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  • Mimiko has failed Ondo people, says APC guber aspirant

    Mimiko has failed Ondo people, says APC guber aspirant

    Ahead of the November date for the governorship election in Ondo State, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akin Akingbade, has declared that the state is in dire need of a governor who would be pragmatic enough to deal with the challenges facing the masses in reasonable and logical ways.

    Akingbade, who spoke with our correspondent shortly after meeting some prominent leaders of his party in Akure, the state capital, lamented that the economic woes confronting the state were as a result of mismanagement o the state funds by the Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration.

    Akingbade wondered why Mimiko based the financing of the state N118billion 2016 budget on oil money despite the challenges facing the sector.

    “The idea of relying on oil for financing the budget would only push the state into more debt, because when oil money is not enough, the government would resort to loans to finance some of its projects. Don’t forget that the state is still servicing a debt of about $52million.”

    The governorship hopeful noted that the state should start thinking of diversifying the economy by focusing on the agricultural sector, saying the sector remains the only way of survival for the state.

    “Ondo State should stop relying on oil. Let us have a government that is not oil-based at all. You know that before oil came, Ondo State was into agriculture.

    “In 1976, former President Olusegun Obasanjo started a programme called Operation Feed the Nation. During that time, there was so much food in the country.

    “Why can’t we start a similar programme in Ondo State? We are supposed to be the food basket of the nation. We have so many products that can be showcased. We have farm produce like cashew, yam, cassava, cocoa-yam and several others. It is unfortunate that we are living in the midst of plenty, but at the same time we are suffering.”

  • ‘PDP can’t survive in Ondo’

    ‘PDP can’t survive in Ondo’

    Former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Omowumi Olatunji is now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. She spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on the chances of the party at the governorship election in the Sunshine state.

    What is your assessment of the political situation in Ondo State?

    Looking at Ondo State and the structure, we cannot compare Ondo State with Lagos because Ondo State is more of a civil servant state. The larger percentage of the population is the workforce and I think the people are so unhappy about the way the administration is going, how governance is being discharged in Ondo State. The atmosphere is a bit tense because of that unhappy condition and the lack of attention that the government is giving to people in the state. It is affecting the state. You cannot see the enthusiasm the people had when the Mimiko administration came on board. So, I think the state itself and the people are very ready for change and, if you look at the entire Southwest, the APC has gained ground in Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, leaving out Ekiti and Ondo. The election of Edo State is coming up in June. The election of Ondo State is October. So, we have the template that we are going to use in October. We will use it Ondo State. That is going to give enough time to be able to look at the chances of coming to sweep the state. So, I think everything is set for the APC and we have to leverage on the inability of the current government to discharge its duties. I won’t lie to you. People are not happy with the Mimko administration. I think it has really lost its popularity.

    Is the economic problem not also responsible for the bad situation?

    That the salaries are not paid on time, and all that, it is part of it. Don’t forget that the level of the rot is high. The PDP was in power for 16years. The level of destruction, the level of impunity, people were doing things without thinking about the future. Any opportunity people were given to serve under thePDP, they were using it as if it was just about self. Many things have gone wrong. So, you cannot repair a broken wall overnight. The Buhari administration just got into office less than a year. We are not going to expect so much. It’s going to get worse before it gets better. So, for any administration that is still flowing from the PDP, it will be rejected. It is stupidity on the part of any person to say I will vote for the PDP because they have lost ground. They do not have the interest of people at heart.

    Look at this issue of cleansing that is going on the country as regards corruption war because that was the selling point during the campaign of President Buhari; that he was going to make sure that anyone that stole Nigeria’s money is brought to book. And look at it today. You know how much we have been able to retrieve from outside and within the country. You could see the level of heartlessness that has been displayed.

    More than 25 people want to be governor of Ondo State on the platform of the APC. Don’t you see the struggle for the ticket tearing apart the party?

    It is their constitutional right. The constitution gives you room to vote and be voted for. So, anybody that has interest in going for any office, it is his constitutional right. But, I believe the leadership is looking into that and at the end of the day, the number would be pruned down. So, I see that number reducing before the primary. We cannot have that large number; it doesn’t make sense, it does add up to have 25 people going for the shadow poll. I think the party is looking towards that direction to prune down the number of aspirants.

    The aspirants are building their personal platforms, instead of collectively building the party. How do you react to this?

