Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Friday opened up on insinuations about his West African Senior Certificate Examination (WASCE), describing it as genuine, authentic and verifiable.
He was reacting to a petition purportedly written by a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gbenga Edema to the leadership of the APC over allegations that the WASCE being presented by Ayedatiwa to contest for the April 20 primary election is not from Ikosi High School, Lagos as he claimed.
But speaking with journalists after being screened at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, the Governor clarified that he was cleared by the party.
Aiyetadiwa described the allegation raised about his certificate as mischief by other envious aspirants.
According to him, when Ikosi High School was established in 1980, he was already in Form ‘3’ in a private school which joined it with the students, hence he graduated there in 1982 and 1985 as argued by his detractors.
He said, “It is on record that the school was established in 1980 and at that time I was already in Form ‘3’ in a private school, New Nation is in Ikosi while Royal Comprehensive High School is in Ajegunle, Ikorodu, very close to Ketu.
“So all of us were moved both New Nation and Royal Comprehensive High School and some other schools that were affected by flood. We were all moved into Ikosi High School, Ketu that was built by the government and that was how we wrote our WASCE in 1982 because we were in the first set.
“I was in Form ‘3’ at the time, it used to be five years not now that you have six years for secondary school. So the question the petitioner should answer is how can a school be established in 1980 and we have a first set in 1982 that the first set supposed to be in 1985. But he didn’t take time to look at the history.
“So investigation has been conducted, the schools are still there, WAEC office is there where you can actually verify the subjects that I took and the year that I graduated and the school. It is clear to every body that my certificate is authentic and I actually graduated from that school in 1982.”
Aiyedatiwa declared that there was no vacancy in the Ondo State Government House as he remains the aspirant to beat but told the other contenders to focus on their campaigns.
“I should just advise them to repent and try to go to the field and work. If they are interested in the seat and the seat is not vacant, that is why they’re trying to do all that they are doing”, the Governor emphasized.
Meanwhile, addressing journalists after his screening, Edema insisted that he did not write a petition against the Governor but sent an ‘Advisory’ to the APC to avert impending danger should he emerge the party’s candidate.
“I did not write a petition against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. I wrote an Advisory to the leadership of the APC, about the possible outcome of fielding somebody who has a challenged certificate. And I’m inspired by the book of Ezekiel chapter 33 from Verse 1 – 7.
“So that I will not run foul of God’s law. So I have done my own as a watchman, let the party take its own position. That’s is the word of God. It’s not everything that is about contest, the party will intervene and I’m bound by the decision of the APC. So when the party intends to intervene, they should be guided,” he said.
On the other hand, another governorship aspirant and Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim described Governor Aiyedatiwa as a joker for declaring that there is no vacancy in Ondo State Government House.
Ibrahim who spoke with journalists after his screening at the APC national secretariat said the Governor has never won an election as he contested for the House of Representatives and did not win one Local Government.
He said: “The governor is joking, big joke, huge joke he is cracking with you. He is out of that place. By the time we finish primary next week, he is gone and there is nothing virtually he can do about it.
“I don’t normally go against people; to me, clear everybody, let them go for primary, let the electorate determine. I have won election as Senator, I won in six of the six Local Government Areas, 65 of the 66 wards, 111,677 votes against Agboola Ajayi’s 60,000 votes.
“This governor has never won an election, he contested for the House of Representatives, he didn’t win one Local Government, just two Local Governments, he could even win one. He was a pair to Aketi (late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu), we didn’t vote for him, we voted for Aketi. But I can assure you, the Governor is a huge joker.”
Speaking in the same vein after being screened, another governorship aspirant and former National Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olusola Oke (SAN), said Aiyedatiwa’s comments were undemocratic and reckless.
He said, “It’s an aphorism, from all incumbent persons, I heard this one in Lagos when Ambode was there. Ambode said “No Vacancy”, he had to leave when he needed to leave. It’s a statement of wish and desire by the Governor and it’s a statement that is intended to undermine a democratic exercise.
“If we are going to primaries and the people will have to determine, how would anybody have the gut to say there is no vacancy? There is no vacancy between now and February next year, no doubt, but after February, his one year term will be exhausted and then there’ll be a vacancy.
“I don’t intend to take over from him before the expiration of his one year in office. So, the essence of this exercise is that there will be vacancy after one year term, and that he or somebody else will occupy the seat. Having regard to my wide contact with the people, I believe that I’m succeeding him.”
The APC on Friday commenced the screening of the 16 governorship aspirants that obtained its N50 million worth Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.
At the close of sales week the aspirants obtained the forms.
They are Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Funmilayo Adekojo, Funke Omogoroye Folakemi Judith, Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, Okunjimi Odimayo John, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho; the APC National Vice Chairman (South-West), Duerimini Isaacs Kekemeke and Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan.
Others include Akinfolarin Mayowa Samuel, Adewale Okumuyiwa Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema, Olusola Alexander Oke, SAN, Prof. Adedayo Faduyile, Retired Brigadier-General Felix Olamide Ohunyeye; former Ondo Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa and Ifeoluwa Olusola Oyedele.
Friday Olokor, Abuja
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