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Ondo state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Sunday met with members of the sacked caretaker committees of the 18 local government areas and 33 newly-created local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The meeting, which held at the Cocoa Conference Centre in the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, was called to seek understanding of the former council chiefs that Aiyedatiwa was not responsible for their sack.

*The Public online newspaper* learnt the meeting was an aftermath of the open letter six members of the House of Representatives from the state sent to President Bola Tinubu.

The federal lawmakers had alleged, among others, that Aiyedatiwa had been erasing legacies of his former boss, the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, one of which was the creation of the LCDAs and constitution of the caretaker committees.

The Oluwarotimi Akeredolu government had appointed the caretaker committees in November last year following the expiration of the tenures of the immediate past council administrations.

A source told our reporter that the Ondo governor’s meeting will the sacked council administrators was part of his plan to woo perceived political enemies to his side ahead of April gubernatorial shadow election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The source said: “The governor had a meeting with members of the caretaker committees that were dissolved last December. He tried to exonerate himself from the dissolution, claiming that it was the court that sacked them.

“Only a fool among them will believe the governor. Most people know that it was some APC members that were behind the PDP court action against the caretaker committees. They know that the governor never wanted them. So, why is he now exonerating himself?

“It is part of his strategies to woo those he has wounded politically to his side now that the governorship primary is approaching. He will still have to beg many people.

“The meeting he held with members of the caretaker committees is a panicky measure in my view. He has been running around since the federal lawmakers complained about him to President Tinubu. But his supporters, who don’t know anything, are busy abusing the Reps members on social media.”

Source: The Public online newspaper

A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Oke for Sunshine Forum (OSF) has commended the six lawmakers that wrote a save our soul letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the anti-party activities of the State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

In a statement signed by the group’s coordinator, Olushola Akintade, and made available to journalists in Akure on Friday, the forum described Aiyedatiwa as a desperate politician that is ready to sink the ship of the APC because of his inordinate ambition.

The group described the lawmakers as the true face of the progressive party in the stace, who history will be kind to.

The group warned that no grassroots politician in the Ondo APC is in bed with Aiyedatiwa because of his style of blackmailing everyone as well as hobnbobbing with fair-weathered politicians to support his ambition either by hook or crook.

Oke for Sunshine Forum called on President Bola Tinubu to call Governor Aiyedatiwa to order before he destroys the party in the state.

Akintade, “We are glad that the lawmakers are indeed talking and not keeping quiet about the seemingly unfortunate situation.

“It is time for President Bola Tinubu to call the Governor to order. His actions so far has continued to further polarise the party among negative interests. Those known as enemies of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu are the ones the Governor is romancing because of his ambition.

“The Oke for Sunshine Forum commends the lawmakers for being bold to tell truth to power and demand a further responsible leadership which will hold the party together ahead of future electoral contests. We hope an action is taken soon,” the group stated

President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been urged to give their full backing to the ambition of an aspirant within the party, Chief Olusola Oke SAN, to become the next Governor of Ondo State.
A pressure group within the APC, Ondo APC Reformers, stated this after a critical stakeholder meeting in Akure on Tuesday.
According to the group’s Chairman, Reverend Abimbola Obe, and Image maker, Frederick Ademola, the lawyer and veteran politician, is well-equipped to lead the Sunshine State due to his experience and deep insights into the people’s governance and human capital development.
Ondo Reformers group also lauded the leadership of the APC in Nigeria for believing in truth and justice, as well as its stand on a free, fair, and credible primaries to decide the party’s flagbearer for the November election.
The duo said, “At our February meeting on Tuesday, the stakeholders from the 18 local governments of Ondo State gathered in Akure to decide where the group would stake its position on the primary election to pick who will represent our party in the next election.
“While we are deeply concerned about the situation, we want to state equivocally that we are behind our leader and mentor, Chief Olusola Oke SAN. We are convinced that he has the requirements to lead our state at a time like this. We would have commenced rallies and consultations but for the respect for our late Gov, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, who will buried next week.
“After his burial, political activities will start in earnest to decide our next Governor. We are using this medium to call on our father and leader, Mr. President, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and our party leaders to support their own Olusola Oke SAN for Governor.
“We believe in his capacity to lead our dear state. That is why we will work assiduously to make him succeed. We count on everybody’s support,” the Ondo Reformers APC group added.

