— He’s only permitted to be sworn in once more

— Drop your ambition, support any of your kinsmen

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

The Ondo South Youths Forum (OSYF) in Ondo state, has said that governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, ambition will not only deprive them of eight years of government but kill their interest.

According to the group, with the ruling of the Supreme Court, Aiyedatiwa is only permitted to be sworn in once more, since he already took the oath of office on December 27, 2023, after late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s demise.

It’s coordinator Barrister Kingsley Omogbehin, has therefore asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu not to consider Aiyedatiwa when the time is ripe to choose the party candidate.

Omogbehin, said that Ondo South’s interest is to produce a candidate who is legally eligible to serve eight years in office.

He therefore asked Aiyedatiwa “to drop his governorship ambition and support any of the aspirants from the southern senatorial district.

Other eligible aspirants from the southern district, according to him include Dr. Paul Akintelure, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, Hon. Gbenga Edema, Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin, and Jimi Odimayo.

The group questioned why Aiyedatiwa’s popularity is increasing on a daily basis in Ondo Central, while major stakeholders in the southern senatorial district are hesitant to align with the governor.

“Our people are aware that Aiyedatiwa’s ambition will only deprive the south of eight years of government while also benefiting Ondo Central.

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“That is why someone like Hon Abiola Makinde from Ondo West in Ondo Central supports him because he believes Aiyedatiwa will only serve for four years and then it will be up to the central to produce the governor.

“Ondo Central had spent eight years under former governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration.

” In 2020, we supported the late Akeredolu despite our son, Hon Agboola Ajayi, ran under the platform of ZLP, because we believed it was the Ondo North’s right to spend eight years.

“Today, apart from his political appointees and those who still believe that Aiyedatiwa may still appoint them, you cannot find well-known Ondo South leaders who are supporting Aiyedatiwa.

“If an election is held today, Aiyedatiwa will not receive 20% of the votes from Ondo south.

“Even the people of Ilaje, where he is from, will not vote for him because they understand the dangers that his ambition will pose to us in the future.

Omogbehin asked “Governor Aiyedatiwa must abandon his excessive ambition and sacrifice it for the sake of our people, who want a candidate who is legally eligible to serve eight years in office.

Vanguard Newspaper