A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, on Thursday, said the endorsements the incumbent governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has been receiving in the past two months were not indications that he would win the election.
The senator representing Ondo South made the statement after he submitted his expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
He said every serious politician knows that endorsements don’t win elections in the country.
He said, “Politics is about democracy and a game of number. Nobody gets into office by endorsements. It is stupid to say you are looking for endorsement. Was Asiwaju endorsed by Buhari? At the end of the day, he won the election with no endorsement from anybody.
“Once you believe it is your turn, then it is your turn. In fact, do you still remember his slogans of ‘Emilokan’ and ‘Eleyi t’o pera re ni governor’? As I am leaving here by Monday, I am paying N140m to the party to secure 100,000 delegates membership forms for my supporters.”
He also debunked speculations that his fellow co-contestant in the Ondo governorship race, Olusola Oke, was one of those who stepped down for him to win his senatorial ticket.
“Olusola Oke did not step down for my senatorial ticket. I contested and went around the 66 wards one by one. At that time, I remember Oke joined my campaign only at Ilaje. He even said that he wanted to be governor. So that was that. He did not give me one kobo and did not support my election with anything. I also didn’t have any agreement with anybody. In fact, Oke’s candidate for the senatorial election at that time was Mayowa, and his supporters said so too.
“I actually declared my intention to run 30 days before the primary election. But I knew I would win. I remember some elders telling me at some local governments that I was late and should probably prepare for another time. However, I developed a system that overwhelmed them. I am talking from the perspective of my professional education and as a man with three Ph.Ds. The state shouldn’t be about debt collection. Give me Ondo State, and I will turn it to Dubai,” he stated.
