By Idowu Ajanaku
Quotes:
“You can see what I have been doing since I assumed office, so I promise you that I won’t relent in my infrastructural projects”
-Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa
“The governor is performing well and needs to be supported in his ambitions. Here in Akure we have benefitted from his support of infrastructure”
-Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi ( The Deji of Akure)
With only a few days to the governorship election coming up in the acclaimed ‘Sunshine State’ precisely on Saturday, October 16, 2024 the empirical evidences on ground point to the political pendulum swinging in favour of the incumbent state governor Aiyedatiwa, for more reasons than one. While we must admit that it would likely evolve as an exciting two-horse race between two former deputy governors-Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) and Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress) APC) the facilitating factors that favour the latter against the former are crystal clear.
One of such is continuity combined with consistency. Having taken over the baton of political leadership upon the painful death of the former state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu back then in December 2023 he has solidified his footsteps by continuing with the projects on infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare delivery, industrialization and youth employment. That is across the three Senatorial Districts of the state. And good enough, the Deji of Akure who, incidentally is the Chairman of the Council of Obas in the state has testified to this as reflected in the introductory quote.
Furthermore, Aiyedatiwa happens to be the first governor to hail from Ilaje, the oil-rich local government of the state which has amply qualified it as an oil-producing state. Apart from financially benefiting with the monthly 13 % derivation from the Federation Account it has made it possible for the state to belong to the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC). The good people of Ondo state would therefore, not want to turn their back on the goose that lays the golden egg. That is common wisdom.
In a similar positive perspective, Ilaje Local Government boasts of the longest coastal line in the entire West African Sub-region. Once the seaport there which is under construction is fully developed, it will definitely act as the veritable linkage between the Lekki Seaport to the west and other seaports in Asaba, Calabar to the east.With Aiyedatiwa’s influence Ondo state would soon become an economic hub acting as a catalyst for massive employment generation, especially for the youths. With all that firmly in place Ondo state would continue to be well branded as an icon of peace, devoid of youth restiveness. But that is not all there is to the positive difference his presence in office would make on the quality of life or the Human Development Index (HDI) of Ondo people.
Like it or not, the power of incumbency has a critical role to play in boosting the chance of Aiyedatiwa emerging victorious in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.He belongs to the ruling APC and lest we forget, the party has over the years displayed the capacity to mend broken fences, assuage frayed nerves after contentious primaries, when it comes to being a united front to winning elections. We have seen that at play in states such as Katsina, Nasarawa, Kogi, Ogun, Ekiti and of course, Lagos. That explains why the current Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje has been doing all things humanly possible to offer the party’s support to Aiyedatiwa to win the election.
And as fate would have it, our subject has shown the consistent capacity to reach out to different segments of the Ondo state society- from the lowest rung through the middle class up to the upper echelon. He has given them his listening ear; promising solar light to the markets for the women to sell their sundry goods in the evening time, as well as stable infrastructure across the state. That of course, would provide the foundation for the Medium and Small Scale Enterprises MSMEs to keep thriving.
Worthy of note is the interactive session the governor had with members of the Committee of Obas at the palace of the Deji of Akure Oba Aladelusi. After listening to their request for the construction of internal roads including those leading to and fro the markets, with Igbatoro Road not left out he had this to say. ” I won’t relent in my infrastructural projects.The solar power initiative will continue.We have competed phase one and we will move on to phase two”.
In addition, and to seal the unfailing element of Trust which is the key to the hearts of the led majority Aiyedatiwa affirmed that: “I have been addressing issues related to the Obas. The voice of the King is akin to God’s voice”. Such assurance would definitely have a spin-off effect on the kings convincing their people to throw their weight behind him.
So, looked at from the factors of incumbency, political affiliation, identity, zoning, having the common touch with the people right to the grassroots and of course, that of performance, Aiyedatiwa stands head and shoulders above his 16 other contesters. That is in a free, fair and credible election which we all look forward to during the governorship election in Ondo state, with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC ‘s quality performance to deliver the choice of the people. The Agency working in partnership with the police should guarantee security, to ensure that voting materials are delivered to the polling units as at when due. There should be no ballot box snatching, intimidation or shooting of innocent people by paid political thugs, to ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process.
Interestingly, Aiyedatiwa has ‘Lucky’ as his name. Will it ring a loud and clear bell on that moment of the people ‘s decision? Time will tell.
But as Heather Wilson, the 11th President of the University of Texas at El Paso, United States of America, USA rightly stated: “The poll that matters is the one that happens on the election day”.
AJANAKU, is a member of Strategic and Communications Committee of Aiyedatiwa Campaign Council.
