By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
As the April 25 Ondo state All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary draws nearer, a chieftain of the ruling party, Chief Idowu Ajanaku has described as fallacy the stories making the rounds in some media that former Osun state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola loyalists and ex-Ondo governor, Olusegun Mimiko are the ones working to make Ayedatiwa win the ticket of the APC in the upcoming primaries election in Ondo state.
According to him the camp of the incumbent governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa has also described as untrue the stories in some media that former governors Aregbesola loyalists and Mimiko are the persons working hard to ensure that Ayedatiwa wins the ticket of APC in the forthcoming primaries in Ondo state.
Said he: “The question is how does Aregbesola become a factor in the primary election in Ondo state? Even though former governor Rauf Aregbesola is a respected member of the APC and an ally of the President of the Federal Republic, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he is not from Ondo state and would not be voting at the primaries and the governorship elections”, Ajanaku insists.
Speaking further, he said that the people described as those politicians loyalists supporting Ayedatiwa are members of APC and like any other indigene of Ondo state have the right to support any candidate of their choice, pointing out that they have chosen to support Ayedatiwa who has been garnering an unprecedented support from all and sundry is a welcome development.
“On the fathom role of former governor Mimiko, it should be seen as a mere distraction. Mimiko is not a member of APC and does not have a say in the affairs of the party. Is it the Mimiko whose party has been roundly defeated twice by the APC candidate in his base, Ondo East/West Constituency by Honorable Abiola Makinde that would now determine the fate of governor Ayedatiwa in the APC?”, he asked.
Ajanaku posited that: “The writers of the stories are just on a wild goose chase and have made a very poor effort to portray Ayedatiwa as fraternising with the perceived enemies of the President. Let it be known that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has no enemy in Aregbesola, any member of APC or Nigerian for that matter. He is the father of the nation and a committed democrat”.
“It is obvious that Governor Ayedatiwa has become the real deal in Ondo politics and has been enjoying overwhelming support from people within the APC and outside of the party which portends what the future holds – victory at the polls. All well meaning Ondo state people are welcome to give him all the support he needs to make Ondo state better and greater”.
Ajanaku who is former aide to two former Governors of Lagos state cautioned that; “the people of Ondo state should not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by mischief makers and merchants of vices in their bid to score cheap political points”.
