Tag: Aiyedatiwa

Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Monday, January 22, began consultation over his governorship ambition on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He summoned a meeting of party stakeholders which he presided over as new party leader at the Dome, Igbatoro Road, Akure, the state capital, where he promised to henceforth fund party structures at the ward, local government, and state levels.

No fewer than 450 stakeholders, 25 delegates each from 18 local governments converged at the venue for the first leg of the consultative meeting.

Reporters were barred from the meeting, which was described as a strictly party affair.

Sources at the meeting disclosed that Ayedatiwa promised to mobilise each member of the consultative body with N100,000 monthly.

They said some of the delegates cheered the move, which they described as unprecedented in the history of the party.

However, others who were in sober reflection described the gesture as a display of naked populism.

The source said that a sum of N45 million was allegedly given to the stakeholders.

Read Also: APC rules out automatic ticket for Aiyedatiwa

A delegate, who was at the meeting, said local government chairmen of the party were in charge of the distribution of the money across the grassroots.

He hinted that the state is “somehow buoyant now because it has just received N16 billion in its treasury”

Aiyedatiwa, a former deputy governor, was inaugurated as governor last month, following the passing on of his boss, Rotimi Akeredolu, after a protracted illness.

Although the governor has not held a public declaration, he is believed to be warming up for the governorship primary billed for the first quarter of the year.

Apart from Ayedatiwa, other chieftains believed to be eyeing the governorship ticket, which may be unofficially zoned to Ondo South, include Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Finance Commissioner, Wale Akinterinwa, Secretary to Government Princess Oladunni Odu and Ife Oyedele, an engineer.

Excited at the crowd, the governor jocularly said although many aspirants are jostling for the ticket, there is no vacancy in the Alagbaka House.

It was gathered that the meeting was attended by the party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, Mrs Odu, former Secretary to Government Ife Abegunde, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, House of Assembly Speaker Olamide Oladiji, his deputy, Prince Akinruntan, former Deputy Governors Oluboyo and Ali Olanusi, and members of the state executive council.

A source said: “Our governor summoned a consultative meeting of stakeholders today in Akure and it was a full house. He promised to take care of the party leaders at the ward, local government, and state levels. In each ward, we have 27 members of the party exco.

“He said he would be funding party structures across the wards, local governments, and state. Twenty-five people were invited from each of the 18 local governments. People saw it as a sort of declaration of ambition and that the governor had started watering the ground ahead of the primary. The fear now is that infrastructure funds may be squandered on partisan politics.”

The Publicity Secretary of the chapter, Alex Kalejaye, who confirmed the meeting, said it was a unity meeting.

However, he denied that money was shared, saying that the governor only promised to attend to party welfare.

Kalejaye said: “Ayedatiwa urged unity so that we can form a common front. We also talk about the welfare of party members and respect for party structures. Those were the three things we discussed.”

The Ondo State Secretary to the Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, has refuted online media reports claiming she had a confrontation with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and labeled him an impostor. 

Princess Odu also warned against involving President Bola Tinubu in state political issues.

Odu, in a statement issued in Akure, said it was saddening that the online news platform and its financiers plot to fan crisis in a state.

The SSG stated it was disgusting to read that she threatened to throw Governor Ayedatiwa out of office with President Tinubu’s backing.

She said it was a deliberate attempt to give the president, and father of the nation a very bad impression of her.

Princess Odu urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to conduct integrity test on members of the State Executive Council to fish out those who misrepresent facts about events at the meetings of the Council to avoid a situation whereby they would destroy his administration.

Princess Odu advised Governor Aiyedatiwa to carry out an integrity test on members of the State Executive Council to identify those misrepresenting facts about council meetings. 

She said the measure would prevent any potential harm to his administration.

Odu noted: “The report that I threatened to throw the Governor out of office because I have President Tinubu’s backing can only come from someone who has no knowledge about the way governance works. 

