The Nation Newspaper

Category: Ondo 2020

  • More pressure on Mimiko to dump Ajayi

    More pressure on Mimiko to dump Ajayi

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

    Following the victory of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in last Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, leaders of the party are now bent on playing available cards to ensure a repeated victory in the October 10 poll in Ondo State.

    One of the moves, according to sources, is to weaken the strength of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) by wooing leaders of the party.

    Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi is the candidate of the ZLP.

    A source said Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and his Sokoto State counterpart Aminu Waziri Tambuwal have been scheduled to meet with former Governor Olusegun Mimiko this weekend.

    The meeting, it was learnt, is to pressure Mimiko to accept the proposed alliance between both parties for the purpose of defeating Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Read Also: Mimiko to PDP: campaign with Agagu’s projects

    According to the source, “the court ruling asking INEC to display credentials of Ajayi really jolted the ZLP because these days, you don’t underrate the possible negative effects of any judicial process instituted against any governorship aspirant.

    “Mind you, there is another of such legal battle filed by another lawyer, who is a member of our party, against the deputy governor; and in the politics of nowadays, the judiciary has become a decider.

    “With the cases of David Lyon and even Oshiomhole, who despised the court process initiated to unseat him still fresh in our memory, it appears the former governor has also caved in to the last minute safe assessment meeting because if he does not and the court strikes unexpectedly, it is the APC that will benefit from the mess.

    “I have been told that the national leader of ZLP, Mimiko, has been contacted by both governors on the need for the meeting so as to bring our candidate to him to possibly apologise publicly in order to get his support to unseat the APC in that state. We won’t take chances at all,” he said.

     

  • Ikale group mobilises support for Akeredolu

    Ikale group mobilises support for Akeredolu

    Our Reporter

     

    A GROUP of Ikale in Lagos under the aegis of Ikale Heritage Development Association has supported Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s second term bid.

    The Chairman, Otunba Sola Olatunji, unfolded the agenda of the association to make this dream a reality at a news conference yesterday in Lagos.

    He said members have resolved to storm Ondo State for a mega rally in support of Akeredolu and also embark on house-to-house campaign to sensitise the people.

    Olatunji said political calculation in the state makes it imperative for the Southern Senatorial Zone to support the incumbent governor for another four years for the zone to fight, legitimately, for the slot in 2024.

    Read Also: Akeredolu’s son threatens to sue Ajayi

    He said: “Since the inception of civilian administration in 1999, there has been an unwritten political understanding among the political leaders across the three zones, I mean three senatorial zones in Ondo State. It was put in place to guarantee equity, justice and fair play. It was resolved that the governorship position should rotate among the senatorial zones.

    “This unwritten understanding has been sustained in the last 21 years. So, in the politics of Ondo State, it’s mandatory on the part of Southern Senatorial Zone to vote overwhelmingly for Aketi so that he can complete his second term, while the change of baton will come to South Senatorial Zone, where I hail from, in 2024.

    “We are therefore soliciting the support and understanding of our people to vote for our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and our candidate, Akeredolu, on October 10.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • ZLP chieftain dumps party for APC

    ZLP chieftain dumps party for APC

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    A MEMBER of the Campaign Council of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Miss Dighitoi Feku, has dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    She ditched the ZLP 48 hours after she was unveiled as a member of the party’s Campaign Council.

    Feku, who hails from Ese-Odo, donated campaign materials to the APC, which have been presented to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu at the Government House, Alagbaka-Akure.

    Read Also: Ngige: Impostors behind Anambra APC letter

    She was led to see Akeredolu by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo and another APC chieftain, Raphael Ajaga Ojubulu, a pharmacist.

    Feku was secretary of the Women Mobilisation Committee (South) of the ZLP Governorship Campaign Organisation.

    She is expected to formally join the APC at Arogbo Ward 1, at the ward meeting scheduled for this weekend.