A political group in Ondo State, Oke For Sunshine Forum (OSF) has expressed its strong determination and readiness to mobilise the people of the state for a governorship aspiration, Chief Olusola Alexander Oke for the November gubernatorial election in the state.

In a statement released after its inaugural meeting in Akure on Tuesday, the Coordinator of the Forum, Olushola Akintade described Oke as the right man for the job.

He maintained that, non of those aspiring for the Ondo state number one seat have the experience and statewide appeal compared to Oke.

Akintade said the group will join forces with the party leadership in the state to ensure that Olusola Oke gets the required votes and support to be the next governor.

He said, the spirit of fairness by President Tinubu has emboldened the group to mobilise party members for the Primary of the Party.

“We are ready for the primary elections, whether, direct, indirect or whatever, we have a product that’s acceptable to the people of Ondo State, Olusola Oke, is an household name in the state, so we are going to have a seamless effort to market him.

Akintade, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being a trusted leader who will always support fairness and justice to all competent members of the party.

It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced November 16 2024 as the date for the Governorship election in Ondo State.

Simple is as easy as finding the answer to two plus two. However, when the whims and caprices of man enter the equation, two plus two can become rocket science. The business of leadership and governance of a society is a serious business. It transcends the usual two plus two or the simple poser optics of Yes and No. It is an effort that only gets rewarded once the service is provided, and only the people on whose kinetic pedestal the position is got can determine that the service was worth the effort.

In November, the people of Ondo State will elect a new governor to officially succeed Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, whom they voted for four years ago. Although the person elected is no longer, the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will need the people’s nod to continue where his former boss left off. So, it is safe to say that either Aiyedatiwa or his other opponents are all first-time contenders for the coveted seat in the Sunshine State.

Since its creation close to half a century ago, the richly blessed state in terms of natural and agricultural endowments has witnessed twists and turns in its development quest. It may have been led by leaders from various parts of the state, all pursuing a vision of development and rapid state transformation. Until he breathed his last, former Governor Akeredolu was a darling to many Nigerians and the International Community for the way he pushed the strength of unity in diversity and regionalism to rally Southwest states to demand peace when insecurity was crippling the system. Undeniably, the state that prides itself as the cocoa hub of the country is desirous of a leader who can competitively throw his hat in the ring for development and positive transformation.

Coming on this pedestal of development vision is a man who seeks to drive the state’s progress map further, Olusola Alexander Oke, who seeks to ride on the UIE mission – Unity, Inclusion, and Equity to move Ondo to the next level. Driving this three-point vision are the 12 cardinal programs ideated to push the state to an enviable height regionally, nationally, and intentionally. These key areas are sustainable educational reforms, attitudinal reorientation, improved healthcare, employment opportunities, and the state’s agricultural revolution.

Others are A Safer & Secure Ondo, Infrastructural Development, Human Capital Development, Industrialization & Economic Growth, Transformation Social & Political Empowerment Leadership Initiatives and Ondo Sports Convergence.

The 67-year-old Ilowo-born legal luminary and veteran politician also prides himself as a profoundly knowledgeable man of the Ondo people’s principles, politics, and practice after years of carefully studying their needs, development, desires, and aspirations. He is a lover of the people, respecting their development quest. The experience he brings to the table is expansive, attracting all the critical modes of impetus to deliver a mandate on good governance for the citizenry.

The people of Ondo State. The time is here. Time to support your own to become the next Governor of our beloved state. The time is now. APC is the party, Oke is the People’s Favourite.

Together, we can.
Unity. Equity. Inclusion.

Adesuyi Kehinde writes from Akure, Ondo State.