PETER DADA examines how the absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is fuelling political undercurrents in Ondo State ahead of the 2024 governorship election
In recent weeks, Ondo State, the Sunshine State, has been in the news for different reasons, chief among which was the illness of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), his absence from public space and his eventual trip abroad for medical care. In his absence, his deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is holding the fort in acting capacity. Thus, governance continues.
But beyond this, gladiators and politicians have begun plotting for next year’s governorship election. Akeredolu’s second term expires on February 23, 2025. Ordinarily, the date seems far away, but to politicians, current political developments create a good opportunity to initiate moves on how Akeredolu’s successor would emerge.
At the moment, many aspirants in the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, Labour Party and other political parties are warming up for the contest, starting with the party primaries.
Our correspondents gathered that there are political meetings at the ward level while some gladiators outside the state have started returning home to contribute to the social and political development of their communities.
Some are offering scholarships to students in their towns and local government areas, some pay the hospital bills of the sick, especially if the sick person is a prominent member of their party and one who could be instrumental to their ambition, while some share money.
Interestingly, this happens in the Sunshine State every two years given that the governorship election is off-cycle and is two years away from the general elections.
It was gathered that no fewer than 15 members of the governing APC have discreetly shown interest in contesting the governorship ticket next year.
According to a source, they include the Acting Governor, Aiyedatiwa; the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa; a former Chairman of the Ondo State Oil-producing Development Areas Commission, Mr Gbenga Edema; the Special Adviser to the governor on Health Matters, Dr Francis Faduyile; a former governorship candidate in both the PDP and the Alliance for Democracy, Chief Olusola Oke.
It is interesting to note that all the APC aspirants are from Ondo South Senatorial District, following the party’s purported unwritten agreement that the senatorial district would produce the next governor, given that Akeredolu is from Ondo North.
Some members of the party argued that the last governor from the South senatorial district was the late Olusegun Agagu, who served for six years before he was removed by the court and replaced by Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who is from Ondo Central.
Even though the governor handed over to his deputy, some appointees with vested interest allegedly heated up the polity and displayed cold war in the cabinet.
A source in the governor’s office alleged that some cabinet members shunned the weekly state executive council meeting since the governor was not around. This has however been debunked by the acting governor as he urged “the general public to, as usual, ignore these unfortunate lies and subterfuge as the antics of desperate political gladiators across political divides.”
Similarly, a member of cabinet, who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied the crack among the cabinet members as he said there was no issue whatsoever in the Akeredolu cabinet.
He said, “There was no problem in the cabinet. We are always meeting for the state executive council meeting weekly and it is compulsory for all members to attend. Only state assignments that can be the reason for any member not to attend.”
While this went on, it was learnt that the APC leaders in the state warned aspirants were displeased by the development and warned such persons to suspend their activities as a sign of respect for the governor, who is said to be recuperating from his illness.
A source said, “Before the intervention of some party elders, these people (APC aspirants) had almost taken their political aspirations to the extreme. Their supporters have flooded the social media with various inciting and derogatory comments and write-ups against one another in a bid to sell the political aspirations of their principals and secret sponsors.
“A lot was going on among them, without being sensitive to the governor’s health. Some in government had abandoned their assignment for politics. This was why party elders asked them to suspend their actions temporarily. They were asked to shut down those social media platforms through which they tactically declared their intention. They were also asked to pray for the quick recuperation of the ailing governor.”
In spite of this however, it was observed that some of the aspirants have taken their discreet campaigns beyond the shores of the state where they strategise on winning the party’s ticket. Some were also said to be seeking the support of President Bola Tinubu and some APC governors for sponsorship.
In a reaction, the publicity secretary of the APC in the state, Mr Alex Kalejaiye, said he wasn’t aware of the secret political meetings by aspirants. He however noted that holding political meetings was part of politics.
He added, “I am not aware of any background political meetings ahead of 2024. The acting governor, Hon Lucky Ayedatiwa, and members of the State Executive Council, to the best of my knowledge, are preoccupied with how to keep the ship of state on course. I am aware that other gladiators are also waiting for the arrival of Mr. Governor.
“It is a common saying among most leaders that ‘we will know the direction we are going when Mr. Governor returns’. Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, CON is the leader of our party in the state. Leaders and members have a strong believe in his judgment, and are earnestly awaiting his arrival and directive on the all-important matter.
“However, I must say that meetings are part of the game of politics. Players of like minds are expected to meet from time to time to brainstorm on what shape and colours to expect. Meetings, as often said, are the menu of politics. So, holding meetings should not be considered as an unusual development.”
Also, the PDP through its publicity secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei, knocked the alleged desperation of the APC aspirants, saying most of them were not ready for the contest but waiting for endorsement of their political godfathers.
The opposition party which expressed its readiness to take over the state declared that the battle line had been drawn.
He said, “It is a known fact that around October, 2024, governorship election will hold in Ondo State. While the Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to officially release a timetable for the election, political parties and gladiators who have eyes on the Alagbaka Government House come February 24, 2025 are not leaving anything to chances.
“The health status of Governor Akeredolu, shrouded in secrecy as it were, appears to be the launch pad for this epic battle. At the last count, a number of aspirants have indicated their willingness to contest the 2024 governorship election on the platform of APC. No doubt, majority of them are pretenders or expecting some godfathers to endorse them or ride on the back of a non-existent power of incumbency to square up with the major opposition party, the PDP.
“But at the end of these hostilities occasioned by Akeredolu’s absence, picking up the pieces will be a tall order. The same people who were abandoned in the course of the supremacy battle will have the last say. And this period, wasted in needless show of force and cluelessness, will count against the APC government.”
A political analyst, Dr Ken Okanlawon, said there was a need for the political gladiators in the APC to play the game according to the rules. He warned that being too desperate could tear the party apart and make them lose the election.
Okanlawon added, “Many of them should know that caution has to be exercised at this point. Being members of the ruling party does not automatically translate to election victory; you have to work for it. We have seen many states where the ruling party loses. Osun State is a close example. If the APC does not put its house in order before the primary, the problem may linger till the election and loss may be the consequence.”
