Ahead of next year governorship election in Ondo State, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2016 governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede, has begun underground consultations and grassroots mobilisation.
Jegede who indicated his interest to contest the governorship seat of Ondo state in 2020, made the disclosure at a consultative meeting with members of the party at Idanre Local Government Area of the state.
While speaking, the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, said the meeting became necessary to consult and seek the support of the party leaders and members ahead of the governorship election
According to him, the consultative meetings would include meetings with party members across the wards and the 18 local government areas in the state.
He commended the leaders and members of the party for their unflinching support during the 2016 governorship election in the state and the last National Assembly and Presidential election which gave the PDP two senators and House of Representatives members in the state.
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He called for unity among members and the need to remain one united family ahead of the election, saying this is the only way that could ensure victory for the party in the next year governorship election.
Jegede said “I am here to thank you for the support you gave me during the 2016 governorship election. I see myself as somebody who is ready to serve. I contested the last gubernatorial election and we knew the result, the following day we went to church to thank God for how far He had helped us. Now, I consulted God Almighty again, I asked if I should go forward on this project, He answered me that I should go ahead.
“I am asking you whether to go ahead or not? This is not the time for the campaign. We will surely come back when the time comes. I seek your support for our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and appreciate you for all your efforts both during the 2016 governorship election and the last general elections. ”
Speaking on behalf of the leaders in Idanre local government, former Chief of Staff to Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Dr Kola Ademujimi, noted that people are suffering in the state under the present administration
He said the people of the state believe in Jegede, have found love with the PDP and would loyally follow the direction of their political leaders’ decision on who to support in the next governorship election in the state.
He stated that things are not the same again since the exit of the PDP led government in the state and urged members to remain loyal to the party ahead of the coming election.
Meanwhile, a pressure group within the PDP, Equity For All Movement (EFAM) has called on Jegede to shelve his governorship ambition, saying there are dire consequences awaiting the party in the state if the party does not consider the South senatorial district for the governorship ticket of the party.
The group who described the governorship ambition of Jegede as an insensitive one, called the party to zone the governorship slot to the southern senatorial district of the state, anchoring their argument on the principle of fair and equitable distribution and rotation of power.
The group in a statement issued in Akure, the Ondo State capital and signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Omotuyole Edamisan Agbede on Tuesday, said that the PDP governorship ticket should be zoned to the south.
The group said in the statement, “while we do not have anything against Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as a person, we consider his aspiration for the governorship of the state as an insensitive one that can cost our party it’s much-awaited march to Government House, Alagbaka-Akure.
“We all know that Olusegun Mimiko from the central spent eight years as governor. The only reason Jegede failed was that he imposed another person from central on us.
” It then means that if we allow Jegede to run as our governorship candidate in 2020, the South will be left in the coolers for another eight years because he will intend to spend two terms.
“This is not a threat but a warning, an early warning signal that unless the proper thing is done, dangers lie ahead of the PDP with any wrong decision. We have capable hands who can be governor. Akure Division is part and parcel of the central. All we are saying is that the leadership of the party should zone the governorship of our great party to the south”
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