    Well, I don’t think that is correct because I could remember when I came in few days back, one of the aspirants donated buses to the party and I have seen them going round, making visitations, consultations across the state. Contrary to that, I have seen the activities of most of the aspirants and I am impressed. They just need to intensify whatever they are doing.

    What is your reaction to the defections from the PDP to the APC in Ondo?

    In the last one month, we have had a lot of people defecting from the PDP to the APC. That further confirms that the PDP is depopulated. So, they don’t have as much followership. The APC is now a party to beat because we are increasing by the day. Even two weeks ago, one of their strong supporters crossed to the APC and he came with a large number of followers from the PDP. They were not rented crowd. They were known faces in the community. So, I see prospect. The transition from the PDP to the APC in Ondo State is going to be very smooth. The people are really ready. They are receptive to this new change mantra that will come.

    What will Ondo people benefit under the APC government that they are not getting under the PDP administration.

    There are five factors that favour the APC. These are our selling points. One is responsibility. Any government that is not responsible is not worth following. In anything you are doing, when you say a government is responsive, that means they know what to do at the right time. When you give somebody the responsibility and he is not responsive, it’s like today we talk about Fashola’s government in Lagos State. It was a responsive government and the same thing applies. It has become part of you; you cannot be disconnected from the people that voted for you. The party and the government must be accountable to the people. The APC is a government that believes in accountability and that is what we are saying and in whatever we are doing, we are very consistent; we believe in continuity. Anything that we do, we sustain it and that is what we are selling-consistency in governance. We don’t believe in duplication and wasting money. Anything that we are doing and is affecting people positively, we sustain it. Also, in what we do, transparency is important. You must be seen not to only say you are transparent. You must be seen to be transparent.

    What are the mistakes you think that the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) made in 2012 that robbed it of the governorship that shout be not repeated?

    There was no serious competition and we did not prepare on time. Like what we are doing right now, everybody r is on the field working. The last time, the candidate came out, shortly before the election. So, he didn’t really have time to get into details. The people didn’t know him. We couldn’t sell him the way we should because there wasn’t much time.

    You are relocating from Lagos to Ondo. How would you react to the perception that you are a new comer or a stranger in Ondo politics?

    I am not a stranger. I’m not strange to Ondo. When people want to be mischievous, they would talk about that. But, no matter how long you have been away from your place of origin, one day you will return home. People say there is no place better than home. I’m back home. My people cannot tell me that to be a member of that family, you have to create me again. I have been created and I’m happy. I’m proud. Those who don’t know me, they are taking their time and pain to go and know my family house because the story is: where is she coming from? They say I don’t have a root. It is a lie.

    I had my primary education in Akure. I had my secondary education in Ondo State. I went to St. Mathias Primary School and St. Louis Girls Grammar School, Akure. I only had admission to study in Lagos in 1999. That was when I left. So, for somebody to say they don’t know me is just a story that is not going to sell because I am a known face and good enough, I still have an aged father, a 93-yr-old man, who is still very strong, living in Akure. My family dynasty is still very much on ground because we produce the current monarch in Akureland. So, those stories I hear, I discard them because they are not going to add any value to what I am doing.

    To what extent have you impacted on the people of Ondo State?

    With the empowerment that I have introduced, it is going to capture a large number of people. On individual basis, I have been doing that, paying school fees for people and all that. It is what I am used to. You get to hear this family has problem, that one is sick in the hospital. I do that periodically; sometimes on a weekly basis, on a daily basis. So, I touch their lives. But, I want to look at a larger percentage of the people of Ondo State. That is why I am sponsoring an empowerment programme that will cut across the entire state to touch a thousand people-youths, women, old people, widows, orphans. I have given the party that right to go and put that number and names together. So, my own duty is to make that presentation on that 27th of March and I look forward to it, and I know Ondo State people would be happy for this gesture.

    Who are you supporting among the 25 aspirants?

    I support all the aspirants. They are all my candidates. But, the person that would wear the crown would be crowned. I know that the person that God has prepared and who has the fear of God and passion for the people is the person is the person that this thing would fall in his hand. And I pray that that person will take our matter with all passion and commitment so that it will be a better record, compared to the one we are all trying to get rid off.

    How do you think the party should react to the antagonistic agitations for zoning by the people of Owo, Akure and Akoko?

