Banji Okunomo, a former Chairman of Ilaje Local Government and the current leading Gubernatorial Aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, has continued to receive the endorsements of notable PDP leaders from Ilaje Local Local Government in their readiness to speak with one voice and fight for the governorship ticket of the PDP as Ondo State year 2020 gubernatorial election draws closer.
Yesterday, some notable PDP leaders across the Twelve Wards of Ilaje Local Government endorsed Banji Okunomo as their Gubernatorial Aspirant and hopeful candidate of the party ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State.
Recall that Starnews reported on August 10, 2019, that the shout of Banji Okunomo for governor rent the air in Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State as notable women in the Local Government trooped out in their numbers to demand Ilaje governorship ticket under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the year 2020 election in the state.
During the meeting, the women unanimously endorsed the candidacy of Okunomo for the year 2020 gubernatorial election as they chanted different songs like ‘Oyi biri biri kon wa ni Ilaje”, “BBO o ti sure ju” (meaning it is rolling turn by turn, and now our turn in Ilaje local government, and that, BBO, meaning- Banji Ben Okunomo is very sure.)
Starnews gathered that the recent endorsement of Okunomo by stakeholders in Ilaje Local Government on Sunday is presently causing panic in the camp of other gubernatorial Aspirants of PDP especially those from Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State as the recent development has boosted the ambition of Okunomo ahead of other Aspirants from the local government.
The endorsement is also in clear contrast of earlier belief that Ilaje people can never speak with one voice following the multitude of gubernatorial Aspirants under the PDP in their quest to produce the next governor of Ondo State.
The leaders were so excited as they eulogized some of the achievements of Okunomo when he was the chairman of Iaje local Government.
Starnews reports that Ilaje local government is one of the reasons Ondo State is listed as part of the Oil Producing State in Nigeria. Being part of the local governments producing the major revenues of the state, they are agitating to produce the next governor of the state as they alleged marginalisation, infrastructural decadence and lack of development by successive administrations in Ondo State despite being one of the local governments laying the golden egg of the state revenues.
Consequently, the local government alone is having more than four gubernatorial Aspirants aspiring to become the candidate of PDP in Ondo State ahead of 2020 election.
Notable among the Aspirants from Ilaje are: Prince John Ola Mafo, Chief Sola Ebiseni, Hon. Banji Okunomo, among others.
The former special assistant to former governor Olusegun Mimiko and the convener of the meeting for Okunomo governorship project, Mr.Jossy Enhimore, however said that, the endorsement of Okunomo is very vital and necessary in order to have one voice and ensure all the PDP leaders from Ilaje LG support one Aspirant to contest the PDP upcoming Governorship primary election in 2020.
He also said that more leaders of PDP in Ilaje would soon join in endorsing Okunomo in subsequent meetings.
Notable faces at the meeting were: Chief Daisi Mafimisebi, former chairman of PDP in Ilaje LG, Apostle Ayemobuwa Segun, former Chairman of Labour Party and now PDP in Ilaje LG, Mr. Jolomi Felix, Chairman PDP Constituency II in Ilaje LG, Stella Nana, former Special Assistant to the governor, Wale Ayejuni, ex-OSOPADEC Commissioner, Omogbemi Ogolale, Chairman of PDP in Ugbo Ward 6, Hon. Romans Ogungbeje, PDP Legal adviser in Ilaje LG, Mr Omotere, Chairman PDP Mahin Ward 1, and Mr. Iwalokun Busola, Chairman PDP Mahin Ward 2.
Also in the meeting were many serving PDP Women Leaders: Sina Popoola, Mrs Olayemi Ebu, Omoyele Ajimisan, Itunu Osomo, Ayoleyi Iperepolu, and Oluwole Remilekun, among others.
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