Ife Oyedele steps down for Akeredolu’s aspirantship, Alasoadura, Kudehinbu tell how governor will win as APC indirect primaries hold today

*Prof. Dayo Faduyile also drops ambition for Governor

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

It is heartwarming tale of many surprises as Ife Oyedele steps down for the smooth sail of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in today, Monday’s primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State.

Ife Oyedele aspirantship, only few days ago, had three other aspirantships including that of daughter of former governor of old Ondo State, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose Nee Adekunle Ajasin, collapse structures for him.

With his stepping down from today’s primaries, by implication, he will not be alone as three other former aspirants of note will be queuing behind Governor Akeredolu whose participation in the primary election today will have earned him the much desired opportunity and right to lead the party in the October general elections in the state that is formerly mother to Ekiti State.

Oyedele told Akeredolu during a meeting that he will be ready to support him to continue the good work he is doing for Ondo State.

“Great to have you on board Ife Oyedele. With your support, we can Talk and DO MORE for the good people of Ondo State,” Akeredolu responded as he welcomed Oyedele, the face of four collapsed structures, into his camp.

In the meantime, former Head of Service (HoS) in the state, Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu, has given answer to a poser, “Will Akeredolu survive at the party primaries?” He not only said yes but also went ahead to explain how he will survive.

“I expect Akeredolu to scale through the primaries. In three years, contrary to the propaganda out there, no governor has done what Akeredolu is doing.

“This is the time when political waters are muddled. What you have is misinformation. He has done a lot more than his predecessor.

“I see him winning the primaries because he has done a lot. He has done very well. I believe in zoning as a political weapon; whether it should be now or later, that is a different matter. Ondo North should be allowed to spend eight years. After that, Ondo South should spend eight years.

“That is a recipe for political stability. It is not fair for one area to spend eight years and another spend four years,” excerpt from an interview granted by Ajose Kudehinbu, the former Ondo State HoS.

In his own position, Nigeria’s Minister of State for the Niger Delta Affairs and a son of Akure Kingdom in Ondo State, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, said Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is the best as APC candidate.

Ahead of today’s governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Tayo Alasoadura said the governor remains the best among the aspirants.

Speaking on the reason he was supporting Governor Akeredolu to fly the flag of the APC ahead of the October 10 governorship poll in the state, he stressed that none of the aspirants is better than him to win the party’s ticket in the July 20 primary.

This came at a time a governorship aspirant and immediate past President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Professor Dayo Faduyile, said he had dropped his governorship ambition to support Governor Akeredolu to consolidate his numerous developmental and people-oriented programmes in the state.

The duo spoke with The Hope, a newspaper of Ondo State Government on Thursday July 16 in separate interviews ahead of the APC governorship primary, which finally holds today Monday July 20, 2020.

Alasoadura described Akeredolu as a truthful man who has performed well to improve the socio-economic well-being of the people in the past three and a half years.

He specifically applauded the governor for his uncommon passion to get the state a Seaport, saying by the time Ondo gets the Port, the economic life of the state would change.

The Minister noted that he would continue to support Governor Akeredolu at all times because of his good developmental plans for the people and the state at large.

“Governor Akeredolu is a truthful man, he is a performer. We don’t have anybody among the aspirants who is better than him. So, if you want our state to move forward, we must support the person who can deliver.

“There is something that is so important to me which we started during Agagu’s administration, that is getting Ondo state to have a Seaport. And this is Governor Akeredolu’s passion. So whoever believes in our vision I must support such a person.

“The day we have a port here that is the day the economic life of Ondo state will change. I want our children and children’s children to enjoy this better life.

“Lagos became rich because of Apapa Seaport. And if somebody is here and is passionate about getting us the Seaport, then I will support him in the morning, I will support him in the afternoon and I will support him in the night”, Alasoadura emphasised.

On his part, Prof. Dayo Faduyile said Governor Akeredolu should be given another term to enable him successfully implement and complete all his good plans for the development of the state and the people.

“What I have found out is that for every good work you need good time to get it effected and implemented properly. I have also done reassessment of what the Governor has done in the last three and half years and I have seen while it is desirable to improve thing. There are so many things he has done that it is because of time that we have not seen it come to fruition.

“So, I believe he should be given some time to complete all these good plans and projects for the benefit of the people of Ondo state”, Faduyile added.

He equally commended the Governor for giving the University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo, and other health facilities the desired attention, noting that governor Akeredolu is doing well by giving health facilities in the state a touch of improvement for the benefit of all.