Leading candidates in next week’s governorship election in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Hon Agboola Ajayi, clashed at the governorship debate organised by Channels Television at the International and Cultural Event Centre, Akure.
Both candidates engaged in fireworks as they unveiled what they planned to do in areas of economy, agriculture, security and other sectors.
Ajayi challenged Aiyedatiwa to a street walk to test their popularity and general acceptance.
On local government elections, Aiyedatiwa said the state electoral body would continue to conduct local government elections until the law is amended, saying the APC conducted free and fair elections at the local councils.
Ajayi, on his part, said Aiyedatiwa operates an illegal local government system as declared null and void by the court.
He accused the gyovernor of destroying the legacy of their late boss, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, especially the Amotekun corps and promised to strengthen the security outfit if elected as governor.
The PDP candidate chided Aiyedatiwa for not improving the economy and the education sector.
Ajayi, who accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of collecting N1.2 billion monthly as security votes, said there was no significant improvement in the state’s security situation.
Ajayi said: “We will resist the use of Amotekun during the coming election. When I become governor, I will strengthen Amotekun but will not use it during any election.
“I challenge the Governor to make public how much he’s collecting if he says I am lying about the N1.2 billion figure.
“The poor people in Ondo State are more in numbers. What we rely on in Ondo is the collection of salary. The cocoa industry of the state has not positively impacted the economy of the state.
“No single palm oil factory in Ondo State. When I become governor, I will established sunshine glass factory to replace the defunct Oluwa glass.
“We will also invest in our local airport, which is a cargo airport, to boost agriculture and food security for the state. There is no single tractor in the state, so the government is not prepared to invest in agriculture.
“There no single development in Ilaje communities and the governor is from the area. When I am governor of Ondo, in one or two years, I will initiate policies that will drive the cocoa industry in the state
“As g5overnor, I’ll cancel the Ministry of Local because it is criminal not to allow local as their affair.
“Ondo State workers will be happier when I pay N76,000. I know how administration works better than Aiyedatiwa. I have been a local government chairman, member of the House of Representatives, Deputy Governor and Acting Governor.
“The problem we have in education is lack of data. We do not have accurate data. How do we one teacher and Governor Lucky expect the output to be ok? We used to enjoy free textbooks. What are they doing is nothing.
I am a comfortable man. I am not in government to make money. There will be free education in Ondo,”
Aiyedatiwa, on his part, said Ajayi has different dates of birth on his certificates.
He said all leaders of the PDP have defected to the APC.
The Ondo Governor said safety and security of the people would be his primary mandate even as he vowed that the economy of the state, particularly agriculture, would be given priority.
Aiyedatiwa said Ajayi lacked experience in governance adding that his administration was already taking advantage of the power devolution by the federal government.
He said the Amotekun Corps, was ready to transform into a state police.
“Amotekun can trace crime to its root cause and the corps is ready to transform into a state police. There nothing like N1.2 billion security vote. It a lie from the pit of hell. Security vote is a Security issue and I can’t reveal it.
“There are industries in Ondo State, among which is the linyin industry, where they convert cassava to ethernol and make textile materials.
We also have industry that turn cocoa to chocolate. And they are being exported.
“We have a lot of investors that have shown interest to invest in agriculture in the state. They are interested in the state because of the peace existing in the state. There are businesses that the government does not get involved in but to provide the enabling environment. Investors are ready to invest in Ifon ceramic. We are clearing land to boost farming, particularly cocoa.
“My brother can’t come here and be lying. Is he in government? But he declined to disclose the monthly security vote, citing security concerns.”
On minimum wage, Aiyedatiwa said his administration was ready to pay N73,000.
On the debt profile of the State, Aiyedatiwa said he would not add to the existing debt of N144b.
He said:”We have shuttle buses for our pupils to go to school. We pay for their WAEC fees. If we catch them young at the primary school level, we are renovating our schools, giving our teachers loans
“The conduct of LG election has to be done by the state electoral body until the law is amended. The issue is we follow the law. The last LG election was free and fair and credible in Ondo State. We are people of integrity in Ondo State. We conduct free, fair and credible election. Peoples opinion can differ. Let us follow the law we stick to state electoral body.”
