Hon. Jimoh Ibrahim, the senator representing Ondo South, has revealed how the death of former governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu will help him win the gubernatorial election in the state.
Ibrahim declared that he is ready to contest the forthcoming governorship election in the state and the death of Akeredolu will enhance his chances of becoming the next governor.
The senator, who spoke on Thursday, in Akure, said President Bola Tinubu would allow a free and fair primary to enable the best candidate to emerge.
He said, “I’m declaring my intention to run for the governorship election of Ondo State. Among the contestants, I am the oldest. I have contested election twice in my lifetime, one of which I contested for governorship position in 2003, and none of these contestants was on that ballot.
“The President will never say that we should go and work for the incumbent governor. He can only appeal that maybe he prefers one person if you can prefer him and if you cannot, go and do your election. So the President cannot say that I have taken this person so all of you should go and sit down. Even Buhari who is very clueless about anything can never do that.
Noting that the death of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu would not affect his chances, Ibrahim said it would rather increase the chance of winning the primary and the main election.
“Maybe the death of Aketi has enhanced my chances because Aketi is a human being, he can be subjectively objective at the last minute. But now that he is no more, that possibility is written off completely. So whoever is there, wants to run for governor will meet me at the field.
“So Aketi’s death doesn’t affect my chances at all, but it would rather enhance my chances to win the governorship position of this state. So we are working seriously to win this election,” Ibrahim stressed.
GistReel reports that Akeredolu, aged 67, passed away in December 2023 while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer in a German hospital.
Born on July 21, 1956, Akeredolu studied Law at the Obafemi Awolowo University (then the University of Ife) graduating in 1977. He was called to the bar in 1978.
After his death, the then acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as the substantive governor of the state the same day.
Before his death, Akeredolu had transferred power to Aiyedatiwa via a letter to the state House of Assembly on December 13, 2023, when he was to proceed on medical leave in Germany.
The development followed the intervention of President Tinubu who intervened in the crisis that resulted from the failure of Akeredolu to hand over to his deputy after he returned to the country from Germany in September.
