Olusola Oke, SAN, one of Ondo State’s prominent governorship hopefuls in the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated on Monday that it was his turn to become governor of the state.
However, he tasked the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and State Working Committee (SWC) to hold a free, fair, credible, and transparent election.
The APC primary in the state is scheduled for April 25, while the governorship election is planned to take place November 16.
Oke, a two-time governorship candidate in the coastal state, charged the party leadership to guard against any negative trend that could tarnish the exercise’s image, peace, and transparency.
The APC chieftain, who represented the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in 1992, expressed confidence in his chances of winning the battle, stating that all political indicators pointed to him being the party’s candidate for the job.
The former Chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), said:
“I have come here today to notify you of my intention to throw in my cap again into the contest for the governorship seat of Ondo State on the platform of APC.
“However, Mr Chairman, leaders of our great party, I want to plead that you should conduct a free fair and transparent primary.”
The former commissioner, who represented Ondo State on the Governing Board of NDDC, said it was his turn to be the governor of the coastal state, stressing that his candidature would cripple opposition parties, boasting that all the political parties in the state would support him and the return would be very massive.
“I’ve contested for this position for three times, I lost like Buhari and the fourth time is my turn. Recall that three of us rose at the same time in this state. Mimiko, Akeredolu and I. The three of us are from three different senatorial districts.
“Mimiko took his turn from the central, late Akeredolu took his turn from the North. I am told and I’m glad that the ticket is shifting to the south, so who’s turn is next? It is my turn! I am the only one that can say that, nobody else can say that!!
“There are three ways you know a politician, it is either you’ve been a lawmaker, you’ve been a party administrator or you’ve occupied executive position.
“I have occupied the three. I was once a lawmaker and was a party administrator. In the choice of my career, ranging for over 35 years in politics, I’ve gathered experience.
“Because I’ve been a party administrator, I will know how to manage party members as a governor. Because I’ve been a lawmaker, I will know how to manage lawmakers in the state and because I’ve occupied executive positions, I will hit the ground running immediately I’m elected.”