ONDO 2024: APC GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY AND PARTY UNITY
Honestly speaking, as primary and general elections are fast approaching in April and November respectively, the aspirants and their supporters have been crisscrossing the length and breath of the state, putting oil and pepper on the lips of abandoned and impoverished party members in the state, assuring them what they’ll do different if given an opportunity as Executive Governor of Sunshine state. Ostensibly, political activities have resumed in the local government and ward levels in the state.
Ondo State is one of the unique states in Nigeria where INEC conduct election in every two years as a result of Prof. Maurice Iwu’s ‘wuruwuru’ electoral malfeasance of PDP’ 2007 ” do or die” election. Since then, the state has been engrossing in biennial election-circles and politics.
Meanwhile, over 12 aspirants have signified their intentions to occupy Alagbaka seat of power,both contenders and pretenders,mainly from the Southern Senatorial district. Amongst the aspirants are the incumbent governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, Dr. Paul Akintelure, current National Vice Chairman South West, Dr. D. I Kekemeke, Hon. Jimi Odimayo, Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin, Dr. Soji Ehinlanwo, Prof. Dayo Faduyile, Barr. Lebi, Mr. MATO, Gen. Ohunyeye, Hon. Diran Iyantan and Barr. Gbenga Edema. Even some aspirants with no structure and resources to prosecute their aspirations are boasting of Abuja support.
However, with the cacophonies of interest, the party is polarized. Members now religiously line up behind their preferred aspirants, and viciously attacking their real and imaginary opponents without any hood of what become the party and governance aftermath of the primary. Three options are open in selecting a party candidate; direct, indirect and consensus. This idea of Abuja determines who becomes party candidate is heating up the polity in the state, as the party NWC has officially announced vague mode of primary in April. In actual sense, nobody knows which of the primary modality until the NWC clarifies the ambiguity.
The fright amongst party faithfuls is how a party without membership database could conduct a free and fair primary? But perhaps out of cheer sophistry, some of the aspirants are beginning to hail and welcome the direct primary, boasting of their structures and popularities among party members across the state. In retrospect, democracy is about the people, people and the people, led by the majority, anything contrary negates the civilized principles of democracy, which could result to political disharmony and disorder.
The crisis bedeviling the state not from abstract. The quest to succeed late Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN.CON started the day Aketi took 2nd term oath of office and avowedly suggested his Dep. Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as his favoured successor, which was obviously unacceptable to politicians who also eyed same seat. No wonder the state was tangled in unnecessary pandemonium and failed attempt to impeach the then Dep. Gov. during Aketi’s medical vacation of which Nigerian constitution was subverted for petty politics. Many of today aspirants were tacitly involved in the malfeasance and shenanigans and the conspiracy is still in progress.
It was reported in the state that five out nine House of Rep. Members petitioned Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa before President Bola Tinubu alleged him of victimization of Aketi’s loyalists in the state. It’s understandable, one of the senator is an aspirant, the other two senators might want to support their colleague or play neutrality.
In simple analysis, Gov. Aiyedatiwa is the common enemy in the contest that must not be given any chance. The scenario is like that of biblical 12 sons of Jacob, religious students know how it ended. But ditto to the torrent of endorsements and supports from prominent people and organizations, majority of the aspirants who are core loyal party men might reason along with the party leadership in Abuja and team up with the most popular aspirant to move the state forward and deliver good governance.
I listened to a prominent chieftain of the party from the southern district, who craved for anonymity opined that the best the leadership of the party can offer is to come together and foster peace, unity and development in the state, and jettison ego and avarice.
His word: ” I’m not a fan of Aiyedatiwa but with my years of experience in public service, the interest of the state is more paramount to me than primordia sentiments and frivolous prejudice. Ondo state people are no fools to believe all these propagandas and concocted lies of disloyaty or betrayal alleging Aiyedatiwa. He gained more supporters on the basis of this persecution, that’s what his opponents failed to realize. If the aspirants indeed love the state as they claimed, the focus should be the well-being of the people. Demand and ensure accountability and transparency in running the affair of the state as their campaign issue.”
“No doubt, the contest is within APC, opposition is dead if not buried already in the state. All the foundation members and major players are now in APC. To avoid explosion aftermath of the primary the party much put it house in order. The ball is in APC’ s court to play it into the net or balloon it to the air. I’m not from Ilaje but what is fair is fair, and for equity, I don’t expect any of our people from Ikale to show interest after 6 years of Dr. Olusegun Agagu. Thanks God that the person on the throne by providence is an Ilaje man, he should be allowed to continue for the other tribes to have opportunity when it goes to the central. No local government or tribe in the state is bereft of competent people.”
He didn’t stop there: ” Though the problem is not with Aiyedatiwa or the aspirants but with the way we build our institution. Let’s me add this; party managers both SWC and NWC from the inception of the party in 2014 have failed to deliver on their promises to build the party. What should be the focus of the leadership and the stakeholders in time like this is how to renew the dashed hope of the people, and deliver the dividend of democracy as promised by the Mr. President.”
The narratives are the same everywhere. Some public commentators are of the view that the sure way for APC to retain power is to present the most popular candidate for the general election in November. They pointed out how different groups are rooting for incumbent gov. Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa. While some groups are also positioning themselves as peace makers, watching and waiting for the Abuja body language.
A new group, an appendage of Minister of Interior, Hon. Bumi Ojo but claiming to be President Bola Tinubu’ boys, led by Hon Olumuyiwa Asagunla as Director General and have a Commissioner representing Ondo state in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), board, Hon. Otito Atikase as member, with the name Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG), in it inaugural meeting held in Akure, promised to remain firm in pursuing the independent campaign of peace, and resolutely safeguard the sovereignty of the state from hijackers toward a more robust national dignity. And will strive for stability in the state, pursue common progress with all indigenous and residents of the state. How they would achieve this when they themselves are interested parties should be source of concern.
The state is desperately in need of peace and progress, our aspirants can find a way to harness and harmonize their visions and interests with the incumbent for the state interest. The seat is for a only person to occupy and is only God that crown a King.
If truth must be told, whoever emerge in April will needs the support of other aspirants in the general election. Therefore, what’s the point creating unnecessary crisis for the people at this precarious time when our collective efforts are important to salvage the state from the imminent collapse.
Going by the popularity amongst the aspirants, even to the blind and deaf, it’s what his opponents cannot deny. This has nothing to do with the numbers of times one have been contesting elections or how deepest of the pockets. I think his emergence is divinely ordained. Imagine the soaring popularity and how people are scrambling to be identified with his aspiration without inducement.
See what LACO FS, KALESANWA, ALMAGAMATED GROUPS FOR AIYEDATIWA and other pressured groups are doing all over the state, recruiting and mobilizing for the November show. Or you want to discard the like of Senator Ajayi Borroffice, Comrade Sola Iji, Dr. Awodei (Apata) , Hon. Moyo Niran Oladunmi and many host of other prominent people in the state at your peril? The appeal is for the other aspirants to support the incumbent gov to continue with his good work. The state belongs to all!
The leadership of the party cannot claim oblivion of what’s happening in the state. Their agents should by now be in all the local governments to feed them the authentic reports and day to day activities in the state. It’s not too late to build a virile and protective party where everyone will feel happy and secured.
Falarungbon Fisayo @Akure
