Why i will stand with Akeredolu on Akure for Minister, By Yemi Akintomide
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Few weeks after his returned from Thailand with the controversial 50billion dollar revenue generating business proposal for Ondo State to use it arable land for cultivation of medicinal cannabis under the strict watch of the state government, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, the state governor had stirred another honey nest again, this time on whose turn is to fill the state ministerial slot in the yet-to-be constituted Federal Executive Council for the second and final term of President Mohammad Buhari led Federal Government.
The political missile been thrown by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) directly hit and exploded on the face of the city that has been playing host to the number one citizens of the state since creation of Ondo State in February 1976, but has been so unlucky to have it own son or daughter accupied the hilltop Alagbaka Government House as Governor.
This will explain the heavy impact of the July 1, 2019 statement of Governor Akeredolu on the visibly angered section of the political class of Akure extraction when he bluntly told some prominent indigenes of Akure geopolitical zone present at a reception held in honour of the immediate past Senator in the Ondo Central Senatorial District, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura that it was not yet their turn to produce governor of the state, thereby, urging the people of Akure to wait pending when it would come to thier turn to produce the governor for the state.
But, Akeredolu didn’t not leave the power hungry Akure people without an alternative menu before the main meal is ready, he willingly and happily offered the Akures an ample opportunity to produce a Minister that would represent the state at the Federal Executive Council when President Muhammadu Buhari would inaugurate his cabinet that will work with him for next four years.
Though, the Akure zone, comprises on Akure South, Akure North and Ifedore council areas, had not produced any elective Governor or Minister since the return of democracy in 1999 despite the fact the zone hosted the state capital just it had also not produced elected Governor since the creation of the state since 1976, but the current political arrangement on ground in the place do not favour the zone, especially when it comes to whose turn to produce Akeredolu successor.
This is the very point am coming in agreement with the sitting Governor who hails from Owo, a town at the Northern end of the state, and constitutionally, still has another term of four years to go, and from all indications, he won’t want to blow up the bright chance, most especially when his predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko who reigned for two terms of eight years actually hail from same Central Senatorial District with Akure.
But has expected, the governor pronouncement has been greeted with spontaneous reactions from different quarters. Leading the pack is the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, questioning the right of Governor Akeredolu to disqualified the Akure sub-ethnic unit in Ondo state from seeking the mandate of the people to lead the state in 2021, stressing that the party “find it a putrid and highly condemnable comment by the governor and an attempt to pitch the people against each other for electoral gain.”
In a Press statement hurriedly fired back in reply to the Governor’s comment by PDP state director of Publicity, Zadok Akintoye, the party said: “We must as a matter of urgency, educate the governor on his role as a democratically elected leader of the state, which includes seeking to unite the people of this state in a way and manner as to engender unity. His comment, which alluded to a phantom opportunity of a ministerial appointment for the Akure people, remains undemocratic, uneducated and unfair to the people. The promotion of interethnic disharmony and discord by the APC for political gain remains a dangerous precedent that must be condemned by all.
“Our party believes it is within the right of every indigene of Ondo state to aspire and, if the people so decide, become a governor. It is not the duty of any self-imposed anti democratic leader to undermine the the right of the people. As a party, the PDP will provide a level playing field for its members across the three senatorial districts who may wish to succeed the failing and poorly performing government of APC in the state.”
The party sound a note of warning to Givernor Akeredolu and his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to keep in mind the fact that interethnic disharmony that he seeks to profit from with his unguarded and subliminally offensive comment, would do the state no good.
A group that called itself, Akure Reform Ambassadors (ARA), also added it voice to the rejection of Akeredolu Greek gift to Akure, saying “such categorical statement as unfortunate, bullish and capable of inciting the good and peace loving people of Akure.”
ARA statement reads: “The governorship seat of Ondo State is not an exclusive preserve of any community. Owo, where the governor hails from, has produced two elected governors of the state while Akure, the state capital, is yet to produce one. Therefore, Mr. Governor is not in a position to determine when Akure community will produce a governor in the state. The Ministerial slot of the state being dangled by Mr. Governor before the people of Akure is not and cannot be enough for the community to abandon her right to the Alagbaka seat of the State. We know that President Muhammadu Buhari will decide who becomes Minister from the State and he has a number of qualified Akure indigenes for him to consider.”
“The community will be grateful to Mr. President if he appoints a Minister from Akure and will appreciate the governor’s effort in making that a reality. However, that will not be a substitute for the governorship of the state for the people of Akure. As it has been in every election in the State, the people of Akure will decide who becomes their governor in the next election and that decision will not be handed down to the community by Mr. Governor. If the governor wants to seek reelection, he will make his case to seek the support and votes of Akure people, just like any other candidate for the seat,” the statement signed by Joshua Oluwadare stated.
However, in own view as friend of Akure, a resident and practising journalist for a decade and a half in the ancient city, I stand with Akeredolu on this and I also enjoy every true Akure person to fall in line and embrace the juicy ministerial slot the governor is dangling before the ancient town, if only for the purpose of making an history and braking a long time jinx.
If am permitted to name an Akure man that suit this job, I won’t think twice before mentioning, Engr. Roland Olumuyiwa Ogunleye (Beatron), a core Akure man, successful industrialist and very committed and loyal progressive who has constantly leads in party financing and mobilizating.
Ogunleye personality and profile as a private citizen, businessman, industrialist, professional, philanthropist, tradional chief and party chieftain is high in ranking and highly celebrated by all and sundry, as he remains the best man for the job as at this moment.
I know by the July 1 pronouncement of Governor Akeredolu, it has given him out as chief Champaigner for Alasoadura as Minister, but my reservation is that candidate Alasoadura, who has just lost a reelection bid to go back to the red chamber of the National Assembly, will spell doom for political future of Akure kingdom as a whole, owing to the fact that Akeredolu is playing a joker whereby, he wanted to keep Alash at bar, keep him busy and faraway from the state pre 2020 Governorship poll, so as not to disturb his own reelection bid.
As it stand now, Akure must not let this golden chance blow off by not getting the right man for the job since the governor is from the North, his deputy from the South and immediate past Minister from the South also, naturally, the Ministerial slot should come to the South and particularly Akure, the capital city.
Yemi Akintomide wrote from Orita-Obele, Akure, Ondo State
08069204292. E-mail: yemiakintomide02@gmail.com
