The member representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Donald Ojogo, on Monday, threw his weight behind the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, describing him as the best and most qualified for the job.
Ojogo, who led political leaders from the APC in Ese-Odo Local Council Area of Ondo state, said the leaders resolved to support Aiyedatiwa based on his credibility, pedigree and unalloyed commitment towards the development of the state.
The party leaders who made their position known during a meeting held at the residence of Ojogo, vowed that all would be done for the ruling party to secure massive votes for Aiyedatiwa on November 16 in order to ensure his victory.
While speaking, Ojogo stated that the endorsement became imperative and a statement to the opposition party to know that there is no vacancy in the Ondo State government house, saying APC is on the verge of retaining the state.
He said: “What we will need to do is embark on a very vigorous mobilisation and campaign for the governor and for the party because it is clear that this election is not an election that is solely that of Aiyedatiwa. We are going into this election with the aim of establishing a point and making a point ahead of 2027.
“This is Mr. President’s geopolitical zone, and it is going to be the first election that will take place, so it is a litmus test. If we fail, it will appear that APC National has also failed, and we cannot afford to fail APC National. We will not fail, Mr. President.
“I’m not saying Mr President is running for a second term; I do not have the mandate to speak on his behalf, but it is most likely he runs for a second term. And if he considers it, then it means that we must ensure we replant APC in Ondo State ahead of 2023.
“A victory is a must for us in APC; we can’t take it by force; we cannot allow INEC to declare us; it is our work that will reflect the victory that will come afterwards.
“I didn’t support the governor from the beginning before the primaries; I supported another candidate, but once the party has said that this is the candidate we want, we must all fall in line and support the candidate of the party.
“The candidate of the party is my candidate, their candidate, and our candidate, so we can’t do otherwise.
The Commissioner for Lands in the state, Akin Sowore, while speaking, assured that hundred percent votes would be delivered for Aiyedatiwa.
He said “It is our collective resolve in Ese-Odo Local Government to vote for Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa to return as Governor of Ondo State. In Ese-Odo Local Government, with the creme of leaders here and the large followership that has attended this meeting with the directive and instruction, we can’t expect anything less than 80 percent from Ese-Odo Local Government, which of course is good for our party.
The Deputy party chairman, Ajabra Atili, assured that the council would deliver 80 percent of the votes for governor Aiyedatiwa, come November 16 election, adding that the governor has done creditably well and deserved to return.
The woman leader of the party in the council, Elizabeth Douye, said, “We have agreed that all of us are going to work for Mr. Governor.
Speaking during the meeting, the House of Assembly member representing the council area, Hon. Allen Oluwatoyin, said that the council area have jointly decided to support the election of governor Aiyedatiwa adding that the votes that would come from them would be massive.
Oluwatoyin appealed to the people to continue to mobilize support for the governor.