The foremost aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, are engaged in a war of wits over the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Ondo State on Wednesday.
The aspirants accused Aiyedatiwa of preventing the aspirants and party leadership from receiving the president during his visit to the state.
Speaking on behalf of others, the former finance commissioner and governorship aspirant, Wale Akinterinwa, said the governor deliberately sidelined other leaders and aspirants of the party to receive the Tinubu
Akinterinwa, in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Wale Akinterinwa (WA) Campaign Structure, Segun Ajiboye, in Akure, said the aspirants were aware of plans by certain elements acting for and on behalf of the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“This is to prevent members of our party and leaders who are not in his camp from receiving Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in Akure.”
Ajiboye, who said that all the aspirants rejected the dictatorial order by the governor, said, “This to us is the most undemocratic, disrespectful, unreasonable, and disdainful attempt by any chief executive in the history of democracy in Nigeria.
“Ordinarily, we would not have responded, but based on the intelligent report at our disposal that he and his supporters have perfected plans to unleash mayhem on our people both at Owo and Akure, it is necessary for us to bring this to the attention of peace-loving Nigerians.
“The directive that no supporter or aspirant should come to the airport to welcome Mr President, who is on a private visit and not on a state visit, is a directive from ignorant minds in Alagbaka.
“It is a tradition that whenever the President visits any state, members of his party offer him their love and support by welcoming him in their droves. It does not matter whether it is election year or not.
“We reject affirmatively the directive that neither our leader, Wale Akinterinwa, nor his supporters should come near the airport to welcome Mr President.
“We further reject the assertion that the governor is in charge of the president’s safety in Ondo State during this visit.
“It must also be put on record that the airport is under federal law supretended by FAAN. So, Mr Governor cannot give any order or lay claim to any powers he does not possess.
“The attempt by Ayedatiwa and his henchmen to prevent, intimidate, harass, or threaten our supporters and party men will not work and will not be tolerated.
“For us in WA, we are already mobilised and ready to show solidarity, love, and support to our leader, mentor, and Commander in Chief both at Owo and Akure.
“We state without any ambiguity that the WA phenomenon will be focused and consistent in our pursuit of our goals towards Alagbaka in 2024. The momentum of our campaign will remain steady, peaceful, and consistent.
“Let it be known that the WA team is already on the ground to show the affinity we have for Mr President.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, said that the President’s visit is a state affair and not a political or campaign one.
Adeniyan added that only government officials and those accredited by the government will have the opportunity to receive the president at the airport, not a campaign crowd.
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