Ondo 2024: My Certificate Genuine, I’m Cleared – Gov Aiyedatiwa

Ondo State governor, Honourable Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Friday declared, that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, his West African Senior Certificate (WASCE) is genuine, authentic and verifiable.

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gbenga Edema had petitioned the party’s leadership over the allegations that the WASCE certificate being used by Ayedatiwa to contest for the April 20 primary election did not emanate from Ikosi High school, Lagos as he claimed.

Addressing journalists after being screened at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Friday, the Governor announced that he was cleared by the party.

He described the issue raised about his certificate as a mischief by other aspirants who he said noticed that he was the aspirant to beat.

Aiyedatiwa explained that when Ikosi High School was established in 1980, he was already in Form ‘3’ in a private school which joined the school with its students, hence he graduated there in 1982 and 1985 as argued by his distractors.

“It is on record that the school was established in 1980 and at that time, I was already in Form ‘3’ in a private school, New Nation is in Ikosi while Royal Comprehensive High School is Ajegunle, Ikorudu very close to Ketu.

“So all of us were moved both New Nation and Royal Comprehensive High School and some other schools that were affected by flood, we were all moved into Ikosi High School, Ketu that was built by the government and that was how we wrote our WASCE in 1982 because we were in the first set.

“I was in Form ‘3’ at the time, it used to be five years not now that you have six years for Secondary school. So their question, the petitioner is, how can a school be established in 1980 and we have a first set in 1982 that the first set supposed to be in 1985 but he didn’t take time to look at the history.

“So investigation has been conducted, the schools are still there, WAEC office is there where you can actually verify the subject that I took and the year that I graduated and the school. It is clear to everybody that my certificate is authentic and I actually graduated from that school in 1982,” he explained.

Speaking further, Aiyedatiwa declared that there was no vacancy in the Ondo State government as he remains the aspirant to beat, and urged the other contenders to focus on their campaigns.

“I should just advise them to repent and try to go to the field and work. If they are interested in the seat, and the seat is not vacant, that is why they’re trying to do all that they are doing,” he said.

Meanwhile, addressing journalists after his screening, Edema insisted that he did not write a petition against the governor but sent and ‘advisory’ to the party to avert impending danger should he emerged the party’s candidate.

“I did not write a petition against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. I wrote an advisory to the leadership of APC, about the possible outcome or fielding somebody who has a challenged certificate. And I’m inspired by the Book of Ezekiel chapter 33 from Verse one to seven.

“So, that I will not run foul of God’s law. So I have done my own as a watchman, let the party take its own position. That’s is the word of God. It’s not everything that is about contest, the party will intervene and I’m bound by the decision of the party. So when the party intend to intervene, they should be guided,” he said.

On the other hand, another governorship aspirant and Senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim described Governor Aiyedatiwa as a joker for declaring that there was no vacancy in Ondo Government House.

Ibrahim who spoke with journalists after his screening at the APC national secretariat said the governor has never won an election as he contested for the House of Representatives and did not win one local government out of two.

He said: “The governor is joking, big joke, huge joke he is cracking with you. He is out of that place by the time we finish primary next week, he is gone and there is nothing virtually he can do about it.

“I don’t normally go against people, to me, clear everybody, let them go for primary, let the electorate determine. I have won election as Senator, I won in six of the six local government areas, 65 of the 66 wards, 111,677 votes against Agboola Ajayi’s 60,000 votes.

“This governor has never won an election, he contested for the House of Representatives, he didn’t win one local government, just two local governments, he could even win one. He was a pair to Aketi, we didn’t vote for him, we voted for Aketi. But I can assure you, the governor is a huge joker.”

Speaking in the same vein after being screened, another governorship contender, Olusola Oke said Aiyedatiwa’ comments were undemocratic and reckless.

“It’s an aphorism from all incumbent persons, I heard this one in Lagos when Ambode was there. Ambode said “no vacancy”, he had to leave when he needed to leave. It’s a statement of wish and desire by the governor and it’s a statement that is intended to undermine a democratic exercise.

“If we are going to primaries and the people will have to determine, how would anybody have the gut to say there is no vacancy? There is no vacancy between now and February next year, no doubt, but after February, his one year term will be exhausted and then there’ll be a vacancy.

“I don’t intend to take over from him before the expiration of his one year in office. So, the essence of this exercise is that there will be vacancy after one year term, and that he, or somebody else will occupy the seat. Having regard to my wide contact with the people, I believe that I’m succeeding him,” Oke said.

The APC on Friday, commenced the screening of the 16 governorship aspirants that obtained its N50 million worth Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

LEADERSHIP reports that at the close of sales week, Governor Aiyedatiwa, Funmilayo Mary Waheed Adekojo, Funke Omogoroye Folakemi Judith, Olusoji Adewale Ehinlanwo, Okunjimi Odimayo John, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho; the APC National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Duerimini Isaacs Kekemeke and Garvey Oladiran Iyanjan have all obtained the APC governorship forms in Ondo.

Others include Akinfolarin Mayowa Samuel, Adewale Okumuyiwa Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Omogbemi Edema, Olusola Alexander Oke, SAN; Prof. Adedayo Faduyile, Retired Brigadier-General Felix Olamide