Ondo: Pick your deputy from Owo, Akeredolu’s kinsmen tells Gov Aiyedatiwa

Indigenes of the Owo village in Ondo State’s Owo Local Government Area, where the late ex-Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was born, have urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to appoint his deputy from the community.

The indigenes, who work under the auspices of a socio-cultural organization called the Imade Development Association, IDA, said the gesture honors Aiyedatiwa’s late boss.

The group claims that selecting an Owo deputy will compensate for the premature death of their prominent son, Akeredolu, who died a few days ago in Germany after a protracted fight with prostate cancer.

The group, which expressed sympathy over Akeredolu’s death, claimed that if the request is ignored, the state’s polarization along ethnic and political lines may worsen.

During a news conference, IDA Chairman Segun Ogunbadeniyi, Secretary Femi Fadaisi, and Publicity Secretary Julius Adesola reiterated that the community will not rest until Aiyedatiwa appoints an Owo man as his deputy.

Ogunbadeniyi, who read the communiqué on behalf of the organization, emphasized that with the death of Akeredolu, who was born in Owo, it is critical to protect the town’s interests and aspirations.

“In our opinion, the joint ticket that expires in February 2025 is Owo/Ilaje. We do not understand any calculations outside of it.

“Whoever picks the ticket of the APC or PDP next year can therefore decide which zone to produce the Deputy Governor.

“Any attempt to erase Owo from the calculation until February 2025 by Aiyedatiwa, in our opinion, is unfair, not equitable, and can cause division in body politics,” he said.

The group maintained that there are prominent Owo indigenes that are capable of being deputy governors.

The names reeled out that should be considered for the position include Hon. Niran-Sule Akinsuyi, who the group said was in the trenches with Akeredolu during the 2016 elections; the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly; Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi; Mr. Zach Adetula; and Chief Jamiu Ekungba.

“Picking from this list will be a fair deal for all stakeholders. The current situation is a joint ticket between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, which they assiduously worked for,” he added.