• Aiyedatiwa: There is nothing to fear
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Ahead of the April 20 Ondo State gubernatorial primary election, a front line governorship aspirant, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, has said that contrary to rumours making the rounds, President Bola Tinubu has not anointed any of the aspirants contesting for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ibrahim disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja after submitting his nomination and expression of interest forms at the party secretariat.
He noted that he was the most qualified candidate for the coveted position, adding that he has nine certificate from nine different universities and none of the certificate is missing.
The lawmaker also stressed that he has no agreement with Olusola Oke to step down his governorship ambition.
Ibrahim stated: “The Presidency did not endorse anybody. How can you endorse somebody? Politics is about democracy, democracy is about numbers. Somebody sitting down to endorse you is military. It can’t be possible. You can never get into this office by endorsement. Was Asiwaju endorsed by Buhari? When we did the primary…at the end of the day, Asiwaju won the election without any endorsement from anybody.”
He stressed that he has resolved to pay the sum of N140 million for 100,000 supporters for the renewal of their membership of the party ahead of the primary.
Ibrahim added: “As I am leaving here, although the banks have already closed, by Monday I am paying N140 million to the party for 100,000 people for the update of membership forms.”
When asked if he was threatened by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, he categorically stated that the governor was not a threat to him.
His words: “When Aketi was alive, politically, he give my own to me before he went out in the morning. Is it Aiyedatiwa that I will be threatened? Aiyedatiwa is my friend, I have nothing against him, just that he should do his one year and return home.”
The governorship hopeful said he would fortify Amotekun, through the use of technology to dislodge criminals in the state.
Also, the governor of the state, Aiyedatiwa, said he decided to throw his hat in the ring following the call from the people of the state for him to continue.
He stated this while addressing newsmen at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja after submitting his forms.
Asked about his fears, he noted that there was nothing to fear, as he was contesting due to the call from the people of the state.
The governor said he had cleared all the backlog of salaries of civil servants and also recruited 2,000 teachers in the state.
