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Today marks another milestone in our collective democratic trajectory in the Sunshine State. We are gathered as a people not merely as party faithfuls to take another shot at consolidating governance, but also to celebrate the richness and beauty of our democracy under the transformational audacity of our President and Commander-In-Chief of Armed Forces, His Excellency Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCON.
I must therefore welcome you all, leaders, stakeholders and members of our great Party, ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS to this great event. I should also hasten to express our appreciation to you for your steadfastness as party faithful’s and for your unparralled commitment to democratic ideals in the overall interest of Ondo State and Nigeria at large. We are proud of you all and we must never take your support and loyalty for granted.
Just about this time three years ago, our late leader and former Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON and my humble self as Deputy Governor, mounted the soap box to seek your support to govern this blessed State. You all gladly gave your support and ensured our victory under a joint ticket of the APC.
In no time upon assumption of office we emplaced transformational policies and programmes which have no doubt impacted positively on the development of the Sunshine State. Our score cards speak glowingly on infrastructural development and provision of social amenities including roads, education and health.
We also parade some rich credentials in industrialization: and security and welfare of the people. Our greatest strength today in the State, compared to other regions in Nigeria is the huge sense of security and peace which we enjoy as a result of the birth of the South West Security Network, codenamed AMOTEKUN CORPS and which form the substructures of our developmental strides as a people. We cannot but continue to give accolades to our deceased leader, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN,CON, under whose tutelage and joint partnership we have been able to accomplish these giant strides. May his gentle soul continue to rest in peace.
Distinguished citizens and party faithfuls, I must re-echo what our late leader had always wished for in his life time. It was his wish that I succeed him, not in death though, as the next Governor of the State. He was a courageous and visionary leader who had no time for pretense and so he expressed this wish at different fora in both public and private. All was with one conviction and implicit confidence in me to carry on the torch of accelerated development which he lighted first in 2017 and later renewed under a joint ticket for both of us in the 2021 gubernatorial election.
I must therefore express my profound appreciation to you for the unalloyed support and loyalty which you have extended to this administration since my assumption of office as the 7th democratically elected Governor of the Sunshine State, after the painful but glorious exit of Arakunrin Oluwrotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON. You have demonstrated the core values of resilience, audacity of courage, justice and truth passed unto us by the founding fathers of our dear State by standing up for democracy and constitutionality at a most critical time in the face of conspiracy against the State and the well-being of our people. I am confident that posterity will be proud of you. I dare say too with a sense of humility that our departed leader would be proud of me as a worthy constitutional successor who has not derailed on the path of development we jointly pursued.
My dear people of Ondo State, within the short period of my assumption of office, we have put the welfare of the people first by ordering all contractors back to sites to breathe life into the hitherto abandoned projects. We championed the welfare of the workers by paying outstanding salary arrears and settled substantial amount from the gratuities of pensioners. We also ensure payment of salaries to workers as and when due, so much that we owe no kobo to workers as at today. Employment into critical sectors like health is also ongoing. All these combined have quickly restored the confidence of our people in the administration, a confidence that was earlier eroded by the inordinate quest of anti- democracy elements.
Today, I have come before you in response to the popular yearnings and aspirations of our people to sustain this path of progress and development in the State. Our people and party faithfuls, through multi-dimensional platforms, have expressed their desire for the continuity of this administration beyond 2025. From the good people of Ilaje, Apoi and Ijaw Arogbo, through the great Ikale land of Okitipupa and Irele Lgs; from the delectable Odigbo and Idanre people to the progressive Ondos, Ifedore and Akure land; from the visionary Owo and Ose to the resilient Akoko land, the clamours for continuity have been very intense.
To the glory of God, I parade very rich political credentials and vast experience in governance. Without being immodest, the trajectory of my experiences in governance as former Representative of Ondo State on the Board of NDDC, one-time Deputy Governor, and three times Acting Governor under our late sage and now the incumbent Governor of Ondo State are is too material to be wished away! The poser therefore is whether or not to respect the people’s yearnings for sustainable good governance they have enjoyed in the last seven years. The people of Ondo State must not suddenly find themselves in Egypt. Never!
Today, I stand before you in all humility and with a fierce commitment to the greatness of our Sunshine State. I offer myself, in difference to your popular yearnings and upon wide consultations, not just to run the race, but to be the candidate of our great party, ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS in the 2024 gubernatorial election. I am fully prepared for this opportunity to re-enact the legacies of visionary, purposeful, competent leadership bequeathed to us by our founding fathers to build the future of Ondo State.
MY VISION AND MISSION FOR ONDO STATE
My vision and mission for the people of Ondo State are greatly enriched, having served the State from 2021-2023, with our departed leader, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, who in no small measure was an exemplar of purposeful and courageous leadership, empathy and good governance. I have a clear agenda to sustain Ondo State on the path of glory and development. Life must be more meaningful to our people
My mission would focus on key developmental issues to alleviate poverty, banish hunger and make Ondo State self-sustaining. My development agenda is to emplace a State Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (SEEDS).
Under SEEDS, we would harmonize all plans for economic development. The strategy of this MISSION is to birth policies aimed at wealth creation, employment generation, sustenance of high standard of living and consequently eradicate poverty among the people. Pointedly, SEEDS would achieve the followings:
Enhance economic growth in the rural areas by improving productivity in agriculture, fishing, horticulture, and trading.
Accelerate economic growth in urban areas by encouraging private enterprises and economic activities for the urban poor.
Improve the health of the people by addressing major diseases that cause mortality, most especially infant and maternal mortality.
Improve essential infrastructure and social amenities of the State such as roads, water, electricity etc.
Provide adequate housing, especially affordable houses in urban and rural areas; and ensure a congenial environment for the people.
Ensure quality education for all including ability to read and write
Improve standard of research and development especially in education, industry, housing and skill acquisition
Deliberate focus on youth and women development
Improve security architectures of the State, through the Amotekun Corps and conventional security outfits, for safety of lives and property.
My dear people of Ondo State, the gubernatorial primary election is at hand. Your vote is a potent weapon that must be wisely used. We must reject those who seek to buy our conscience with money. We must stop those who seek to govern this State by muscles.That is not what our late legends and founding fathers who once governed this State handed unto our generation.
Today, I offer myself to lead, not to rule, to respect your wishes, not to dominate you, and to lead by example of humility, good character and empathy, which I have demonstrated in office since 2021.
I remain the epitome of OMOLUABI that you have always trusted. I urge you to VOTE me as the candidate of our great party.
LONG LIVE NIGERIA!
LONG LIVE ONDO STATE!!
LONG LIVE APC!!!
