiwa will only serve for four years and then it will be up to the Central to produce the governor.

“Ondo Central had spent eight years under former governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration.

“In 2020, we supported the late Akeredolu despite our son, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, ran under the platform of ZLP because we believed it was the Ondo North’s right to spend eight years.

“Today, apart from his political appointees and those who still believe that Aiyedatiwa may still appoint them, you cannot find well-known Ondo South leaders who are supporting Aiyedatiwa.

“If an election is held today, Aiyedatiwa will not receive 20% of the votes from Ondo South.

“Even the people of Ilaje, where he is from, will not vote for him because they understand the dangers that his ambition will pose to us in the future.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa must abandon his excessive ambition and sacrifice it for the sake of our people, who want a candidate who is legally eligible to serve eight years in office,” the group said.