Ondo 2020: If all Arogbo Ijaws don't vote for me, I will be governor

***it was lie from the pit of hell – Aide

The governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party(ZLP), Agboola Ajayi was reported to have told leaders of the Arogbo Ijaw Community resident in Akure that he did not require their votes to be Governor of the State.

Ajayi had sought audience with the leaders of thought of Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom ostensibly to secure an endorsement in a meeting facilitated by former National secretary ofgem Ijaw National Congress(INC), Chief Francis Williams.

But no sooner had the meeting progressed than some youths engaged Ajayi, who is also the deputy governor of the state in a bid to extract explanations from him on the shabby treatment meted to the Arogbo Ijaws, especially in the distribution of contracts and projects in Ese-Odo Local Government Area.

Rather than provide explanations to the issues raised, particularly his involvement in the legal tussle around a land dispute between the Arogbo Ijaws and Kiribo, Ajayi’s community, the deputy governor expressed anger.

“I’ve seen it all. I have been a supervisor, council chairman ,member of the House of Representatives and I’m now deputy governor. Even if the whole of Arogbo Ijaws dont vote for me, I will be governor if God says I will be Governor. So you should mind the way you address me”, Ajayi told the Ijaw leaders.

In a reaction, the media adviser to the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Tope Okeowo on Tuesday denied reports that his principal, Agboola Ajayi, said he was not interested in votes from Ijaw people in the Ese Odo Local Government Area of the state.

The candidate’s aide said “The report was a lie from the pit of hell. Right now (Tuesday) as I am speaking with you, the deputy governor is with the monarch of Arogbo Ijaw and the campaign is currently going on in the local government.

He was welcome by his people. The report is a sponsored one and we know where it came from.”