…says rumour of governor supporting PDP candidate is false, malicious
Poroye, other Ondo APC chiefs caution mischief makers ‘to stop fabricating lies against the governor’
By Sade Adewale & Kayode Olabanji
Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has not abandoned the All Progressives Congress or its candidate for the Ondo South Senatorial District, with party leaders dismissing reports that he is backing the Peoples Democratic Party candidate.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Engagement, Steve Bayode Otaloro, and the Executive Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Prince Olabiyi Olaleye Poroye, in separate reactions, reaffirmed Aiyedatiwa’s loyalty to the APC and warned against actions capable of creating division within the party.
Otaloro, in a statement, described reports that Aiyedatiwa had withdrawn support for the APC candidate, Dr. Isaacs Kekemeke, in favour of the PDP candidate, Matthew Oyerinmade, as false, mischievous and politically motivated.
He said it was inconceivable that Aiyedatiwa, as the leader of the APC in Ondo State, would support a candidate contesting against the party on another platform.
According to Otaloro, the governor had not authorised anyone to speak on his behalf in support of any opposition candidate and remained firmly committed to the APC and its candidates.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Aiyedatiwa remains firmly committed to the APC and its candidates. His political loyalty and responsibility as the leader of the party in Ondo State do not permit him to engage in any action that would undermine the party he leads,” he said.
Otaloro added that Kekemeke had also publicly dismissed reports of a disagreement between him and the governor, affirming that Aiyedatiwa supported his emergence as the party’s candidate and remained his supporter and party leader in the state.
He urged APC members and residents of the state to disregard the rumour, describing it as an attempt by political actors to create division between the governor and the party’s senatorial candidate.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa will not support any candidate against the party he leads,” Otaloro said.
Similarly, Poroye declared that Aiyedatiwa had never engaged in anti-party politics and warned politicians against using the governor’s name to pursue personal interests.
Poroye spoke during a series of engagements with APC local government executives, councillors, ward chairmen, secretaries and other stakeholders at the OSOPADEC Area Office, GRA, Igbokoda.
The meetings focused on party unity, reconciliation, grassroots mobilisation, political representation and equitable access to government opportunities.
Poroye, who has been saddled with reconciliation responsibilities within the party, urged members to put aside personal differences and place the collective interest of the APC above individual ambitions.
He said political disagreements should be resolved through dialogue, maturity and strategic engagement rather than confrontation.
“Politics is not love affairs. Politics is in the brain,” Poroye said, urging party members to approach political activities with strategy, ideology and careful planning.
The OSOPADEC chairman charged APC members to remain loyal to the Aiyedatiwa administration and desist from actions capable of undermining the government.
“Aiyedatiwa has never played anti-party politics. Don’t sabotage the Governor’s name,” he warned.
Poroye also urged elected representatives to remain connected to their constituents and ensure that government appointments, employment and empowerment opportunities were distributed across communities.
He called on party leaders to work collectively to ensure that Ondo State secured its fair share of federal appointments and other opportunities.
At the ward-level meeting, stakeholders raised concerns over the formal recognition and inauguration of ward secretaries.
Responding, Poroye said discussions were ongoing with relevant party leaders, stressing that strong grassroots structures were essential to effective political organisation, communication and mobilisation.
The OSOPADEC chairman also called for renewed reconciliation among party members, saying unity was necessary to strengthen the APC’s grassroots structure and electoral prospects.
On flooding and erosion affecting some Ilaje communities, Poroye disclosed that OSOPADEC had prepared a proposal for intervention by the state government.
He explained that temporary repairs would not provide lasting solutions, noting that sustainable intervention required proper technical assessment, surveying and mapping before major projects could be undertaken.
Poroye said the Commission was also planning to collaborate with the Ministry of Environment and local government authorities to map affected areas and develop appropriate drainage and channelisation systems.
On OSOPADEC projects, he said the Commission had adopted a policy of completing existing and abandoned projects before embarking on numerous new ones.
“We must complete what we have started and put existing projects to use rather than spread available resources across too many new projects,” he said.
Poroye further disclosed that OSOPADEC was working with companies and organisations to create employment opportunities for youths, while additional proposals had been submitted to expand existing empowerment programmes.
Defending the Commission’s investments in education, property and other productive ventures, he said the initiatives were part of a long-term strategy to strengthen OSOPADEC’s financial sustainability.
“Organisations that fail to save and invest responsibly may face financial difficulties in the future,” he warned.
The party leaders in Ilaje commended Poroye for his reconciliation efforts, accessibility and commitment to grassroots development.
The Leader of the Legislative Council for Ilaje Local Government, Francis Omosule Ikuemehinlo; APC Publicity Secretary, Agbeni Blessing; Chairman, Conference of APC Ward Chairmen, Adegbenro Ogbaro; and a representative of APC councillors, Egbaletiwon Emmanuel, praised his leadership and commitment to grassroots development.
The ward secretaries, represented by Oloruntimilehin Suji, appealed for their speedy inauguration and formal recognition.
Otaloro, meanwhile, maintained that Aiyedatiwa remained committed to strengthening the APC in Ondo State and supporting candidates fielded by the party.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa will not support any candidate against the party he leads,” he said.