It is no longer news that the widely acceptable Governor of Ondo state,Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa won the APC primary election and has been presented certificate of return by the party national leadership.
On Monday 13th May,the national chairman of the Independent National electoral commission(INEC) also clarified that all eighteen registered political parties conducted primary elections that were duly observed by the commission. This has effectively put to rest the ignorant illusion of some rabble rousers that the primary election of APC is not recognized by INEC.
According to the INEC timetable and schedule of activities for the November 16th Ondo gubernatorial polls,all political parties must submit the list of duly nominated candidate and respective running mates to the INEC portal latest 6pm on Monday,20th of May.
This inevitably leads to the raging issue in the state; where will the incumbent Governor pick his running mate from? Different political actors have no doubt set machineries in motion to advance their varying arguments on where the running mate to Governor Aiyedatiwa should come from.
Having read the diverse arguments from various sides,i have come to the conclusion that it is better off for the Governor to maintain the current political arrangement in the state. Currently,the Governor is from Ilaje LGA of Ondo south,the deputy governor is from Owo LGA of Ondo north,the speaker of the state assembly is from Ondo east LGA of Ondo central.
While other key offices such as SSG are from Akure south LGA in Ondo central while the State chairman of the APC is from Idanre LGA also in Ondo central . It is based on this premise that i submit that the central part of Ondo state already has more than enough political reasons to vote overwhelmingly for the APC.
All the three federal constituencies of Ondo central are holding key posts in the Aiyedatiwa Administration; Akure south/north(SSG),Ondo east/west(Speaker),Idanre/Ifedore(State Chairman). The Governor already has more than enough political alliances and arsenals to win the central convincingly.
The current deputy governor,Olayide Adelami,has displayed exemplary calmness,loyalty,commitment and professionalism to earn another tenure in office. Within a short period of time in office,he exhibited his political dexterity by calmly bringing together most of the warring factions in the Owo LGA of former Governor Akeredolu.
As a former senior public officer who retired as deputy clerk in the National Assembly,the deputy governor has a lot of influence,knowledge,experience and Human Resources that will rub positively on the state affairs.
I want to admonish the Governor to beware of political scavengers who may be pressurizing him into doing away with this asset of inestimable value which Olayide Adelami represents,because of their personal benefit.
Lastly,it is public knowledge that the Governor can only serve an additional four year term due to the 2022 constitutional amendment which restricts deputy governors who complete their principal’s term from taking oath of office beyond one extra term.
It is also common knowledge that due to the conventional power rotation in the state,the central part of the state is Favoured to take over in 2029,if the Governor wins the November 16th election.
It is for this reason that the Governor will be wise not to pick a running mate from the central part of the state. Having a deputy governor from the central will distract the Governor and the possibility of having a crisis-ridden administration will be high,given that any Deputy Governor from the central now will naturally see himself or herself as the successor of Governor Aiyedatiwa in 2029,hence he/she will start politicking right from the first day of the administration and will not let Governor Aiyedatiwa to concentrate and deliver good governance to the state.
The current political arrangement spreads key posts to all political zones in the state,and will deliver landslide victory to the APC on November 16. The Akoko zone has a Senator and Minister. the Owo zone has deputy governor. the Akure zone has Minister,Senator and SSG. Idanre zone has State chairman. Ondo zone has Speakership. Ikale zone has Senator. Riverine area has Governorship!!
The Governor should only concentrate on reconciliation within the APC fold,he should not be tricked to cause a self-inflicted crisis of confidence within his party by attempting to change the current political arrangement that is guaranteed to deliver massive and easy victory to the APC on November 16th!!
Olajide Akinte,Public affairs analyst and a native of Ode-Irele,writes from Akure,Ondo state.
