Governorship: APC has failed Ondo people, must be rejected — PDP’s Ajayi

The Ondo State PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, says the state and its people have not fared well under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last eight years.

The PDP candidate said this at a media parley on Friday in Lagos.

He said that Gov. Lucky Ayedatiwa and the APC governorship candidate for the Nov. 16 gubernatorial election had not delivered on promises.

Ajayi, a former deputy governor in the state, said: “The primary objective of governance is the safety and welfare of the people.

“Any political party that deviates from this avowed principle of governance will definitely get it wrong and become a liability to the people. I have a clear vision on how to make it work.”

He said the late Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu left many problems behind and that those problems had worsened under Ayedatiwa, the former late governor’s deputy, who took over after his demise.

“The Nov. 16 governorship election in the state therefore calls for serious consideration, as this will determine, shape, or mar the fortune of the state in the next four years,” he said.

Expressing disappointment in the conduct and outcome of the Sept. 21 governorship election in Edo, Ajayi said that democracy would not thrive where a simple exercise of election turned to imposition.

According to him, those who are constitutionally empowered to protect Nigerians and ensure that the right things are done during elections at every given time must not disappoint voters.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to allow the vote of the people to count in the forthcoming election in Ondo.

Highlighting his agenda if elected, Ajayi said his vision was to transform Ondo State into a beacon of sustainable economic development.

Ajayi said that his intervention would cover modern infrastructure, efficient transportation, a vibrant marine and blue economy, striving agriculture, robust industrialisation, quality education, and affordable health care.

Ajayi said that his vision would capture comprehensive human development, adequate security, and other components of fundamental objectives and direct principles of state policy as captured in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“It is therefore my mission to harness the state human and material resources to actualise this vision and thereby rescue and redeem the people of the Sunshine State.

“We will rescue the state from the shackles of poverty, oppression, deprivation, and insecurity and set them on the path of sustainable development so that the sun will shine again in the state,” he said.

Ajayi listed his agenda for the state to focus on security, agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, industry and marine economic development, rural development and environment, youth, sports, social, women's development, and civil service.

On education, Ajayi said that primary and secondary education would be fully free and tuition in tertiary institutions would be reduced by 30 percent.

“We will ensure quality education for economic development, social equity, technological advancement, and cultural preservation for sustainable development.

“We shall address this ugly trend in the health sector by providing, at least, one primary health centre in each of the 203 wards in the state, which will be staffed with trained and dedicated medical personnel.

“The huge infrastructural deficit and poor industrial output in the state is a call for concern.

“We will pay attention to rehabilitation of roads, construction of waterways, provision of rural and urban electrification, enhancement and improvement in clean and pipe-borne water delivery for the benefit of our people.

“There will be improvement of rural road network. We will also embark on the Rural Housing Scheme. My government will improve tourism development in the state,” he said.

Ajayi, who is a former council boss, said that his administration would grant full autonomy to local government areas both in finance and governance.

Ajayi said that the new PDP administration in the state would prioritise programmes that would ensure the accelerated development of youths and women.

“What is sacred in developing a state like Ondo is the political will of the sitting governor.

“On my own part, the required political will to develop Ondo State is inherent in me, and it is already activated.

“We will ensure our people live a better life. We enjoyed it. We must build a system that can give our people a future that they deserve.

“I can assure you, our four-year government would be like 12 years,” he said.

Speaking, Dr. Eddy Olafeso, Director General of Agboola Ajayi Governorship Campaign Organisation, described the PDP candidate as general in the battle against poverty, denial, and hopelessness.

The PDP Chairman in Ondo State, Mr. Bakita Bello, said that the party had bounced back and had received many defectors from the ruling APC to win the election.