Aiyedatiwa Advised to Put Political Ambitions on Hold Amid Certificate Scrutiny

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Concerned APC Group in Ondo State has advised Governor Aiyedatiwa to reconsider his ambition, emphasizing that the ongoing certificate issue could bring unwanted attention to the party if he pursues the ticket.

The group, Concerned Ondo APC Youths in a statement on Sunday called on Aiyedatiwa not to allow a repeat of what happened to the party in Bayelsa, repeat itself, as issues bordering on certificate are inimical to the success of the party at the November poll.

Signed by its coordinator, Alhaji Rasak Olufemi, the group said, “We are deeply concerned by what is happening. On one hand, we are not happy that Governor Aiyedatiwa is doing everything to get the party’s ticket due to the certificate issue. As the sitting governor, he has enormous power and the weight to pull the strings but we don’t want him to jeopardise the chances of our party.

“Why is the party proposing to field a candidate who has qualification issues as grave as forgery and perjury?

“We have it on good authority that Governor Aiyedatiwa has already spent about $3.5 million to curry political favours and silence opponents before the April 20, 2024, APC primaries.

“The several lawmakers gravitating towards him, the endorsements from several party groups and elders and the Ondo APC Aborigines, led by a former ambassador to Togo, Sola Iji, got massive inducements in dollars to do so,” he added.

“What has happened to decency and integrity? When would the APC avoid controversy and stop flirting with questionable characters? Why would the party’s hierarchy want to jeopardize our chances of retaining Ondo State?”

The Concerned APC Youth, however, called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the party’s national leadership put sentiments aside in choosing the APC flagbearer for the April 25, 2024, APC primaries.

The group alleged that the Governor had “reached out” to the national working committee (NWC) of APC ahead of the primary.

“The only saving grace now, is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because even the NWC has been compromised by the Governor, who is desperate to be party candidate without looking at the general picture as, APC will definitely, lose the state to opposition is Aiyedatiwa is made the candidate ” the group insisted.

Efforts to reach Governor Aiyedatiwa or his media aides proved abortive at the time of this report.