Indications showed on Tuesday, that the governorship campaigns of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have been set in motion, as no fewer than 10 campaign groups in support of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa formed an alliance, setting Akure, the state’s capital agog.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the State Director of Information for Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC), Mr. Kayode Fasua, noted that the groups, with membership cutting across various local government areas of the state, had resolved to form a coalition, using the LACO-FSIC as banner.
At a ‘Reconciliation and Unification Meeting’ held in Akure, the LACO-FSIC State Director-General, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, expressed delight that the Mandate Group and Ajapada Group working separately to support Aiyedatiwa’s governorship campaigns in Akure South and Akure North local council areas, “have now resolved to work together as one, in LACO.”
Yusuf-Ogunleye, who is the state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, informed that similar development had taken place in other local government areas, thus affirming the high popularity rating of Governor Aiyedatiwa.
“We were in Ondo (community) recently to attend a coalition meeting of this nature, attended by a mammoth crowd of party loyalists, thus testifying to the wide acceptance of Governor Aiyedatiwa who has achieved a lot, in less than one year in office,” he applauded.
On the occasion, veteran politician and chartered accountant, Elder Idowu Otetubi, who was council chairman when Akure South and Akure North were still jointly known as Akure Local Government, said he was enthralled by the rapid transformation Governor Aiyedatiwa had brought to the communities.
“Everywhere I go, more people are defecting to the APC simply because Governor Aiyedatiwa is touching their lives through various infrastructural projects and human empowerment,” Otetubi observed.
Speaking too, the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Gbenga Olaniyi, who is also the leader of LACO-FSIC in Ondo Central District, said he was excited about the unification of campaign groups in Akure areas, “because the date this great development has happened coincides with my birthday”.
Meanwhile, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s special aides on political matters, Hon. Smart Omodunbi, and market matters, Mrs. Olufunke Adu, respectively, on the occasion lent credence to the claims, saying apart from the well-motivated public workers, people in the non-formal sector such as traders, artisans, and entrepreneurs were in support of the governor.
“This category is with Mr. Governor who has voted over N2 billion to support the people, in form of soft loans,” Adu remarked.
Other dignitaries on the occasion include Dr. (Mrs) Olubunmi Ademosu- Williams who is the LACO-FSIC director of empowerment and a former special adviser to the governor on multilateral & MDGs; Hon (Mrs) Wumi Olatunji Owohvorile, former member, Lagos State House of Assembly and former commissioner for women affairs in Ondo State, and Hon. Festus Aregbesola, the APC central senatorial chairman.
Council chairmen from Akure areas who attended the event are: Hon Sunday Kekereowo, Chairman, Akure West LCDA; Hon. Taiwo Kayode, Chairman, Akure East LCDA; Chief Tayo Fayanju, Chairman, Akure North LG, and Hon Kunle Ogunniyi, Chairman, Igba Otun LCDA.
The senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Senator Niyi Adegnonmire was represented by Engr Kola, while Hon. Derin Adesida, member, House of Representatives member representing Akure North/ South, was represented by his personal assitant, Mr Wale Akinseye, while Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, a.k.a Abena, the executive director,corporate affairs NDDC, was represented by Mr Kayode Abiodun, a.k.a Olukay.
The APC local government woman leader for Akure South, Mrs funke Daramola also led other ward women leaders, while while Mr Boje, chairman of chairmen of the LGs led his colleagues to the meeting.
The event, which attracted past council chairmen and councillors as well as party leaders, also had in attendance, Prince Dapo Adepoju, a former senior special assistant to the governor on youth matters, and Hon (Mrs) Toyin Akinmoyo, a former senior special assistant to the governor on women affairs, who is now Secretary, Oyemekun LCDA in Akure, among several other dignitaries.
(E-signed)
Kayode Fasua,
State Information Director,
LACO-FSIC.
