Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, lawyer, prominent businessman and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is gazing at the primary with optimism.
He is taking his message of hope to the nooks and crannies of the Sunshine State, consulting with stakeholders and mobilising potential delegates.
The primary will not be a walk over, but only men of strength will survive. Apart from Ibrahim, other contenders are Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, former Finance Commissioner Wale Akinterinwa, eminent doctor Paul Akintelure, Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), Dr. Soji Ehinlanwo, and Major General Ohunyeye. All the contenders are from the South District.
Ibrahim had placed his hand on the plough when he informed the former party leader, the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu about his intention to run. Since then, he has been up and doing, planting his ‘Aseyori’ structure, targetting delegates and convincing the people that, with him as candidate, Ondo APC will retain power at the Alagbaka House, Akure, the state capital.
Ibrahim, who spoke with reporters on his plans for the state, said as the most educated among the aspirants seeking the ticket, he would use his knowledge, skills, experience and networks to fuell the fire of development.
He said he needed to use his nine degrees and brain to help Ondo, adding: “I think this is time I have to really sort out human problems in this state. My programmes are very straightforward. We are to create moral efficiency and moral knowledge and making the body more efficient.”
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On security, Ibrahim said: “We must also map Ondo State borders for security networks and then, to ensure that we will never have any cases of kidnapping, by making Amotekun a classic unique security outfit that will come with good strategy to challenge any security issues in our state.
“So, one of the areas we are looking at is to ensure that everybody in Ondo state can go to sleep with their eyes closed and that’s top most of our priority. Mapping every system, the tactical operations of Amotekun have to come more distinct into technology, I want an Amotekun that is IT informed because I have PhD in War.
“And if we have security first, if we can be secured individually, we will secure the state. So, I’m saying now that the Amotekun will have highest attention in terms of information technology, I am an expert in security, I may not wearing military uniform. When I becaome the governor, we must have residence card, we will know all your data. So, in this election, we are giving out 600,000 Aseyori card.
“We need to do more of IT, our government will ensure that Amotekun is IT compliance through strategy and renovation and is going to be well funded to ensure that people of Ondo State can go and sleep.”
Ibrahim also promised to preside over a government, saying that it is the key to employmentgenerationHe said the people should expect the bitumen act that is being packaged in the Senate, which is now at the third reading.
He added: “Also in the North, we are going to do swap contracts. We are not going to spend kobo to do our roads. Also, the civil service will be very top instrumental that will run the government to ensure that they are computerized. We are to devote powers to Commissioners to make them powerful so that they will not be running after the governor for any approval.”
Ibrahim has refrained from typical politics of acrimony and character assasination. He said he is in the race by right, adding that he prefers to engage the people with his manifestos instead of recourse to politics of bitterness.
He said:” I don’t run any aspirant or candidate down. I only face the programmes that I want to do. So, I have already completed my research programme in Cambridge on how to win election and research signal to be that you don’t run until the last minutes. So I used my money to fund my strategy to win the Senate election and I wasn’t taken to any court.”
Ibrahim said Ondo State will be a reference point, if elected as governor. Hesaid: “After the primary, there would be a booklet on what we will do in the first six months, one year and so on. It is not necessary that I need to go and meet NEPA before Ondo State can have light.
“At the Cambridge where I studied for six years, we generated our electricity by winds and solar, so we have solar farms there and others. So there are so many ways to get electricity. We might decide to map the state entirely to have electricity.”
The name of Ibrahim rings bells. It is also a resistance to intimidation and timidity. Peeping into the nearest future, he said the shadow poll will separate the wheat from the chaff.
He said: “The idea of primary is not something that we can start thinking from negative, and I don’t fear primary and I don’t lobby anybody. I don’t go to say give me direct primary. Either direct or indirect primary, no problem. If it is indirect primary, we will come with new strategy, strategy are never ending. We are not against anybody, but come to the field you will meet me there.”
Ibrahim commended his supporters for their unwavering support for the party. He said the wisdom that made them to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year will enable them to also choose wisely in Ondo State.
