The Ondo South Youths Forum (OSYF), a youth group in Ondo state, has urged the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to drop his governorship ambition and support any of the aspirants from the southern senatorial district.
The group’s call is based on the need for the southern senatorial district to present a candidate who can serve for eight years in office, rather than spending four years with Aiyedatiwa winning the election.
They 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, after the demise of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
In a statement signed by its coordinator, Barrister Kingsley Omogbehin, the group asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to consider Aiyedatiwa when the time is ripe to choose the party’s candidate.
Instead, the group listed other eligible aspirants from the southern district, including Dr. Paul Akintelure, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, Hon. Gbenga Edema, Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin, and Jimi Odimayo.
The group who noted that Aiyedatiwa’s popularity has been growing on a daily basis in Ondo Central, while major stakeholders in the southern senatorial district are hesitant to align with the governor.
The statement reads, “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.