One of the leading governorship aspirants in Ondo State in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olusola Oke, SAN, on Monday, said it was his turn to become governor of the state.
He however, tasked the National Working Committee (NWC) and State Working Committee (SWC) of the party to conduct a free, fair, credible and transparent election.
The APC primary in the state had been slated for April 25 while the governorship election is expected to hold on November 16.
Oke, a two-time governorship candidate in the coastal State while officially declaring his intention to contest the race at the party secretariat in Akure, charged the party leadership to guide against any negative tendency that could mar the image, peaceful and transparent conduct of the exercise.
The APC chieftain, who represented Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in 1992 said he was hopeful of emerging victorious in the contest, noting that all political indices favoured his emergence as the party’s candidate for the position.
The former Chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), said: “I have come here today to notify you of my intention to throw in my cap again into the contest for the governorship seat of Ondo State on the platform of APC.
“However, Mr Chairman, leaders of our great party, I want to plead that you should conduct a free fair and transparent primary.”
The former commissioner, who represented Ondo State on the Governing Board of NDDC, said it was his turn to be the governor of the coastal state, stressing that his candidature would cripple opposition parties, boasting that all the political parties in the state would support him and the return would be very massive.
“I’ve contested for this position for three times, I lost like Buhari and the fourth time is my turn. Recall that three of us rose at the same time in this state. Mimiko, Akeredolu and I. The three of us are from three different senatorial districts.
“Mimiko took his turn from the central, late Akeredolu took his turn from the North. I am told and I’m glad that the ticket is shifting to the south, so who’s turn is next? It is my turn! I am the only one that can say that, nobody else can say that!!
“There are three ways you know a politician, it is either you’ve been a lawmaker, you’ve been a party administrator or you’ve occupied executive position.
“I have occupied the three. I was once a lawmaker and was a party administrator. In the choice of my career, ranging for over 35 years in politics, I’ve gathered experience.
“Because I’ve been a party administrator, I will know how to manage party members as a governor. Because I’ve been a lawmaker, I will know how to manage lawmakers in the state and because I’ve occupied executive positions, I will hit the ground running immediately I’m elected.”
Fidelis David
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