…..Plot meant to shut out Ugbo Kingdom because of 2024 aspiration, group alleges
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a group, Ilaje Patriotic Youths Movement, IPYM said it has uncovered a plot by the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa to impose the immediate past Chairman of OSOPADEC, Hon. Gbenga Edema as the APC candidate for Ilaje State Constituency II and Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency.
The group revealed that the Deputy Governor, who is from Ugbo Kingdom in Ilaje local government deliberately came up with this political permutation by throwing his weight behind Edema, who is from the Mahin Kingdom in the same Ilaje because of his 2024 governorship poll.
A statement jointly signed by its President, Comrade Edamisan Agbudeloye and Secretary, Benjamin Ajimuda, said it has been monitoring the movements of the Deputy Governor to prevent any Ugbo son or daughter from getting elective federal positions in the APC government, saying that this will shut out Ugbo Kingdom.
IYMN alleged that the Deputy Governor approached Edema shortly after he lost out in the battle for his return as OSOPADEC chairman.
He added that it was reliably informed that he sealed a deal with Edema that if the former OSOPADEC boss becomes a federal lawmaker he must support his governorship ambition.
The group noted that the Deputy Governor must understand that the current Ilaje/Ese-Odo lawmaker, Hon Victor Akinjo is from Mahin and is already spending a two-term.
He said for fairness and equity, the next representative should come from Ugbo if the party decides to zone the ticket to Ilaje.
“We won’t allow the Deputy Governor to create a political imbalance in our domain. He should stop acting in such a way of outsmarting God. Only God knows tomorrow. If it is the will of God for Lucky Aiyedatiwa to become the next governor of Ondo State, no mortal can stop him.
“Mr Deputy Governor should understand that this is the turn of Ugbo to produce the next Ilaje-Ese-Odo federal lawmaker. It is improper for any reasonable politician to support anyone from Mahin for such office when their son, Hon Akinjo is already spending eight years in that office.
“Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is an advocate of political fairness and equity and that is why he leading the voices championing the cause that the next President of Nigeria must be a Southerner.
“Therefore, we are urging Mr Aiyedatiwa take a cue from his boss and desist from any act that may cause political unrest in our kingdom,” the statement read.
DON’T BLACKMAIL ME —DGOV
Reacting, the deputy governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kenneth Stevenson, described the allegation as not only untrue but unfounded, saying it a cheap blackmail against the Deputy Governor.
Ayedatiwa said the former OSOPADEC chairman had not consulted or informed him of his ambition to contest for the House of Representatives seat for Ilaje-Ese-Odo federal constituency.
He said “it is not true, Edema and others interested in the seat have not consulted the deputy governor on their House of Representatives ambitions.
“So if anybody or group are accusing the deputy governor of imposition of a particular candidate, they are doing so out of their wildest imagination.”
The deputy governor said that the group should not distract with cheap blackmail.
