Ondo gov: Jimoh Ibrahim to contest in PDP

Contrary to earlier impression that he will use the platform of Accord to contest the governorship of Ondo State, chairman of Global Fleet Group, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, will run for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr Ibrahim, it was gathered, had approached former President Olusegun Obasanjo to prevail on a former governor of Oyo State and national leader of Accord, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, to allow him run on Accord ticket.

However, in a text message sent to his associates and friends, a copy of which Sunday Tribune got, Ibrahim indicated to run on the platform of the PDP.

He said he would join the race “in a strategic move”, hoping that his efforts and those of others would bring peace to the state chapter of the party.

“In a few weeks from today, I will be joining the race for Ondo State governorship in a strategic move. It is my hope that our collective efforts will bring that much peace we are looking for in our party and also in our great state.

“I will be running on the platform of our great party, PDP. Thanks for your support,” he said in the terse message.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Renaissance Forum (ORF), a group of professionals and academics from Ondo South Senatorial District, has declared support for the business tycoon.

The Secretary-General of the group, Mr Olufemi Aduwo, said ORF welcomed Ibrahim’s participation in the governorship race, adding that doing so would address the injustice done to the South district.

ORF, Aduwo said, would resist any attempt by “self-acclaimed godfathers” to impose any candidate from either of the remaining two districts, promising to disgrace such godfathers ta the polls.

“We are aggressively mobilising Jimoh Ibrahim who is from our district to ensure he becomes the next governor of Ondo State.”

“The governorship of the state had gone round all the three districts at one time or the other and it is now the turn of Ondo South,” Aduwo said.