Aiyedatiwa Formally Declares Governorship Bid in Ondo 

Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Tuesday formally declared his intention to contest the governorship election coming up in November 2024.

Aiyedatiwa was sworn-in as the governor of the state, on December 27, 2023, following the demise the of the former governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) who passed away during a protracted illness in Germany and had been buried in Owo, his country home on February 23.

However, governor Aiyedatiwa who declared his intent at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade in Akure said he wished to contest and win the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress scheduled to take place in April this year, and the major election on November 16.

His words: “Distinguished citizens and party faithfuls, I must re-echo what our late leader had always wished for in his life time. It was his wish that I succeed him, not in death though, as the next Governor of the State. He was a courageous and visionary leader who had no time for pretense and so he expressed this wish at different fora in both public and private. 

“All was with one conviction and implicit confidence in me to carry on the torch of accelerated development which he lighted first in 2017 and later renewed under a joint ticket for both of us in the 2021 gubernatorial election.

“I must therefore express my profound appreciation to you for the unalloyed support and loyalty which you have extended to this administration since my assumption of office as the 7th democratically elected Governor of the Sunshine State, after the painful but glorious exit of Arakunrin Oluwrotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON. 

“You have demonstrated the core values of resilience, audacity of courage, justice and truth passed unto us by the founding fathers of our dear State by standing up for democracy and constitutionality at a most critical time in the face of conspiracy against the State and the well-being of our people. I am confident that posterity will be proud of you. I dare say too with a sense of humility that our departed leader would be proud of me as a worthy constitutional successor who has not derailed on the path of development we jointly pursued.”

He noted that within the short period of his assumption of office, he has put the welfare of the people first by ordering all contractors back to sites to breathe life into the hitherto abandoned projects. 

“We championed the welfare of the workers by paying outstanding salary arrears and settled substantial amount from the gratuities of pensioners. We also ensure payment of salaries to workers as and when due, so much that we owe no kobo to workers as at today. Employment into critical sectors like health is also ongoing. All these combined have quickly restored the confidence of our people in the administration, a confidence that was earlier eroded by the inordinate quest of anti- democracy elements.

“Today, I have come before you in response to the popular yearnings and aspirations of our people to sustain this path of progress and development in the State. Our people and party faithfuls, through multi-dimensional platforms, have expressed their desire for the continuity of this administration beyond 2025. From the good people of Ilaje, Apoi and Ijaw Arogbo, through the great Ikale land of Okitipupa and Irele Lgs; from the delectable Odigbo and Idanre people to the progressive Ondos, Ifedore and Akure land; from the visionary Owo and Ose to the resilient Akoko land, the clamours for continuity have been very intense”, he stressed.

Aiyedatiwa emphasised that his trajectory of experiences in governance as former Representative of Ondo State on the Board of NDDC, one-time Deputy Governor, and three times Acting Governor under late Akeredolu and now the incumbent Governor of Ondo State are is too material to be wished away

On his vision and mission for the state, Aiyedatiwa said he has a clear agenda to sustain the State on the path of glory and development, stressing that he would focus on key developmental issues to alleviate poverty, banish hunger and make Ondo State self-sustaining. 

“My development agenda is to emplace a State Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (SEEDS). Under SEEDS, we would harmonize all plans for economic development. The strategy of this MISSION is to birth policies aimed at wealth creation, employment generation, sustenance of high standard of living and consequently eradicate poverty among the people.”

Fidelis David in Akure