Ondo Guber: Why Ondo South should back experienced Oke, not Aiyedatiwa who can only serve one term - Enikuomehin

Advertisements

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State, Mr Benson Enikuomehin, has given reasons why Ondo South should back long time politician in the state, Olusola Oke, and not incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

He said the Ondo South will fritter away a golden opportunity in the politics of the state if Governor Aiyedatiwa contests the forthcoming state governorship election.

Enikuomehin, an accomplished lawyer and former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) representative for Ondo State, who spoke at a news conference in Lagos on Thursday, said Governor Aiyedatiwa can only spend a term going by the amendments in the constitution.

The amended constitution, according to him, says: “Once you succeed your boss, you can only spend a term because the constitution talks about two term of eight years”.

He said there is no doubt that “providence has thrown up Aiyedatiwa as the Governor at this moment, and we are not quarrelling with that. Assuming that the providence would allow him to do two terms, it would have been better.”

The distinguished lawyer, who is also a prominent stakeholder in the state’s politics, maintained that Ondo South “will be shortchanged if Aiyedatiwa is allowed to contest,” adding it would be “a missed golden opportunity.”

He explained further that former Governor Olusegun Mimiko from Ondo Central spent eight years and was closely followed by late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, from the Ondo North, who spent almost eight years before his death.

“So, the Ondo South deserves eight unbroken years,” he maintained.

In his assessment of the current political gliadiators in the state governorship race, Chief Olusola Oke, a lwyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, towered above other aspirants from the Ondo South because of his pedigree.

According to him, Chief Oke is the only one among the aspirants who does not have any political appointment now, and he is financing his campaign all alone withot any

problem.

The APC chieftain said he has nothing personal against Governor Aiyedatiwa, adding that he was among those who fought for him not to be impeached during his political turbulence.

However, he said what is at stake now is bigger than Aiyedatiwa. “We cannot allow a greenhorn to run the state. When I listened to Chief Oke’s manifesto and what he promised to do, it’s very extensive, and it shows that he understands what the issues are.

“Chief Olusola Oke can finance his campaign, and he won’t be the one the EFCC will be pursuing after his exit from government,” he said.