In Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government area of Ondo State, the day broke before time. Quite before cock-crow, persons-young, intermediate, and old, had defied the inescapable silhouette of the gentle morn, and had hit the streets, upon the knowledge that Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FS) was hitting town.
Apparently enthused by the news that campaigners for Ondo State Governor-code-named as ‘Foot Soldiers’ are storming the historic city, Ore people trooped out in their hundreds of thousands, shouting ‘O datiwa, Odirorun’, to exhibit ultimate affection.
Why not? Here is Governor Aiyedatiwa, despite being imbued with unrivalled innocence, was buffeted with the vinegar of impeachment; but he forgave all and prayed for all and through divine intervention, he escaped unnailed.
Mourning his dearly beloved boss-the late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa shunned the lucre of campaigning for Governor early enough, despite a burning love by the people of Ondo State that he should continue with a new tenure of four years, once the tenure of Akeredolu ( which is to run out on February 24, 2025.) ends.
Aiyedatiwa, remarkably, is the only governorship aspirant that declined to campaign for office until his boss was interred, decently and with State Honour.
At Ore, on March 5, this year, the crowd surge was indescribable, all for the love of Aiyedatiwa, who in less than three months of assuming office, has recorded landmark achievements, to the extent that the hardship in the land gave him a visible shake, of having to order a palliative cash of N35,000 to each public worker.
Nothing can be farther from the truth. Aiyedatiwa has cleared backlog of workers’ salaries, apart from giving employment to hundreds of jobless Ondo State residents.
Already, the governor has mobilised hitherto wearied contractors back to site, with close monitoring.
The LACO-FS under the leadership of its Convener, Dr. Oladipupo Okeyomi, aka Carry Go, with Co-convener, Prince Poroye Biyi, has no doubt raised the ante, in the annals of supportive campaigns.
Ably represented by the Director-General of the organisation, Hon. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, and other distinguished persons of goodwill in the Directorate, the LACO-FS virtually needed no further endorsement than the overwhelming expression of love for Governor Aiyedatiwa, as displayed by the good people of Odigbo LG.
The joyful dances of the mammoth crowd streamed from the Community Field, to the Reception Hall of Ronke Hotel, Ore, where the Odigbo Local Government Directorate of LACO-FS was chummily inaugurated.
Many thanks go to Hon. Amidu Takuro, a former State Commissioner, who is the LG Director for LACO-FS , for his puritanical devotion to grassroots mobilisation, which resulted in this happy denouement.
Worthy to be appreciated also are other LACO-FS leaders in the area, who include Hon. (Mrs) Yetunde Adeyanju, also a former State Commissioner; Comrade Taye Bola, Pastor Felix Olatunde, Prince Adenikinju George, Alhaji Akeem Osho, Hon. Bunmi Olawoye, and Hon Gbenro Akintolayo.
Others are: Hon. Ayodele Ikumawoyi, Hon. Michael Idebi, Hon (Mrs) RonkeOladun, Hon (Mrs) Shirley Akingbola, and Hon. Ayobami Ojo.
Thank you, ODIGBO!
(E-signed)
Kayode Fasua,
State Director, Information, LACO-FS