Ondo state governor and one of the aspirants for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has insisted that he remains the candidate to beat in the November off-season election in the state.
Governor Aiyedatiwa made the declaration on Friday shortly after he was cleared for the April 20 party primary by the seven-man screening team led by a former Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Joshua Lidani.
He told newsmen that allegations surrounding his West African School Certificate have been clarified before the screening ommittee which certified him eligible for the race.
He said, “Screening is one of the exercises that has to be done among the processes that the aspirants have to go through. Mine has just been done this morning and all documents that were submitted have been verified and questions asked where some are not too clear to the screening committee. Questions were asked and answered and at the end of the day, I have been cleared that there are no issues.
“Especially the issue that has to do with the certificate that a petition was written. Today that has been put to rest. My certificates are genuine and authentic. I think it is just a kind of mischief by some other aspirants who find me to be an aspirant to beat trying to look for a way to discredit my person but that has been verified and put to rest.”
He maintained that he would win the party primary given his performance since assumption of office and commitment to peace in the Ondo State chapter of the APC.
“You see, we are all indigenes of Ondo state and we are all qualified to run to be the Governor of Ondo state but there is a sitting Governor. That’s what I am saying that I have the structures; the people and the competence. Within the few months that I assumed office, they have seen clearly that this is the best man for the job.
“Yes, because of the peace in the state and some of the programmes that have been rolled out to the people. In fact, like I said the other time, my coming out to continue as Governor of Ondo state wasn’t borne out of my own ambition or desire but because of the yearnings and aspirations of the people; the endorsement of the traditional rulers, the students, artisans, everybody; the community leaders, even the civil servants, everybody is happy with the current state (of affairs); peace and security for the people and they are going about their businesses without fear.”
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
