A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, Wale Akinterinwa, on Wednesday, accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of allegedly preventing leaders and party members from welcoming President Bola Tinubu to the state.
Akinterinwa, who described the development as undemocratic, stated that the visit of Tinubu to the state was private and not a state visit, which was not in the governor’s purview.
Tinubu had arrived in the state to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, whose funeral took place late Friday following his demise due to prostrate cancer in December 2023.
In a statement issued by the Spokesperson of the campaign organisation of the aspirant, Segun Ajiboye, the usual tradition was for party members to mobilise and receive the president to the state.
He 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 state without any ambiguity that the Wale Akinterinwa (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.”
Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor stated that “the President’s visit is a state affair and not a political or campaign one.
“Only government officials and those accredited by the government will have the opportunity to receive the president at the airport, not a campaign crowd.”
