By Akinwale Kasali
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State is angry with his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Nyesom Wike. He has, therefore, sent a strong warning to him: “Ondo is not Edo.”
Fresh from leading a stunning Governorship campaign that saw to the defeat of the APC in Edo, Wike had, on Friday, said that in a free and fair election, the PDP would defeat the APC in the October 10 Governorship election.
He also accused the APC of planning to rig the election in favour of its candidate. Governor Rotimi, seeking a second term, is facing PDP’s Dele Eyitayo and Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi, among others, in the election.
But reacting to Wike’s utterances, Akeredolu warned him to watch his utterances.
While urging Wike to exercise caution over his utterances, Akeredolu also told Wike that Ondo is not Rivers where he can lord over anyone.
According to Akeredolu, who spoke through his Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, the scheme by Wike to assume the role of godfather ahead of the Ondo poll will be resisted by the people of Ondo State.
Wike had also alleged on a Channels Television morning programme that following the victorious outing of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, “there is enormous pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins at all cost during the October 10 polls.”
While condemning what he described as Wike’s “imperialistic approach as most unfortunate and very unbecoming,” Akeredolu said tactics cannot work in Ondo State.
He said “In all aspects, Governor Wike deserves respect not just as governor but as a critical stakeholder in the Democratic journey. He has his inalienable rights as a citizen to express his mind and make comments about whatever he feels strongly about.
“However, what amuses us is his imperious attitude and recourse to spurious allegations just because of an election. He should know that the people of the state, who have a history of rejecting external influence and domination, will resist his attempt to play the role of a godfather in Ondo state. Ondo is not Rivers.
“The man ought to know that utterances of public office holders must be measured and their delivery ought to be in line with the mood of the people. The people of the state will resist Wike here even if he had roared elsewhere successfully. For emphasis, his imperialistic approach is most unfortunate and very unbecoming.”
