TheCable

Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, has picked Lucky Aiyedatiwa, a former commissioner in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as his running mate for the October 10 governorship election.

Ajayi Agboola, his deputy who is not on good terms with him, defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in June.

After his defection, Ajayi contested for the governorship ticket of the major opposition party but lost to Eyitayo Jegede.

Speaking at the swearing-in of new aides, Akeredolu described Aiyedatiwa as a candidate with verifiable credentials and pedigree.

He said the leadership of the party decided to pick Aiyedatiwa following wide consultations and having been with the ruling party “since the beginning of this political journey in 2012″.

“The leaders of the party have made wide consultations to choose the most suitable candidate as running mate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. We have concluded that Mr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is the appropriate choice given the prevailing circumstances in the political arena at present,” Akeredolu said.

“This person has been with us since the beginning of this political journey in 2012. In arriving at this choice, some important factors assisted the leaders of this great party. We have decided to sever ties with mediocrity and treachery.

“There is indeed no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. We are also not in any position to change yesterday. We must, however, allow the experiences of the immediate past to guide our decision.

“A candidate with verifiable credentials and pedigree has been chosen to complete the last part of the gubernatorial race.

“We may not have chosen a saint and the best but let it not be said that we, either wittingly or otherwise, settle for an avowed hater of human beings and good things, an enemy of his own people and a serial forger. We owe our people the duty of care in this regard.”