Ondo 2020: Coordinators get cars

From Osagie Otabor, Akure

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Togo Joseph Olusola Iji has declared his intention to contest for Ondo State Governor on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Iji set up the Sola Iji Campaign Organisation (SICO), headed by Elder Eben Ogunrinde (Director-General); Prince Sola Aregbesola; Bisi Ayeni and Rotimi Agbede.

The governorship hopeful distributed vehicles to his campaign coordinators in 18 local governments.

He insisted the party primaries should be conducted among aspirants from South Senatorial district. Iji argued that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who hails from Ondo North, had served two terms on APC ticket and could not seek a third term.

He said: “Having got the governorship ticket for two consecutive terms in 2012 and 2016; it beats imagination and offends all logic and principle of equity that the North Senatorial District, through Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, could be seeking a third governorship ticket in 2020.

“The North must banish the thought that it could legitimately seek a third consecutive ticket while the South looks on as if we are a conquered district.

Read Also: Ondo 2020: PDP chair Faboyede resigns position

I have laid out why the primaries ought to be conducted only among aspirants from the South; this is without prejudice, and the coordinators should be able to persuade party leaders and members on the basis of equity and good conscience.

“It is not for our coordinators to malign any candidate or any senatorial district, but to employ these facts and logical arguments to persuade party members to reason with us in our aspiration.”

Commissioner for Information and Orientation Donald Ojogo said anyone could aspire to contest for governor.

“Aspirations do not draw status lines as they are blind to realities. For those who have offered themselves, we welcome them in their bid to enrich the contest.

“We will not resort to specifics about individuals who may wish to run. All the same, the preponderance or proliferation of political invalids in any contestation does not invalidate a contest; it rather permeates fun,” he said.