The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Wednesday, urged the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to repay the people’s trust by ensuring that he leaves no abandoned projects behind after his four years in office.
Ganduje gave the admonition when he received a delegation of the party leadership at the national secretariat in Abuja shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission presented Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Adelami Olaide, with their Certificates of Return.
PUNCH Online reports that the governor was declared the winner by the electoral umpire after winning the 18 local government areas in last Saturday’s governorship election.
Ganduje described the poll as a reflection of the people’s determination to return Aiyedatiwa to office for another four years.
He said, “I am happy about the landslide result. The election is not the effort of the elite and middle class alone. It is also through the effort of the grassroots. Out of 203 wards, APC won 202, losing only one ward. So, it is a result embraced by all. So, we need to congratulate you on this landslide victory.
“I know being a progressive government with progressive people. They will also cooperate so that you can continue your next four years without a history of abandoned projects. As a deputy, you knew how projects were started by your late governor (Rotimi Akeredolu). You were part of it also as a governor for 10 months or so and now a re-elected governor.
“For the next four years, you will continue. And you know the terrains, geography and physical landscape in all the 18 local government areas right from when you were a deputy governor. It is all these variables you will put together to carve your projects that will improve the lives of Ondo people.”
Earlier in his address, Ondo APC State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, noted that the delegation’s journey to the Federal Capital Territory would have been incomplete without them coming to pay homage to Ganduje for his strategic leadership.
Adetimehin also applauded President Bola Tinubu for standing by their candidate and their party faithful in the state despite the initial opposition to Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy by some notable APC bigwigs.
He said, “We have finally killed PDP in Ondo. Most of the leaders of that party have defected to the APC. With the landslide victory in this election, it has shown to the whole world that there is no PDP in Ondo. Once again, we thank Mr Chairman for giving us good mentorship and leading us aright.”