  • Commissioner, others join ZLP

    Commissioner, others join ZLP

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    A SERVING commissioner on the board of Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Chief Ilawole Bisi, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State and joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    Other APC chieftains who joined the ZLP yesterday were Gbadebo Odimayo, and Nicholas Akinbiola, a former chairman of Irele Local Government.

    Odimayo’s defection was said to have been influenced by his former boss, Yemi Tadema Festus, an ex-majority leader in the House of Assembly.

    Ilawole resigned his appointment on Wednesday before joining the ZLP.

     

  • INEC replaces burnt card readers

    INEC replaces burnt card readers

    Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has replaced the over 5,000 card readers that got burnt at its Akure office last month.

    Chairman Prof Mammud Yakubu, speaking with reporters on Wednesday in Akure during his three-day working visit to the state, said he was in Ondo State to have an on-the-spot assessment of the level of preparedness for the October 10 governorship election.

    He said the electoral body would conduct a credible and acceptable poll as it did in Edo State last Saturday.

    Yakubu said the card readers had been configured ahead of the election.

    Read Also: INEC to engage more physically-challenged

    Said he: “We have already recovered some smart card readers. We unfortunately lost over 5,000 smart card readers to the fire. We have, however, recovered by getting requisite number of smart card readers from neighbouring Oyo State.

    “They have been delivered to Ondo State and they have been charged, configured and ready for the election on October 10.”

    Yakubu said INEC would organise an interaction session with stakeholders, including monarchs, to ensure the success of the election.

     

  • Why Ajayi was not picked as running mate, by Jegede

    Why Ajayi was not picked as running mate, by Jegede

     Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Eyitayo Jegede has explained why he picked Gboluga Ikengboju as his running mate and not Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.

    Ajayi was the first runner up at the PDP primaries despite joining the party 30 days earlier.

    He later left the PDP and picked the ticket of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    Jegede said Ajayi’s ambition was to be governor and not deputy governor.

    He spoke in a television interview monitored in Akure.

    Jegede said he picked Ikengboju, a lawmaker representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, out of a long list of nominees presented to him.

    Read Also: Akeredolu’s son threatens to sue Ajayi

    He said Ajayi was part of the many decisions made by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, which the PDP is campaigning against.

    “Ajayi chose not to be my deputy. His ambition is to be a governor under a political party. He left the APC, came to PDP. He was defeated in our primary election and went to the ZLP.

    “I took opinions from virtually everybody. People chose the person who became my running mate. When a choice is made, we must respect it. One should not allow one’s ambition to override the choice of the people.

    “All the policies we are fighting, the pains we want to end, are the products of Akeredolu and his deputy. He was in our party (as a member) for just six weeks. He is a very powerful person and humble, you cannot do away with that.”

     

  • Deputy governor’s aide joins APC

    Deputy governor’s aide joins APC

     Osagie Otabor, Akure

     

    MR. Yemi Akintomide, an aide to Ondo State Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi, has resigned.

    Ajayi is also the governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    Akintomide said he left Ajayi’s media team to support Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s second term bid, to achieve the Southern Agenda in 2024.

    In a letter he addressed to Ajayi, Akintomide said he warned him (Ajayi) to stay clear of former governor Olusegun Mimiko and his ZLP; as such move would be politically suicidal.

    Read Also: ‘APC will not lose Ondo like Edo’

    He said leaders of Ondo South have concluded that they will wait by allowing Ondo North to complete two terms of eight years through Akeredolu.

    The letter said: “My advice to you, Your Excellency, is that you stay clear of Mimiko and his ZLP. Such move will be politically suicidal. Please, stay put in PDP even if you’re not going to take deputy governorship slot. I believe with your steadfastness and contribution to the success of the party in the governorship election, the Senate ticket will be a walk over for you.

     

  • Why I didn’t pick Ajayi as running mate, by Jegede

    Why I didn’t pick Ajayi as running mate, by Jegede

     Osagie Otabor, Akure

    Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Eyitayo Jegede has explained why he picked Gboluga Ikengboju as his running mate and not Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.

