Ondo paid N500m counterpart fund to W/Bank to build access roads to Farms – Akeredolu

Agency Reporter

As part of his determination to boost the socioeconomic power of rural communities within Ondo state, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), on Friday disclosed that his administration has paid N500million counterpart fund to World Bank funded Rural Access and Agricultural

Marketing Programme (RAAMP) to access funds needed to rehabilitate the roads to all the major farms in the state.

He dropped this hint during an interactive session with Farmers’

Association, held at Adegbemile Cultural Centre, Akure, the state capital, with an endorsement of Akeredolu for another term by the Association who promised to mobilise their members across the state to ensure his victory at the forthcoming October 10th, 2020, governorship election.

“Dear farmers, let me congratulate you for what you are going to benefit from my second term if you renew your social contract with me.

“Some months ago, I paid the sum of #500million to RAAMP to able to access funds needed to be used to rehabilitate all the roads that leads to major farms across the 18 local government areas of our state but the project was delayed by the national assembly who didn’t approve the funds on time,” Akeredolu declared.

The governor added that “However, today, I am pleased to inform you that RAAMP has been approved by the national assembly. My second term will make the roads to your farms accessible through all forms of transportation technology.

“Continuity is the key. You need me to return to make this happen and I need you to return to make history because I want to work for tomorrow. I want to work for posterity. I want to create jobs through Agriculture. I want Ondo to stop relying on allocation from Abuja. I want an Ondo that investors will troop into like market.

“By the grace of God, you will all smile in my second term than you have smiled in my first term thus far. You have said I am the best thus far, be rest assured that I won’t betray your trust if your renew your social contract with me,” Akeredolu assured.

Endorsing the governor for second term, the farmers, led by the Olu of Omifunfun, Idanre, Oba Ilemobayo Akinwolemi, said Akeredolu deserve another round of era in power because of his unusual performance thus far. Recounting their experiences during the previous administrations, the farmers narrated how their farms and houses were destroyed but the previous administrations did virtually nothing to rehabilitate them.

Flanked by his Executive members, Oba Akinwolemi said no governor has done what the Akeredolu led-administration has done for farmers since the State was created in 1976.

“Four years ago, the governor met us during the campaign and promised us that he would allow us to farm in the government reserves if we voted for him and today, he has fulfilled his campaign promise.

“We have already begun our campaign for his re-election three years ago. We are ready to return Akeredolu for a second term in office for allowing us to farm without any harassment,” he said.