Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa yesterday began consultation over his governorship ambition on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He summoned a meeting of party stakeholders which he presided over as new party leader at the Dome, Igbatoro Road, Akure, the state capital, where he promised to henceforth fund party structues at the ward, local government and state levels. No fewer than 450 stakeholders-25 delegates each from 18 local governments-converged on the venue for the first leg of the consultative meeting. Reporters were barred from the meeting, which was described a a strictly party affair.Sources at the meeting disclosed that Ayedatiwa promised to be mobilising each member of the consultative body with N100,000 monthly. They said some of the delegates cheered the move, which they described as unprecedented in the history of the party. However, others who were in sober reflection, described the gesture as a display of naked populism. Yesterday, N45 million was allegedly given to the stakeholders. A delegate, who was at the meeting, said local government chairmen of the party were in charge of the distribution of the money across the grassroots. He hinted that the state is “somehow bouyant now because it has just received N16 billion in its treasury” Aiyedatiwa, a former deputy governor, was inaugurated as governor last month, following the passing on of his boss, Rotimi Akeredolu, after a protracted illness. Although the governor has not held a public declaration, he is believed to be warming up for the governorship primary billed for the first quarter of the year. Post navigation Tinubu’s approval for security gadgets will curb insecurity, says Wike Fed Govt to increase primary health centres from 8,300 to 17,600