    Ajayi was the first runner up at the PDP primaries despite joining the party 30 days earlier.

    He later left the PDP and picked the ticket of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    Jegede said Agboola’s ambition was to be Governor and not Deputy Governor.

    He spoke in a television interview which was monitored in Akure.

    Jegede said he picked Ikengboju, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, out of a long list of nominees presented to him.

    He further said Ajayi was part of the many decisions made by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, which the PDP is campaigning against.

    “Ajayi chose not to be my deputy. His ambition is to be a governor under a political party. He left the APC, came to PDP, defeated in our primary, and went to ZLP.

    Read Also: Ondo 2020: Deputy Governor’s aide resigns

    “I took opinions from virtually everybody. People chose who became my running mate. When a choice is made we must respect it. One should not allow his ambition to override the choice of the people.

    “All the policies that we are fighting, the pains we want to end are the product of Akeredolu and his deputy.

    “He was in our party (as a member) for just six weeks. He is a very powerful person and humble, you cannot do away with that.”

    On the operations of Amotekun in Ondo, Jegede said he would not scrapped it but strengthen it for more effectiveness.

    “Amotekun will stay without political influence. We must protect our people,” he added.

    Jegede further said he would reduce tuition fees in Ondo State owned tertiary institutions and provide free medical services and boost income of farmers.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘APC will not lose Ondo like Edo’

    ‘APC will not lose Ondo like Edo’

    By Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

    A member of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Committee on Ondo Gubernatorial Election, Mr Osita Okechukwu, has assured the party will not lose the election.

    Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Abuja, Okechukwu, who is the Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), stated Rotimi Akeredolu and Godwin Obaseki share a lot in common, adding that there is no cause for alarm.

    His words: “I don’t harbour any fears of APC losing Ondo State for His Excellencies Akeredolu and Obaseki share a lot in common.

    “One, they devoted much more resources in the past four years to physical infrastructural development than stomach infrastructure.

    “This is why some elites are antagonistic to both. Secondly, both diligently reconciled with their fellow gubernatorial aspirants within their parties thus going into the election with the spirit of internal democracy advantage.

    “Thirdly, they both defeated same candidates in 2016 and one does not see the danger naysayers are hyping. Fourthly, don’t forget that they are products of our great party APC.”

    Reminded that President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to uphold free and fair election as the bedrock of democracy, making the use of the proverbial federal might a mirage, Okechukwu said: “yes, that’s a good omen for Nigerian democracy.

    “Yes Mr President’s position of non-interference and creation of level playing field is a good omen to our fledgling democracy and is in no matter particular hindrance to Akeredolu’s chances of winning the October 10, 2020 Ondo gubernatorial election.

    “Aketi, I know, has no damaging baggage and all the tendencies in APC are solidly behind him, unlike what happened in Edo State APC gubernatorial election”.

    Informed of the warning of the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Eyitayo Jegede that Ondo is not a conquered people or territory and anyone coming to rig should forget such idea, Okechukwu said: “Guess what, we will hear many stories like that as we approach the election.

    “If Aketi didn’t keep his house in order, by diligently rallying the support of his former traducers like Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Engr Ife Oyedele, Olusola Oke (SAN) and co, one could have bothered about the said statement”.

  • Ondo 2020: OSOPADEC Commissioner, others join ZLP

    Ondo 2020: OSOPADEC Commissioner, others join ZLP

    By Osagie Otabor, Akure

    A Commissioner in the board of Ondo Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Chief Ilawole Bisi, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo for the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    Other APC chieftains that joined the ZLP Wednesday were Hon. Ggbadebo Odimayo, and Hon. Nicholas Akinbiola, who is a former council boss of Irele Local Government.

    Odimayo’s defection was said to have been influenced by his former boss, Hon. Yemi Tadema Festus, a former Majority Leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly.

    Ilawe resigned his appointment on Wednesday before joining the ZLP.