    On the issue of zoning, I don’t think we are seeing it as a problem. It’s common sense revolution. Apparently, the incumbent governor of the state, Mimiko, is from Ondo and Ondo falls within the Central Senatorial District. We have a minister from South Senatorial District. The North  Senatorial District is left without anything. So, that is the rationale. We just need to understand that we have to be fair to all the senatorial districts within the state. I think if a candidate emerges from Morth, it should be a welcome development and then, whatever the central gets at the end of the day, the best could be a deputy governor and I know this time around, we want to flow with other states where you have a male governor and a female deputy governor so that we can strike a balance and be fair to all.

  • 40 for governor in Ondo

    40 for governor in Ondo

    No fewer than 30 chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are warming up for the primary election in Ondo State, it was learnt yesterday.

    Also, 10 chieftains are struggling for the ticket in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The governorship election is expected to hold in October.

    The PDP aspirants are the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede, his Environment counterpart, Sola Ebiseni, former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Hon. Kingsley Kuku, Hon. Bakitta Bello and Hon. Saka Lawal.

    Others are Mr. Rotimi Jegede, Prince Nekan Olateru-Olagbegi, Mr. Bamiduro Dada and Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye.

    The APC aspirants include  Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Dr. Segun Abraham, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Alhaji Jamiu Ekungba,  Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, Awodeyi Akinseyinwa Apata, Hon. Sule Akinsuyi, Olakunle Osunyikanmi, Odunayo Akinrinsola, Foluso Adefemi and Bukola Adetula.

    Others are Dr. Bode Ayorinde, Olubunmi Agbaminoja, Chief Segun Ojo, Sola Iji, a lawyer, Hon. Victor Olabimtan, former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Senator  Tayo Alasoadura, Adegbonmire, Light Ariyomo, Paul Akinterinwa, Ayo Akinyelure, Olusola Oke, Ife Abegunde, Akinyinka Akinnola and Dr.Tunji Abayomi, a foremost rights activist.

  • We are ready for APC in Ondo, says PDP chieftain

    We are ready for APC in Ondo, says PDP chieftain

    Ayo Fadaka is the Director of Media and Publicity of the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). In this interview with DAMISI OJO in Akure, the state capital, he speaks on the preparation for the governorship election and other issues. 

    How is the PDP preparing for the governorhip election in Ondo State?

    In the life of our state, this year is very important because of the governorship election that hopefully comes up in October. Political parties, both the serious and the mundane ones, are already getting set for the all-important contest.

    In the PDP, we are mindful of our placing and position in the state. We have also taken cognizance of developments in our polity, the new challenges that may confront us and the possible emerging variables that may play a dominant role in the election. I assure you that we are working ahead, confident that all issues will be properly addressed. The fact that you have not seen any of our governorship aspirants running around and heating the polity is a clear manifestation of the control mechanism within the party. Discipline within the party is a strength we hope to use to the maximum in the coming days.

    Many of your members have defected to the APC in protest against Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s style. Will that not affect the fortunes of your party to retain power?

    I don’t understand what you mean by saying our valuable members have defected to the APC. What I do know is that we lost some and  gained others. As some were leaving, many were coming in droves. So, I cannot say that their leaving have had much impact on us. You may wish to ask me, why? Before the elections last year, many left the party for the APC and another set of fifth columnists remained in the fold to sabotage our presidential election efforts; they  only decamped after that election. Of course, we lost the presidential elections to the APC. This was not because of their activities, but due to the fact that the electorate had swallowed the deceit that the “change” mantra represented. However, the defining moment for us was the House of Assembly election which we won overwhelmingly. These so-called “valuable” members were defeated flatly in their backyard during that election. Their much-touted relevance, which they claim is their selling point simply did not sell; it was bad market for them and the trend will also continue. Therefore, you will agree with me that the election points to the fact that our party is resourceful and absolutely dynamic, because it demonstrated its ability to reverse an ugly trend and equally its mastery and understanding of the terrain where we play.

    Most of the politicians that defected were mere political jobbers in search of filthy lucre they presume will be available to them through their membership of the APC. I wish them luck. I know however that some of our friends who defected to the APC are daily groaning and full of regrets for their hasty action. This is because they still remain outsiders in that party where some “aboriginal” tenets are employed to shut them out or limit their level of participation. Again, I declare that before the election, we will still harvest  some, if not all of them as undemocratic actions within APC will drive them back to their political homestead which the PDP represents.

