A former Deputy Governor in Ondo State, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, has said he’s is in the race to become the next Ondo governor because of his vision for the State’s economic transformation and inclusive, sustainable growth, achieved through deeper structural changes.
Ajayi who was the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the 2020 governorship election stated this on Monday in Akure while declaring his to contest the race.
On 21 June 2020, Ajayi resigned his membership from the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the opposition party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing irreconcilable differences between him and his principal, late governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
He then joined Zenith Labour Party after losing the PDP gubernatorial primaries to Eyitayo Jegede and became the 2020 gubernatorial candidate of Ondo State in ZLP, then led by former governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko.
However, in the latest move, the former House of Representatives Member who explained that economic growth is the most powerful instrument for reducing poverty and improving the wellbeing of the people said he as a grassroot politician understands is required to revive the economy of the coastal state.
The former Chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government said notwithstanding the gale of defection that hit the state chapter of PDP in recent time, the party will still win the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
“I am coming out to contest for the office of the governor of Ondo State under the PDP. And a lot of people will continue to ask if PDP can win the forthcoming election in Ondo State, looking at the exodus of politicians leaving the party for APC. It is very simple, let me quickly say this, anybody who wants to be the governor of Ondo State is not only the candidate of PDP. Those who are in the APC are also interested in that person who will emerge from the PDP.
“Also, those of us contesting in PDP are also interested in the person who will emerge as the candidate of APC. Besides, if you look at the aggregate of politicians in Ondo State, you will notice that we are less five percent of the voting population.
“So, the issue of defection is not a matter that anybody should be scared of. What is important is that, is the state being governed well? Is it the best we could offer our people? Are things going on well in the state? I am don’t want to dwell on that, I don’t want to dwell on what is going on in Abuja or the hardship we are all facing, courtesy of APC.
“You and I go to the same market, we buy the same fuel. So, It’s not affecting me alone. Politicians, teachers, and everybody is affected. Some states have reduced their working days in trying to cushion the effects of the hardship”, he stressed.
Besides, Ajayi said he is in the race to become the next Governor of Ondo State because he is the most qualified and experienced among the aspirants seeking to govern the state.
“I have the capacity, I have the experience, I have what it takes to govern and transform this state and let me tell you, if I become the governor of the state and fail to perform, then, hope has been totally lost. Basically, I understand how Ondo State can be governed, leading to the happiness of all and sundry.
“I understand what we need to revive the economy of this state, I understand how to run this state without even relying on FG allocation and I can prove it anywhere. I understand where there is money in Ondo State, I understand the plight of all the residents, including the elderly.
“I know how to engage the youths, I know how to secure the state and protect lives and properties and above all, I know that the economic activities of the state rely on construction of roads to link the riverine areas. If this is done, Lagos State will be decongested. What Lagos has is a very small portion of what we have in Ondo. We have the longest coastline in the entire West Africa. So, if we can develop access road to that area, the problem of the state has been half solved.
“I hear people say, ‘Port Ondo’, we don’t even need that for now. All we just need is to construct roads and investors we invade the area to construct port, tourist centres amongst others. Olusegun Agagu, when he was governor started it but it terminated at Ugbo-nla. Subsequent governments should have taken it to Ayetoro.”
He said he “believe that government has no business in building ports. It will be difficult for Ondo State to achieve. It will be a dream that won’t end. But I believe we should create the enabling environment for private investigators to take over. With the port alone, a lot of people will become ’emergency clearing and forwarding agents’.
“We can’t at this time again fail our people. Our people this time around must shun money politics. Our people this time around must not sell their rights. You knew how much we buying rice, cement, petrol and other things before and you know how much we are buying it now. So, we need to change the system, we need to try another government. By the time we put all the aspirants together both in APC and PDP, you will discover that most of them lack manifesto.”
The PDP aspirant also spoke on the political undercurrent in the state, his chances of winning the election, among other sundry issues.
Fidelis David in Akure
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