ONDO DECIDES 2024: A WALK IN THE PARK FOR THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR AYEDATIWA By Barr Banji Okunomo

When the Peoples Democratic Party lost control of Nigeria at the centre in 2015 after 16 years in the saddle, the most morbid of naysayers would not have been able to predict the current state of political comatose that the once biggest political party in Africa finds itself.

For a political party whose failing fortune has been self inflicted, it is safe to say that there is currently no end in sight from their woes.

The impasse at their national headquarters is not unconnected to the poor handling of their internal affairs. Even as an opposition, they have failed to provide meaningful challenge to the ruling APC in the country.

Like the proverbial biblical aphorism; when the foundation is destroyed , what can the righteous do? The sorry state of the PDP has undoubtedly affected the chances of its candidate in the Ondo state governorship election.

Like a house divided against itself, the PDP is bound to fall both in Ondo state and other part of the country. The signs are ominous for the party. There is an apparent lack of purpose and coordination in their campaign which to my mind is symptomatic of a much deeper problem of depletion in their ranks. Imagine the Party early baseless attacks on the Electoral Body(INEC) when election has yet not been conducted.

The problem of leadership within the Ondo state PDP structure is a replication of its national debacle that has resulted in weekly change of National Chairman like a child changes a dirty cloth. However, the symptoms in Ondo state reveal a more serious problem. While too many power blocs are jostling for the soul of the party at the national level, here in Ondo state it does not even have enough men to drive a meaningful campaign for the party. It is now left in the hands of a very few political actors who cannot take the Party through this election. It goes without saying that their candidate does not have the political clout and administrative wherewithal to steer the ship of our dear state for his apple cannot fall far their national tree.

In a related news, the Governor of Ondo state- His Excellency Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa and candidate of the ruling APC visited Ondo north senatorial district- the home of progressives on Monday, the 14th day of October, 2024 to a loud and tumultuous reception from party faithful, admirers and onlookers alike. The reception in Ikare Akoko is a testament to the wide acceptability that the governor enjoys with the people. The venue of the rally was packed with party faithfuls bubbling with excitement and joy even as some lined the street to wave at him as his convoy snaked into the town of the twin-mountain, Ikare Akoko.
In the same light and expectedly, the Ore venue for the Southern Senatorial District Flag Off yesterday, 16th of October, 2024 was filled to the brim with a large overflow spreading across the entire Ore town. The very intense gridlock occasioned by the event with the mammoth crowd eagerly willing to see the people’s Governor is a testament of the popularity and acceptability in the Governor’s own district.

Any serious political realist ,worth his salt knows that , beyond the online noise and pockets of jingles that disturb our airwaves from those mushroom political parties, there is absolutely nothing in their political arsenal to warrant them being taken seriously. Without sounding immodest, if they all bond together including the PDP, they would still be no match for the political tsunami of His Excellency, governor lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa and the APC.

16th November, 2024 is for the affirmation of the obvious choice of the people of Ondo State. Ondo State is lucky. Odatiwa Odiran ro run!

Barr. Banji Okunomo is the Secretary of the Aiyedatiwa Governorship Campaign Council 2024