    The PDP remains solid in this state and that has not changed. You also allude to the presumption that Governor Mimiko hijacked the party. That is not true; no such thing happened. There are many levels of decision making in the party at all times and in all issues. These many levels play their roles effectively and it is not a case of the Governor, as the leader of the party pronouncing decrees on developments. For every appointment that the Governor made recently, it went through these levels, so it’s erroneous to even think or imagined that Mimiko hijacked the Party, he is too democratically minded to contemplate such action.

    There is a rumour that Mimiko has his own candidate for the ticket. Don’t you believe in credible primary where an acceptable candidate will emerge?

    There are numerous talk in town about candidates, the most interesting thing is that the APC is the one shouting loudest about Mimiko’s choice amongst the aspirants, this only indicate that they are scared about the fact that our Party will once again trounce them, as we traditionally do, in the forthcoming governorship election.

    However it is absolutely necessary to restate the fact that our Party has guidelines and constitutional provisions that guide how our candidates will emerge and we respect the constitution of the Party so much that every provision and clauses that relate to the conduct of the primary election will be obeyed. Ours is a democratic Party that relies absolutely on the desires of its membership and does not have a conclave where anointing  is made, thus at the appointed time, the whole world will witness our primary elections and see who emerges as our flag bearer, but I tell you that whoever becomes our candidate is that man who must have transversed the length and breath of the State to sell his candidature to Party members and in whom confidence must have been reposed!

    What is your opinion on the proposed local government election in the state?

    This State is actually overripe for the conduct of the Local Government election and I thank God that we now have a date for the election. Our Party welcome the development and will as such contest in every Ward and local government. I understand that the APC says it won’t contest the election, no problem, but I belief the Party is merely scared to expose the fact that is is merely a surface Party here in Ondo State and therefore not likely to make a headway in the election. They therefore do not want to expose to their sponsors that they are a bad investment here. That election will certainly be free, typical of elections conducted under PDP governments since the Jonathan era. It is only in APC States that actual results of voting in local governments elections are completely disregarded and conjured results are produced and made to stand. This happened in Lagos under Babatunde Fashola and also in Rivers under Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, but ours won’t be like that as we have credible professionals manning our SIEC, men who will work according to the dictates of their conscience and do only that which is right.

    Governor Mimiko too does not breath down on the institutions of state as he allows them to discharge their statutory functions unhindered, therefore if there are people in this APC wishing to contest and they are sure of their popularity and ability to win elections in their wards and local government, let them get out of that party, join another and test their popularity now! It is evil for them to jettison their ambition because a Party is just to timid to test its popularity and acceptability.

    How how many aspirants are in the race for the PDP?

    We have a number of people that are interested in becoming governor and they are solid characters who are accomplished in every respect. They are men who are of stern characters and discipline in every respect again. It will be wrong for me to tell you their numbers now as I may be shutting out some who may still wish to enter the race. However we have a manageable number and not a motley rowdy crowd others have and the benefit in this is that it will give us an added advantage in managing the Party.

    How will you react to the on-going probe of $2.1b arms cash?

    Like any well intentioned Nigerian, I have always said that corruption is evil and we are its victims, any action that is geared to exterminate this scourge is laudable, but such actions must be sincere and wholesale. It must not in any manner be selective or enmeshed in propaganda and falsehood. The $2.1billion issue is a propaganda issue, fact of the matter is that this amount represents the entire defense budget for the about six years that Jonathan was President and we all know that in all budgets, there are recurrent and capital issues and if the Buhari government is saying that all this was stolen, it means salaries were not paid to the personnel under the defense ministry, both military and civilian! Isn’t that curious? It is also not out of place that people saddled with responsibilities may sometimes become deviant and not execute their assignments diligently, thereby necessitating this kind of development. It does not mean that it is the Party he belongs to that is responsible for it. The Halliburton matter far outweighs this issue and those responsible for that heist are today me,bears of the APC and government is still silent on it. Corruption is evil and its perpetrators are evil minded, there must be no discrimination in addressing it. I am sure more revelations on corruption will still be unearthed, even the President must be ready to surrender himself for probe when those that directly concern him are mentioned, that is just the required attitude to deal with corruption.

    Again I observe that only PDP people, safe for that Isa, have been interdicted for corruption, tried and convicted in the media, while APC people are angels! It is even jocularly said that if you become a member of APC today, your past corruptions are forgiven and this talk is being walked! There is a Jim Nwobodo who was also alleged to have received  N500 million, but since he became APC, nothing has happened to him.

