By Nudoiba Ojen
“Our gathering today is to publicly show that the person we are following and supporting to clinch the Ondo State APC ticket as candidate and eventually win the governorship election in November is no other person than Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa”
THE popular Rock Valley Hotel, Alade-Idanre in the Idanre Local Government area of Ondo State was the centre of attraction on Friday March 8 when the leadership and members of the Idanre Integrity Forum of the All Progressives Congress gathered in their numbers for an all-important exercise.
The gathering was for the leadership and members of the Forum comprising political bigwigs in the local government area to openly declare their support for the 2024 governorship ambition of the governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
Coordinator of the Forum, Hon. Vincent Akinde (a.k.a Vijay), a former SA in the state, who welcomed enthusiastic APC members to the occasion, expressed the Forum’s resolve to support the best to govern the state “and we have found Aiyedatiwa as the best”.
He thanked God for the lives and patriotism of the leaders like Sir Femi Ajijala and Hon. Oladejo Adeloye, who had been ensuring that the APC and Integrity Forum thrive in the local government area.
Akinde, while explaining the essence of the gathering, said, “We have beamed our searchlights, we came to the conclusion and resolution that based on visible facts including education, intelligence, experience, social standing, exposure, political strength and who will deliver the best for Ondo State, Aiyedatiwa towers above other aspirants.
“Our gathering today is to publicly show that the person we are following and supporting to clinch the APC ticket as candidate and eventually win the governorship election in November is no other person than Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa”.
Akinde, who observed that the personal virtues and exceptional leadership traits of Governor Ayedatiwa coupled with his incumbency factor will give him better lead over others, said, “His antecedent, his love for the people, his performance in office are all testaments of his ability to steer the ship of our state to safe and development haven”.
The coordinator told the huge gathering that it was a very good development that a well respected Idanre indigene and a leader of the Forum, Hon. Barr. Oladejo Adeloye, who is a Commissioner in Ondo State House of Assembly Commission, has the ears of the governor.
Akinde expressed optimism that by the time Governor Ayedatiwa emerges, Idanre will be the better for it as the good reputation of the Hon. Oladejo Adeloye, who is also a former member of Ondo State House of Assembly and ex-Chairman of Idanre Local Government Area, will help Idanre and its people.
Hon. Adeloye later led the members to declare openly that the Integrity Forum leadership and members will do everything within their abilities and within the ambit of the law of the land to work for and canvass support for Governor Ayedatiwa to clinch the party ticket.
Old and new members of the group including Mr Olarewaju Akinrolayo and Mrs Omobamitale Ademulegun, said they were attracted to the Forum because of Aiyedatiwa’s good deeds.
While Akinrolayo said that he joined the Integrity Forum because “I believe that Governor Ayedatiwa will deliver the good because he has good qualities of leadership” Ademulegun said she loved Governor Ayedatiwa “because he has been paying workers as at when due since he mounted power saddle”.
Similarly, Mr Ugo Anthony from Ipoba area and a leader of non-indigenes in the area said the reason the Integrity Forum supported Governor Ayedatiwa is because “he is a man of honor and clean slate who had been leading the state well since he came to power”.
In his remarks, Hon. Afolabi Olawole, stated that he joined the Integrity Forum because of the commendable activities of Governor Ayedatiwa since he took over the mantle of leadership and also the respectable leaders of the Integrity Forum who are worthy of being followed.
Earlier, the Forum Coordinator, Akinde, had listed prominent members of Executives of the group as Mr Akintunde (Secretary) and leaders like Mr Akinlolu Abonso, Mrs Olaniyi Ajoke, Mrs Olabimpe Duyile, Mr Charles Akinnayajo, Pa Omokanjuola Johnson, Hon. Afolabi Olawole, Mr Olofinbinu Lawrence, Chief Adeoye Raphael, Mrs Akinbowa Olawanle, Mr Olutosoye Olorunsola and Mr Anthony Ugo.
Akinde described the forum as a formidable group with well respected, well connected and well meaning leaders who carry their members along in their schemes.
