A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Oke for Sunshine Forum (OSF) has said its principal, Chief Olusola Alexander Oke SAN, will not begin any consultations for the forthcoming governorship election in November until the final burial of the immediate-past governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, is concluded.
In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the group’s coordinator, Olushola Akintade, in Akure, OSF described the activities of some aspirants as shameful and acts of desperation.
Akintade said the death of former Governor Akeredolu was a personal loss to Chief Oke, which he was yet to come to terms with.
The OSF coordinator said: “So many people don’t know the relationship between our principal and the late Governor Akeredolu. Aside from being close friends and political associates, they are also professional colleagues who shared so many things before his death.
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“It will be disrespectful to the memory of the dead if his close friend is seen running around to succeed him when his body is yet to be interred.”
He described those who served in the government of Akeredolu who had been jostling to be governor immediately after his death as shameless and desperate individuals.
Akintade urged the people of Ondo to beware of such characters, as they mean no good for the state.
He assured that, after the final burial of Akeredolu, Oke would address a world press conference where his programs and manifesto for the state would be rolled out.
“He is the biggest masquerade as far as the Ondo state governorship election is concerned. So, everybody is waiting for him to declare.
“At the appropriate time, he will do so, and he will do it in a more civilized way; he can not just jump into a contest as big as the governorship without informing the people he wants to serve,” Akintade stated further.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Ondo State Governorship election for November 16, 2024.