Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa yesterday began consultation over his governorship ambition on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He summoned a meeting of party stakeholders which he presided over as new party leader at the Dome, Igbatoro Road, Akure, the state capital, where he promised to henceforth fund party structues at the ward, local government and state levels.
No fewer than 450 stakeholders-25 delegates each from 18 local governments-converged on the venue for the first leg of the consultative meeting.
Reporters were barred from the meeting, which was described a a strictly party affair.
Sources at the meeting disclosed that Ayedatiwa promised to be mobilising each member of the consultative body with N100,000 monthly.
They said some of the delegates cheered the move, which they described as unprecedented in the history of the party. However, others who were in sober reflection, described the gesture as a display of naked populism.
Yesterday, N45 million was allegedly given to the stakeholders.
A delegate, who was at the meeting, said local government chairmen of the party were in charge of the distribution of the money across the grassroots.
He hinted that the state is “somehow bouyant now because it has just received N16 billion in its treasury”
Aiyedatiwa, a former deputy governor, was inaugurated as governor last month, following the passing on of his boss, Rotimi Akeredolu, after a protracted illness.
Although the governor has not held a public declaration, he is believed to be warming up for the governorship primary billed for the first quarter of the year.
Apart from Ayedatiwa, other chieftains believed to be eyeing the governorship ticket, which may be unofficially zoned to Ondo South, include Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Finance Commissioner Wale Akinterinwa, Secretary to Government Princess Oladunni Odu and Ife Oyedele, an engineer.
Excited at the crowd, the governor jocularly said although there are many aspirants jostling for the ticket, there is no vacancy in the Alagbaka House.
Yesterday’s meeting was attended by the party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, Mrs Odu, former Secretary to Government Ife Abegunde, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, House of Assembly Speaker Olamide Oladiji, his deputy, Prince Akinruntan, former Deputy Governors Oluboyo and Ali Olanusi, and members of the state executive council.
A source said: ”Our governor summoned a consultative meeting of stakeholders today in Akure and it was a full house. He promised to be taking care of the party leaders at the ward, local government and state levels. In each ward, we have 27 members of the party exco.
“He said he would be funding party structures across the wards, local governments and state. Twenty five people were invited from each of the 18 local governments. People saw it as a sort of declaration of ambition and that the governor has started watering the ground ahead of the primary. The fear now is that infrastructure fund may be squandered on partisan politics.”
The Publicity Secretary of the chapter, Alex Kalejaye, who confirmed the meeting, said it was a unity meeting.
However, he denied that money was shared, saying that the governor only promised to attend to party welfare.
Kalejaye said: ”Ayedatiwa urged unity so that we can form a common front. We also talk about about the welfare of party members and respect for party structures. Those were the three things we discussed.” (The Nation)