  • ‘PDP can’t survive in Ondo’

    ‘PDP can’t survive in Ondo’

    Former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Omowumi Olatunji is now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. She spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on the chances of the party at the governorship election in the Sunshine state.

    What is your assessment of the political situation in Ondo State?

    Looking at Ondo State and the structure, we cannot compare Ondo State with Lagos because Ondo State is more of a civil servant state. The larger percentage of the population is the workforce and I think the people are so unhappy about the way the administration is going, how governance is being discharged in Ondo State. The atmosphere is a bit tense because of that unhappy condition and the lack of attention that the government is giving to people in the state. It is affecting the state. You cannot see the enthusiasm the people had when the Mimiko administration came on board. So, I think the state itself and the people are very ready for change and, if you look at the entire Southwest, the APC has gained ground in Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, leaving out Ekiti and Ondo. The election of Edo State is coming up in June. The election of Ondo State is October. So, we have the template that we are going to use in October. We will use it Ondo State. That is going to give enough time to be able to look at the chances of coming to sweep the state. So, I think everything is set for the APC and we have to leverage on the inability of the current government to discharge its duties. I won’t lie to you. People are not happy with the Mimko administration. I think it has really lost its popularity.

    Is the economic problem not also responsible for the bad situation?

    That the salaries are not paid on time, and all that, it is part of it. Don’t forget that the level of the rot is high. The PDP was in power for 16years. The level of destruction, the level of impunity, people were doing things without thinking about the future. Any opportunity people were given to serve under thePDP, they were using it as if it was just about self. Many things have gone wrong. So, you cannot repair a broken wall overnight. The Buhari administration just got into office less than a year. We are not going to expect so much. It’s going to get worse before it gets better. So, for any administration that is still flowing from the PDP, it will be rejected. It is stupidity on the part of any person to say I will vote for the PDP because they have lost ground. They do not have the interest of people at heart.

    Look at this issue of cleansing that is going on the country as regards corruption war because that was the selling point during the campaign of President Buhari; that he was going to make sure that anyone that stole Nigeria’s money is brought to book. And look at it today. You know how much we have been able to retrieve from outside and within the country. You could see the level of heartlessness that has been displayed.

    More than 25 people want to be governor of Ondo State on the platform of the APC. Don’t you see the struggle for the ticket tearing apart the party?

    It is their constitutional right. The constitution gives you room to vote and be voted for. So, anybody that has interest in going for any office, it is his constitutional right. But, I believe the leadership is looking into that and at the end of the day, the number would be pruned down. So, I see that number reducing before the primary. We cannot have that large number; it doesn’t make sense, it does add up to have 25 people going for the shadow poll. I think the party is looking towards that direction to prune down the number of aspirants.

    The aspirants are building their personal platforms, instead of collectively building the party. How do you react to this?

    Well, I don’t think that is correct because I could remember when I came in few days back, one of the aspirants donated buses to the party and I have seen them going round, making visitations, consultations across the state. Contrary to that, I have seen the activities of most of the aspirants and I am impressed. They just need to intensify whatever they are doing.

    What is your reaction to the defections from the PDP to the APC in Ondo?

    In the last one month, we have had a lot of people defecting from the PDP to the APC. That further confirms that the PDP is depopulated. So, they don’t have as much followership. The APC is now a party to beat because we are increasing by the day. Even two weeks ago, one of their strong supporters crossed to the APC and he came with a large number of followers from the PDP. They were not rented crowd. They were known faces in the community. So, I see prospect. The transition from the PDP to the APC is going to be very smooth.  The people are really ready. They are receptive to this new change mantra that will come.

    What will Ondo people benefit under the APC government that they are not getting under the PDP administration.

    There are five factors that favour the APC. These are our selling points. One is responsibility. Any government that is not responsible is not worth following. In anything you are doing, when you say a government is responsive, that means they know what to do at the right time. When you give somebody the responsibility and he is not responsive, it’s like today we talk about Fashola’s government in Lagos State. It was a responsive government and the same thing applies. It has become part of you; you cannot be disconnected from the people that voted for you. The party and the government must be accountable to the people. The APC is a government that believes in accountability and that is what we are saying and in whatever we are doing, we are very consistent; we believe in continuity. Anything that we do, we sustain it and that is what we are selling-consistency in governance. We don’t believe in duplication and wasting money. Anything that we are doing and is affecting people positively, we sustain it. Also, in what we do, transparency is important. You must be seen not to only say you are transparent. You must be seen to be transparent.

