Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa: The APC Clean Choice in Ondo State by Prof. Henri Oripeloye

The people of Ondo State will be going to the poll this Saturday to elect their governor for another four years. Among the gladiators in the electoral bid is Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa who took over the mantle of leadership in the state after the demise of Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (Aketi) in 2023. 

It was a tough struggle for Aiyedatiwa to assume the office of the governor of the state. Many political allies of the former governor went on a pull him down spree but Aiyedatiwa was focused on his assignment in the state. 

His resilience could be compared to that of Nelson Mandela who in the face of colonial oppression refused to give up. As the deputy governor to late Akeredolu, he was loyal to the extent that mischief makers could not fathom the level of their relationship. 

It was when the late governor became ill that they unleashed their fangs on Aiyedatiwa spilling lies upon lies to discredit him in order to pave way for their cronies to become the governor of the state. 

They even fought the Nigerian constitution on what becomes of a state when the governor is terminally ill! At the end of the day, Aiyedatiwa became the governor of the state to the surprise of his political opponents. 

He showed confidence of character in the face of pervading attacks on his person, a quality that revealed his in-depth understanding of political maneuverings in Ondo state.

As the governor, many people were expecting him to pay back his detractors in their own coins, rather than doing this, the governor embraced everyone willing to work with him despite their earlier shenanigans during what could be regarded as his political dark spot. He runs an open door policy where each person in the administration of the state has a say in government policies. 

His articulation of the diverse interests in the state whenever and wherever he is able to do this shows a man who truly is in the saddle of governance in Ondo state. Quite interesting but unusual is the way he continues with his predecessor’s programmes in uplifting the state in terms of social developments. 

Here is a governor that knows the meaning of continuity in governance and he is working assiduously in the promotion of ideal life for the people of the state. 

For instance, the Amotekun Security outfit is the brainchild of late Rotimi Akeredolu who saw the need for improving on the security of southwestern states, Aiyedatiwa has consistently be in support of the outfit for improved security and maintenance of peace across the towns and villages in Ondo state through finance and other necessary supports. 

In the areas of health, education, transport, roads and other infrastructures, Governor Aiyedatiwa has made his mark within the one year he has spent as the governor of the state.

It is therefore not a surprise that during the campaign for the November 16th 2024 governorship election in across Ondo state, it has been rousing welcome from all the towns in the state for the people’s governor. 

This is a testament of his acceptance to continue his good work in the state for the next four years. More than this, the acceptance of Aiyedatiwa is a mark of his political brinksmanship which has enabled him to draw majority of political bigwigs in the state to the All Progressive Congress (APC), a party on whose ticket he runs for the election on Saturday. 

Governor Aiyedatiwa has also embraced all the co-contestants with him in the APC primary and even the opposition parties have yielded significant members to his camp in support of continuity.

The choice of Governor Aiyedatiwa during the primary election points to one direction: the people of Ondo state had made a clean choice about the person who will govern the state for another four years. 

In terms of personality, Aiyedatiwa is quiet but serious, very resilient in pursuant of success, unequivocal about his desire to move Ondo State forward, strong in perception of people’s needs, transparent in handling the resources of the state, responsive to people’s yearnings and possesses a strong vision while strategizing for the future of the state. 

His passion and empathy would galvanise the needed impetus that will make Ondo state a place where the people live and make meanings out of their individual endeavours.