“How do you throw out a Governor who has committed no obvious offense against the constitution. If the online platform knows of any constitutional infraction committed by the Governor to warrant him being thrown out, the online news platform should say so but as for me I don’t know any.”

“As someone who understands Mr President’s respect for order, and who has enormous respect for the office and person of the President, i would never even think of bringing him into any matter that will be a mere distraction to him even if there is any, and in any case where is the power tussle that the online news is talking about?”

“Honourable Lucky Ayedatiwa is the Governor, and that is not in dispute. Also I have enormous respect for the office of Governor and will always respect Governor Ayedatiwa who is my brother.”

Read Also: Ondo 2024: Aiyedatiwa vows prosecution of perpetrators of violence

Odu who assured that she will do her work diligently and responsibly till her last day in office, pointed out that Ondo state is bigger than anyone and that she will not be a party to bringing the state down.

“Those who wish to cause crisis in the state should remember that posterity will judge them, and the spirit of the founding fathers of the state will stand against them.”

Odu described as laughable the claim that she called the Governor an impostor, stressing that she is too educated to use words with no bearing to a conversation.

She added: “Why would any right thinking person call Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa who was duly sworn in as Governor by the Chief Judge of the state an impostor? Again I say that if the online platform knows what qualifies Ayedatiwa as an impostor it is free to let it out but I am not an illiterate who will use words without knowing the meaning”

Ondo state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reminded political gladiators in the state that the law prescribed decisive consequences for actions that might throw spanners in the wheel of peace and progress of the state.

Aiyedatiwa said election matters were supposed to be peaceful and devoid of any form of violence.

He called on all gladiators to toe the path of honour and be peaceful in all their conduct before, during, and after the electioneering processes.

The governor spoke at the parade of this year’s Armed Forces and Remembrance Day.

Read Also: Aiyedatiwa orders contractors back to site

He said the sum of N30m has been provided in this year’s Micro-Credit Loan Scheme for the Widows of the departed heroes.

Aiyedatiwa said the loan which remained at zero interest rate was to support the businesses of the widows to enable them to take care of themselves and their children.

He said his administration would make the loan more accessible and appealed to beneficiaries to ensure repayment of the loan to make the programme sustainable.

His words: “It is the plan of our administration to continually put smiles on the faces of the widows and children of the fallen heroes. We, therefore, crave your understanding and support to make it sustainable.”

Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Monday disbursed N30 million microcredit revolving loans to 66 widows of fallen heroes in the state.

The governor announced this at the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration held at the Cenotaph, Alagbaka, Akure.

Aiyedatiwa, who presented cheques to the beneficiaries at the occasion, said the gesture was a honour to the fallen heroes.

The governor said the micro-credit loan scheme for widows of departed heroes was zero interest rate and a unique programme of the current administration.

While stressing the importance of tangible support beyond words for soldiers and officers of the Armed Forces, Aiyedatiwa solicited for charity works and assistance for their dependants and widows.

“Today’s event affords us the opportunity to call to mind the memories of our late Governor, my boss and mentor, an icon, a political hero, a courageous and dogged fighter, a Civilian but Military-spirited man – Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

“The gallant civilian-soldier fought doggedly alongside other South-West governors to strengthen our security architecture in the South-Western region when some forces were threatening the peaceful existence of our dear people.

”The struggle led by this perfect gentleman of blessed memory gave birth to the ‘Amotekun Corps’, the South-West Security Network, an outfit purposely established to complement the National Security Agencies,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa reiterated the need for financial and material support to the legionnaire for the welfare of widows and dependants of fallen heroes.

Read Also: Aiyedatiwa orders contractors back to site

He commended the success of the Emblem Appeal Fund, raising N3 million, and acknowledged contributions from various individuals, groups and institutions.

Aiyedatiwa sued for peace in the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state, urging stakeholders to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Victoria Adegbehingbe said that the annual event enabled Nigerians to remember and honour their late husbands who died defending their fatherland.

Also, Mrs Janet Sunday commended the state government for the gesture, promising prompt refund of the loan.

(NAN)