Oke tackles Aiyedatiwa over “no vacancy” comment 

Oke tackles Aiyedatiwa over “no vacancy” comment 

Joel Oladele, Abuja

One of the leading aspirants in the forthcoming All Progressives Congress, (APC’s) governorship primary election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, has berated the incumbent governor of the State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for declaring “no vacancy” in the State’s government house.

NATIONAL PERISCOPE had reported that Aiyedatiwa, while addressing journalists at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja said although other aspirants are qualified to join the race, there is no vacancy for now as he has the structure, people’s support and competence working in his favor.

Reacting to the governor’s claim, Oke said such statement is an aphorism by most incumbent governors who intend to recontest, adding that it is meant to undermine democratic process.

His words: “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 guts to say there is no vacancy?”

Speaking further, Oke said he has no intention to unseat the governor before the expiration of his tenure, however, by next February, another person will take over from him and that he (Oke), is the one.

 “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,” Oke said.

Rating the screening committee put in place by APC leadership for the exercise, Oke said they have done well and he’s satisfied with their performance.

“They are gentlemen and a woman that are there. They have done their job the way they ought to do it. I had no reason to anticipate even before the screening that anything would come up. I’m a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I have no certificates issue, their own is just merely to confirm what we have claimed. 

“I’ve been a member of the National Assembly, they won’t deny me that. I’ve been a National officer of a political party, they will not dispute that. So everything that I’ve given in my forms is  true to the facts. And so I know no screening committee can disqualify that, in the first place, but they’ve done their job thoroughly diligently and I like that.”