2024: It’s my turn to govern Ondo after Mimiko, Akeredolu – Olusola Oke

l’ll hit ground running if elected

…l was part of Ondo’s suffering, denial, ‘ll be part of its solution

A leading governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Ondo state, Chief Olusola Oke, has declared that it is his turn to govern the state after governor’s Olusegun Mimiko and late Rotimi Akeredolu.

Oke promised that he would hit the ground running if elected the governor of the state. He said this in Akure, the state capital, while declaring his intention to run for the governorship election, the third time at the party’s secretariat.

According to him “There are three ways to know a politician, it is either you’ve been a lawmaker, you’ve been a party administrator or you’ve occupied executive position.

“I have occupied the three. I was once a lawmaker and was a party administrator. In the choice of my career, ranging for over 35 years in politics, I’ve gathered experience.

“Because I’ve been a party administrator, I will know how to manage party members as a governor.

Oke said that ” Because I’ve been a lawmaker, I will know how to manage lawmakers in the state and because I’ve occupied executive positions, I will hit the ground running immediately am elected.

The aspirant said that ” Ondo State is going through a critical period of transition. The politics are very many but only one voice will lead us to where we are going.

“This state was created in 1976 but as at today, we are in deficit in many respects. We are in deficit in the aspect of road, hospitals, education and every respect.

“Agriculture that used to be our source of existence has been abandoned because since 1976, no government has taken it as a priority to open up our forest resources, to open up our coastal resources and to open up our mineral resources.

“Sometimes ago in this state, we have many companies like Ifon ceramics, premier metal in Ondo, Cocoa processing company in Ile-Oluji, Okitipupa oil mill, and Oluwa glass in Igbokoda.

” These companies were generating employment, wealth and improving the micro economy of the state but all these have gone to oblivion.

“When Dr Olusegun Agagu came, he saw that we were no longer generating income, he did everything to return us to good standard.

“He introduced the Alpha 3D in Ikare, the Owena Multipurpose Dam, the Akure stadium, the Golf course in Idanre, Cassava processing company in Ikoya, but something along the line, accident came and he could no longer complete them.

“In the state today, government is saturated, government can no longer be the sole employer of our people. Our citizens graduate in thousands from school every year but we have to where to accommodate them.

“The problem is that, there is poverty and where there is poverty, all manners of crimes, will thrive. We used to be proud people in Ondo State because of our wealth but today, we are known for falsehood, our people now lie.

“We used to be very proud people. We need to change our formula, we need to open up our forest, coastal and mineral resources.

“Ondo Needs a Governor that is familiar with the environment. I have spent the whole of my life in Ondo State, I’ve never been away for six months except in 1971 when I was in Lagos for nine months.

“I have been part of the suffering, I’ve been part of the denial and that’s why I will be part of the solution to the problems of our state.

“I’ve contested for this position for three times, I lost like Bihari and the fourth time is my turn. Recall that three of rose at the same time in this state. Mimiko, Akeredolu and I.

“The three of us are from three senatorial district. Mimiko took his turn from the central, Akeredolu took his turn from the North.

“I am told and I’m glad that the ticket is shifting to the south, so who’s turn is next? It is my turn! I am the only one that can say that, nobody else can say that.

In his response, the chairman of the party, Engineer Ade Adetimehin, Adetimehin, appealed to all the aspirants to play the game according to the rules.

Adetimehin said that “We want to appeal to you and your supporters to play the game according to the rule in a civilise way.

“We should not fright. Don’t be involve in campaign of bitterness. All we want from the aspirants is to focus on how to develop the state.

The chairman appealed to Oke to support whoever emerged as the party’s flagbearear after the primary.