Bickering over late Rotimi Akeredolu’s endorsed candidate for governorship election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is getting a better attention than what the party will do differently in the next dispensation. The development smirks of the old penchant for godfatherism among desperate politicians, ADEWALE MOMOH reports.

As the governorship primary of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is drawing nearer, no fewer than 10 aspirants are in a battle of wit to outsmart one another to clinch the ticket.

While four of the governorship hopefuls are claiming to have been endorsed for the prime job by the late governor of the state, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, whose remains was buried at his home town, Owo in Ondo State at the weekend, others disagreed and described the endorsement claims as “political scheming to attract undue advantage, which will not work.”

Leading the pack of those claiming to have been anointed by Akeredolu to fly the party’s flag at November 16 governorship election is the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Others are former Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa; former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Oladuni Odu; and Gbenga Oedema, who was the immediate past representative of the state on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

However, immediate past Special Adviser on Health and ex-President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Dayo Faduyile; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Mayowa Akinfolarin, Chief Olusola Oke, Diran Iyantan, Paul Akintelure and Olamide Ohunyeye are insisting that the late governor did not endorse anybody in his life time.

Faduyile said: “I am saying this emphatically based on the kind of person our Arakunrin Akeredolu was; frank, resolute and never biased. Oftentimes, he would tell all the intending aspirants without mincing words that he did not have a candidate in the election. Akeredolu would always bear it to all of us that he would ensure a level playing ground for everyone jostling to get the ruling party’s ticket for the poll.”

However, supporters of the incumbent governor are already in town, reminding party members of the public statement Akeredolu made during his inauguration ceremony for his second term in office with Aiyedatiwa, where they said, the late governor had tactically endorsed Aiyedatiwa to succeed him in office.

The former governor had said, “The name we give our children or the name we bear at times matters a lot. You (Aiyedatiwa) have been loyal and consistent. You are worthy of this position (deputy governor), and I want to thank you for being considered to complete this journey with us.

“I have a maximum of four years; maybe you can proceed from there. It is for me now to come down and for you to grow. I must come down for him to grow. I have done my little bit; I must congratulate you.”

For many political observers, the problem with Aiyedatiwa began with that statement, which unsettled some politicians who have been nursing ambition of succeeding the late governor.

And the opportunity to scuttle that plan came when Akeredolu became indisposed and was flown to Germany to seek medical attention. They threw spanners into their relationship and Akeredolu began to doubt Aiyedatiwa’s loyalty. Even when Akeredolu had become a vegetable and could barely speak or recognise anybody, he was said to have called for the impeachment of the then deputy government. For providence and intervention of the national leadership of the party, led by President Bola Tinubu, Aiyedatiwa couldn’t have survived the plot to sack him from office.

Aiyedatiwa disclosed that Akeredolu always considered him to be a worthy successor, stressing that it was the late governor’s wish that he (Aiyedatiwa) emerged the next governor.

According to him, “I am proud to say I am a part of Akeredolu’s legacies. It has been his wish that I succeed him. He said it on the day of our inauguration. During our Exco meetings, he repeated it several times. I would have preferred he stayed back and watched me govern the state. I know he will be proud of me. I trained under Akeredolu.”

Governor Aiyedatiwa disclosed that the truth about the recent political imbroglio would soon be made public, saying that he and Akeredolu were best of friends but some persons pushed false narratives against him.

For Akinterinwa, who is also claiming that he was anointed by Akeredolu to succeed him before his death, said he is the best person to continue with Akeredolu’s projects.

The former Commissioner for Finance in the state has been telling party members that he discussed his ambition with Akeredolu when he came back from Germany for medical treatment and he did not raise any objection to it.

He said the late Akeredolu indeed encouraged him to put his hat into the ring.

Akinterinwa said: “Former Governor Akeredolu had a discussion with me, and he told me he would want me to take over from him. I didn’t take particular notice of the date he discussed with me, but it happened immediately when he came back from his trip to Germany. He prayed for me, and I am aware he told some people about his desire.”

Oke, who described himself as a party man, stated that before the demise of Akeredolu, he had informed him and Aiyedatiwa of his desire to contest for the election.

According to Oke, who ruled out the possibility of the party adopting the consensus option, “I know that what I’m doing to secure the confidence of the leaders is putting my virtues on their table, and I am aware of the fact that if I were given the party ticket today, there would not be opposition parties in Ondo State.

“And I want to believe that I know President Tinubu is one man who will never sit down in the comfort of his office or private room to force a candidate or an aspirant on the party. He will consider acceptability, popularity, capacity, and other factors to make the party win and excel in governance.

“Before Akeredolu travelled out, I met him in Ibadan to brief him about my aspiration and desire to succeed him, and when I came back to the state, I went straight to Aiyedatiwa to brief him too that I would be running for the position of governor, and he told me that it didn’t come to him as a breaking news, that he knew that I had been on this, and that I was very serious about it. But he (Aiyedatiwa) has not briefed me about his own ambition.”

While stressing that he remains the best among the aspirants to continue with the legacies of Akeredolu, Oedema stated that he also informed the deceased former governor over his ambition.

He said: “I have informed him (late Akeredolu) of my desire to run, and he did not oppose it. I consider myself the best man who will carry on Akeredolu’s legacy to the next level because we have shared all these legacies before.’

Faduyile, who advised the leadership of the party to adopt a direct mode of primaries, emphasised that his qualifications and dedication to public service will serve as factors that will set him apart from his competitors.

He said, “I will emerge as the candidate in whichever mode of primary adopted by the leadership of the party. We are resolute, and I shall get there by the grace of God. I contested in 2020 against the incumbent. So, it is not a new thing for me to contest against an incumbent.

“There are three options to elect a candidate. It can be consensus, direct, or indirect. I have seen cases in which consensus has been reached. I have heard where indirect primary has been used. In my view, the best approach is direct primary. I would have preferred that, but the leadership of the party can choose to adopt any mode. Any decision is acceptable to me.”

Akinfolarin, who represented Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, vowed to reconfigure Ondo State if he emerged as governor of the state.

He said, “I want to offer myself now to be the governor in order to serve the good people of Ondo State, and with what Mr. President is doing in this country, we need someone that will compliment his efforts here in Ondo State.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu is to make Nigeria great and reclaim her position in the community of nations. Under this agenda, Ondo State must not be left out, and I am the right person to make this happen. I’m properly prepared for this job; in fact, I’m the most suitable for the job.”

On his part, Ohunyeye, who retired as Brigadier General, disclosed that “as a party-loyalist who believes in party structure and hierarchy, it is not in my place to determine what mode of primary would be accepted.