Politics
Ondo 2024: Governorship Aspirant Vows to Rejig Moribund Industries, Pledges loyalty to party structures
Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
An All Progressive Congress aspirant for the Ondo 2024 gubernatorial election, Dr Olamide Ohunyeye, has vowed to rjig the moribund industries across the state if elected the governor of the state.
Ohunyeye made the pledge on Sunday during a parley with stakeholders of the APC at Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area of the state.
The retired military officer, who lamented that many of the industries established by former governors Pa Adekunle Ajasin and Adebayo Adefarati, for economic growth in the state had been grounded, noted that it would be one of his priorities to restore the lost glory of the state by reviving the industries and establishing new ones.
He explained that the state has not been “sufficiently growing” in the last eight years if compared with the development recorded by other oil producing states like Rivers and Akwa Ibom within the same time frame.
“For example, on my way coming, I observed with keen interest the road leading to Idanre and discovered that it is in a sorry state. It is highly condemnable that there is no good road network in Idanre, and we know quite well that Idanre is the headquarters of Ondo state politics.
In addition, Idanre is the headquarters of cocoa farming. Profits from cocoa production in the then Ondo province of which Idanre was in the forefront was used to build the famous Cocoa House in Ibadan and indeed some Oodua Investments. How many cocoa factories are in Idanre here? That is where we are going to start from. Cocoa that is being exported to the western countries, processed over there and is then returned as finished products for sales to us…we will build factories here to process our cocoa. Farmers in Idanre will be duly compensated. We will bring experts to come and give our farmers cocoa seedlings so that once they are planted, within reasonable period, they will be harvested,” he said.
He stressed that the government will put in place deliberate policies that will lift the people of the state out of poverty by revamping the economy through the repositioning of critical sectors such as security, health, education and infrastructure
He said; “The kind of government we are trying to bring on board in Ondo state is for all. It is not a “National Cake” kind of government that enriches the rich and impoverishes the “masses”. Let me cut my words short because over-wordiness of thoughts is accompanied by subterfuge. I want you to remember that once you bring us in, every party structure, I reiterate, will be highly respected..”
Speaking at the parley, members of the party in the local government assured Ohunyeye of their support, noting that members of the party in Idanre are not “two-sided.”
The parley, which saw the governorship hopeful donate a generator to the APC headquarters in the local government, was well attended by party stakeholders and other members across the entire Idanre Local Government Area of the state.
David Olayinka, Akure
The Jagunmolu of Ikaleland and Ojagbulegun from The Source, Prince ( Dr.) Gen. Olu Bajowa, CFR has commended Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, describing him as a Governor whose victory at the November , 16th poll was made possible by God , the Almighty and the good people of Ondo State , who showed him massive love and vote support on election day.
Gen. Bajowa gave this indication in a special congratulatory statement, personally signed by him , which copy was obtained by thepolity.net
In the statement, the retired top brass Army General said, ” I write to join all well-wishers to congratulate you on your well deserved election victory as ” the God’s anointed” Executive Governor of Ondo State.
“The people have spoken loud and clear! Your outstanding and overwhelming performance with the wide margin at the polls is a testimony of your popular acceptance by the good people of The Sunshine State.
” As the old proverb says, ‘ Vox Populi, vox dei’ ( the voice of the people is the voice of God), therefore by God’s grace , you are the Executive Governor of Ondo State for the next four years. ”
While congratulating the Governor on his ‘ sweet victory,’ Gen. Bajowa said Gov. Aiyedatiwa has enormous responsibilities in making life more abundant for the people of Ondo State, noting that the Governor’s responsibility includes providing adequate security, transformation of Agriculture , health and education sectors among others; the fight against poverty, hunger and unemployment , ensuring adequate water and regular power supply for the growth of SMEs and reactivation of all the moribund industries with serious attention to road network and infrastructural development. Going further, Gen. Bajowa noted, “Also important are the issues of the development of our natural resources and solid minerals : bitumen, oil, fisheries and the Ondo State deep seaport project.
” You can count on me , my family and the entire Bajowa Royal Family for our continued support and loyalty to good governance and administration of Ondo State,” Gen. Bajowa stated.
While wishing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa a successful tenure , Gen. Bajowa wished him more of God’s guidance , protection and good health as he governs Ondo State afresh.
…as voting commences across wards
Feranmi Daniel, Abeokuta
There was very impressive turn out in Sagamu and Ikenne Local Governments on Saturday during the Local Government elections going on in the State, as voters were seen trooping to their various polling units to cast their ballots.
Recalled that Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) had earlier slated Local Government elections for Saturday, 16th November, 2024.
An election observer from Advocacy for Social Justice & Liberty, Charles Odunuga, commended the electoral body for what he termed decent and well organized process.
He therefore, urged electorate to maintain the peace till the end of the exercise, adding that peaceful environment plays pivotal role in strengthening democracy.
Also, a voter in Sagamu, Pastor Sola Komolafe, euologised the proactiveness of the electoral commission and level of preparedness, including level-playibg ground for opposition parties to thrive.
In the same vein, Mrs Kafilat Sokoya, another voter in Grammar School area of Ikenne described the process across the town as peaceful and orderly, as she advised voters to shun inducement and act of violence.
Feranmi Daniel, Abeokuta
The ongoing local government polls in Ogun State got off to a good start on Saturday. This newspaper can exclusively report.
Election into chairmanship and councillorship positions are currently ongoing in the 20 local government councils of the state, with the major political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) saying that they will have a good showing.
In the polling units surveyed in major cities such as Abeokuta, the state capital; Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Ota and Ilaro, election materials arrived on schedule even as voters expressed confidence that the exercise would be concluded without any hassles.
Findings by reporters across the state have not shown any incident of voter harassment or ballot box snatching so far.
This contradicts the false alarm raised by a major opposition party in the state to the effect that the election has been bedevilled by violence.
Some voters, however, complained of late arrival of materials even as officials of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) interviewed across the state said materials have reached all polling units in the State and they expected voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise.