By Ola Ajayi, Ibadan

AS the race for the governorship tickets in Oyo State heats up, about seven aides of Governor Abiola Ajimobi are struggling to get the ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

Out of the aspirants, Vanguard gathered that the governor has been extremely careful and kept mum on who gets the ticket.

As at yesterday, with the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Alhaji Olalekan Alli joining the fray, the number of the aides of Governor Ajimobi eyeing his office is now seven.

As of now, those who have signified their interests are the former Head of Service, Mr Soji Eniade, the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr Isaac Omodewu, Commissioner for Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan, Special Adviser on Political matters, Mr Morounkola Thomas, Commissioner for Finance, Mr Bimbo Adekanmbi and the deputy governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo.

Speaking at the state secretariat of APC, Oke Ado Tuesday, Alhaji Alli said, “Having been privileged to be part of the first rate team of his Excellency, I am offering myself to serve the state as its governor in 2019. My interest in the Oyo State governorship project is to further the repositioning of agriculture as the basis of our industrialisation, enhancing the fortune of our education, health, human capital including staff development and welfare, industry, commerce, youth development and other strategic potentials across the state.”

“My humble knowledge and modest participation in the rebuilding efforts of the present government, under our leader, have ignited my interest in this continuity for progress scheme, required for further advancement of Oyo State.”

“It is for this reason that I formally declare my interest in the governorship position of Oyo State on the platform of APC in 2019”, he said.

In all these scores of governorship aspirants vying for the ticket, Vanguard gathered that the governor may prefer someone who had served in his government and shared his vision so as to continue the numerous works he started.