As the primary election of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) for the 2024 governorship election in Ondo state draws close, the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said his seat is not vacant.
Aiyedatiwa said this while addressing members of the APC at a stakeholders meeting held at the Dome on Monday.
The Governor said,: “We must all come together as one family to work together for the progress of our party, knowing for sure this is an election here for us.
“An election to the office of the governor of ondo state, even though the seat is not vacant currently.
“Let us work together In oneness and in peace so that our party, APC will continue to govern this State.”
The meeting, which had in attendance members of Aiyedatiwa’s cabinet that are eyeing the exalted seat, and the first since he succeeded Akeredolu, was called at the instance of the Governor.
The Governor said: “It is important for me to tell you that as leaders of our party, we must put behind us the events of the last few months and come together as one big family for the progress of the APC and the development of our dear State.
“To me, what happened in the past was just politics. It was not a fight; it was not a battle; it was mere politics and I can say that I did not take any offence from that. The most important thing for us is to remain as one big family. There should be no division in our party.
“There is the need to make our party stronger and that necessitated the idea of this enlarged stakeholders meeting to bring everybody on board. Our party leaders and members are critical stakeholders that we cannot afford to neglect.
“There have been complaints from many of our party officers at local levels of not being carried along in the scheme of things. That must now be a thing of the past. All our party officers from ward to local government to State levels will be given the recognition they deserve.”
The Governor, who paid glowing tributes to former Governor, Late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, promised that the state government will work with the family to give him a befitting state burial and to immortalize his name and legacies.
The Governor thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for showing keen interest in the peace and development of Ondo State, adding that the president is happy with the current tranquility being enjoyed in the State.
Speaking earlier, the State Chairman of the APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, who commended the Governor for the timely engagement of party stakeholders, stressed that party leaders must put the past behind to foster unity ahead of the coming governorship election.
Those present at the meeting included members of the State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, members of the State Executive Council, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladuni Odu, former Deputy Governors, Alhaji Ali Olanusi and Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, former State Chairman of the party, Ambassador Sola Iji, former SSG, Hon. Sunday Abegunde, member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Biola Makinde, Chief Segun Ojo, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowoshe, among many others.
