A Governorship aspirant on the platform of Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Akinyinka Akinnola, has appealed to the party’s leadership to ensure a level-playing ground for all aspirants in the governorship primary scheduled for August 28 in Akure, the state capital.
Akinnola told reporters after receiving his clearance certificate to contest the party’s primary that so far, the party has been fair and just in the handling of the processes leading to the primary election to select the party’s flagbearer in the November governorship election.
Reaffirming his belief that he is the best man for the job, Akinnola said he has a vision to transform Ondo State.
He lamented the inability of the present government to pay workers’ salaries despite being an oil producing state.
He expressed the belief that the state’s resources can be improved through prudent management and cutting down on government spending without imposing more tax on the people.
He said: “I have a vision for Ondo State; it’s a vision of transformation. I am a focused leader. I have established industries. I have been involved in commercial enterprise, in engineering, infrastructure, manufacturing, power and agriculture for over 32 years. I have the exposure and experience to lead and to harness both our human and natural resources to re-position the state.
“The important thing not to do is to burden the people with more taxes and fees all in the name of increasing the IGR. There are short and long term strategies in increasing the IGR.
“The first is to stop the leakages in the existing revenue collection system. Some of these leakages are due to theft, some are due to diversion or inefficiency in monitoring and collecting revenue. From this, you will see that stopping leakages will make the IGR increase substantially.
“On the long term basis, IGR can only increase as a result of the viability and prosperity of businesses existing in the state and investment in infrastructure. When there are businesses that are prospering and people’s level of income increasing, IGR will automatically be increased from taxation, from fees for services etc.
“For example, even our infrastructure development plan; building of roads particularly will open up new areas hitherto undeveloped and people moving into such areas will develop and inhabit them, which will increase land use. The increase of a state IGR is a long-term effort that is dependent on the development and viability of the economy of the state.”
Decrying the inability of the state to pay salaries despite being an oil producing state, Akinnola described the situation as very challenging.
He noted that the ability of the state to pay salaries will depend on the income of the state matching or surpassing its expenditure, which, he said, would be a long term goal.
However, he said his immediate priority would be to clear the existing backlog of salaries owed workers, adding that the first thing to do to raise money for the state is to reduce cost to free more money for salaries.
He said the reduction of cost would begin from the office of the governor by reducing the numbers of personal aides and other expenditure in the Government House.
Akinnola added that commercial property belonging to the state, which are being under-utilised in Lagos and Abuja, will be put into profitable use.
He said his government “will look at the state’s master plan, especially in the area of infrastructure and our solid mineral resources”.
“Beyond this master plan, we shall use concession to qualify local and deserving investors as a means of raising revenue immediately,” he said.