Olusola Oke, an aspirant for the governorship seat of Ondo State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has strongly condemned attempts to exploit his marriage to an Igbo woman as a tool to undermine his political ambitions.
Oke asserted that such tactics were aimed at diverting attention from his leadership vision for the state and urged his supporters and constituents to remain resolute against such divisive maneuvers.
Speaking at a rally held in Igbara-Oke, the administrative center of the Ifedore Local Government Area, ahead of the APC primaries scheduled for April 25th, Oke emphasized that his decision to marry across ethnic lines should not be politicized. He praised his Igbo wife, Nkem, while highlighting the disregard shown by political opponents towards his Yoruba wife, Dr. Daisi, of over four decades, in pursuit of trivial political gains.
Oke urged his supporters to stand by his candidacy based on his demonstrated competence and vision for Ondo State, rather than allowing his marital choice to be exploited for political expediency. He reaffirmed that his marriage to an Igbo woman would have no bearing on his governance style if elected governor, emphasizing his authority over his household affairs.
In advocating for a focus on substantive governance and developmental issues over the exploitation of personal matters or ethnic sentiments, Oke underscored his commitment to serving all residents of Ondo State, regardless of marital affiliations.
Oke’s response reflects a broader trend among politicians to confront attempts to manipulate personal aspects of their lives for political advantage, emphasizing the imperative of addressing substantial concerns in the electoral process.
