A group, ‘Ondo South Citizens’ Forum,’ yesterday urged All Progressives Congress (APC) members from Ondo South Senatorial District to support an aspirant who can spend two terms of eight years in office.
The group said if Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is elected in the November poll, he may face a constitutional constraint that may limit him to one term, thereby jeopadising the chance of the South to produce a governor for eight years.
The chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the forum, Otunba Sola Olatunji, told reporters in Lagos that Ondo South should not be denied to enjoy the governorship slot for two terms of eight years.
The forum of Ondo South citizens made up of 6 LGA, and we are residents in Lagos State. These local governments are : Odigbo, Okitipupa, Irele, Ile Oluji/Okeigbo, Ilaje and Ese Odo.
Olatunji said:”It’s now the turn of Ondo South to produce a governor for eith years, like their counterparts from Ondo Central and Ondo North had their chance, respectively
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“We are alarmed that out of these 16 aspirants who have been cleared by the APC screening committee, including the governor, while majority of the aspirants are insisting on eight years for Ondo South, the governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa is the only one who is clamouring for four years because, he is already limited by law.
“He can’t be sworn in more than twice, which will ultimately surcharge Ondo South.”
Olatunji said while Aiyedatiwa has the right to aspire to any position of his choice, the forum had made frantic efforts to prevail on him to drop his ambition and think of other alternative political option he can pursue when his current tenure expires in February 2025.
He said:”We are very much aware of the collateral damage his emergence as the flag bearer of APC will cause the party in the Nov 2024 gubernatorial election.
“All efforts to prevail on Mr. Governor to see reason while his ambition is not being supported by his people back home, but he has remained adamant with his ‘no vacancy in Alagbaka’ propaganda. In his desperation to realise his selfish objectives, we are also aware that Ondo State treasury has since been flunged open, and people are really cashing out as stomach infrastructure induced endorsement is in the air.
“But we are more disturbed that some respected party leaders, mostly from Ondo Central, have joined forces with the governor to sabotage the 8 years of Ondo South without looking at the grave implications of their actions. While we are not questioning their rights to associate, we see this unholy alliance as a conspiracy hatched to sabotage the political interest of Ondo State. We see this conspiracy by some political glutton in Ondo Central who are hell bent to ensure power returns to Ondo Central within four years, as against the expected 8 years. We are saying that this conspiracy will produce nothing but political upheaval, and it will be too unbeatable to the conspirators. A stitch in time saves nine, as often said. That is why we are making this clarion call to the leadership of APC and political gladiators in Ondo State to weigh the consequences of hurting the Southern citizens and their capacity to revolt through their votes in November.
“To us in Ondo South, where we have people with impeccable characters, capacity and credible credentials to function effectively for 8 years amongst the aspirants, we are demanding that only aspirant eligible for eight years will be supported in Ondo South. We are not going to support any aspirant who is limited to 4 years, only, by law. As such, any aspirant pursuing such aspiration is driven by personal ego and not in the interest of the public.