    What are the mistakes you think that the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) made in 2012 that robbed it of the governorship that shout be not repeated?

    There was no serious competition and we did not prepare on time. Like what we are doing right now, everybody r is on the field working. The last time, the candidate came out, shortly before the election. So, he didn’t really have time to get into details. The people didn’t know him. We couldn’t sell him the way we should because there wasn’t much time.

    You are relocating from Lagos to Ondo. How would you react to the perception that you are a new comer or a stranger in Ondo politics?

    I am not a stranger. I’m not strange to Ondo. When people want to be mischievous, they would talk about that. But, no matter how long you have been away from your place of origin, one day you will return home. People say there is no place better than home. I’m back home. My people cannot tell me that to be a member of that family, you have to create me again. I have been created and I’m happy. I’m proud. Those who don’t know me, they are taking their time and pain to go and know my family house because the story is: where is she coming from? They say I don’t have a root. It is a lie.

    I had my primary education in Akure. I had my secondary education in Ondo State. I went to St. Mathias Primary School and St. Louis Girls Grammar School, Akure. I only had admission to study in Lagos in 1999. That was when I left. So, for somebody to say they don’t know me is just a story that is not going to sell because I am a known face and good enough, I still have an aged father, a 93-yr-old man, who is still very strong, living in Akure. My family dynasty is still very much on ground because we produce the current monarch in Akureland. So, those stories I hear, I discard them because they are not going to add any value to what I am doing.

    To what extent have you impacted on the people of Ondo State?

    With the empowerment that I have introduced, it is going to capture a large number of people. On individual basis, I have been doing that, paying school fees for people and all that. It is what I am used to. You get to hear this family has problem, that one is sick in the hospital. I do that periodically; sometimes on a weekly basis, on a daily basis. So, I touch their lives. But, I want to look at a larger percentage of the people of Ondo State. That is why I am sponsoring an empowerment programme that will cut across the entire state to touch a thousand people-youths, women, old people, widows, orphans. I have given the party that right to go and put that number and names together. So, my own duty is to make that presentation on that 27th of March and I look forward to it, and I know Ondo State people would be happy for this gesture.

    Who are you supporting among the 25 aspirants?

    I support all the aspirants. They are all my candidates. But, the person that would wear the crown would be crowned. I know that the person that God has prepared and who has the fear of God and passion for the people is the person is the person that this thing would fall in his hand. And I pray that that person will take our matter with all passion and commitment so that it will be a better record, compared to the one we are all trying to get rid off.

    How do you think the party should react to the antagonistic agitations for zoning by the people of Owo, Akure and Akoko?

    On the issue of zoning, I don’t think we are seeing it as a problem. It’s common sense revolution. Apparently, the incumbent governor of the state, Mimiko, is from Ondo and Ondo falls within the Central Senatorial District. We have a minister from South Senatorial District. The North  Senatorial District is left without anything. So, that is the rationale. We just need to understand that we have to be fair to all the senatorial districts within the state. I think if a candidate emerges from Morth, it should be a welcome development and then, whatever the central gets at the end of the day, the best could be a deputy governor and I know this time around, we want to flow with other states where you have a male governor and a female deputy governor so that we can strike a balance and be fair to all.

  • We are ready for APC in Ondo, says PDP

    We are ready for APC in Ondo, says PDP

    Ayo Fadaka is the Director of Media and Publicity of the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). In this interview with DAMISI OJO in Akure, the state capital, he speaks on the preparation for the governorship election and other issues. 

    How is the PDP preparing for the governorhip election in Ondo State?

    In the life of our state, this year is very important because of the governorship election that hopefully comes up in October. Political parties, both the serious and the mundane ones, are already getting set for the all-important contest.

    In the PDP, we are mindful of our placing and position in the state. We have also taken cognizance of developments in our polity, the new challenges that may confront us and the possible emerging variables that may play a dominant role in the election. I assure you that we are working ahead, confident that all issues will be properly addressed. The fact that you have not seen any of our governorship aspirants running around and heating the polity is a clear manifestation of the control mechanism within the party. Discipline within the party is a strength we hope to use to the maximum in the coming days.

    Many of your members have defected to the APC in protest against Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s style. Will that not affect the fortunes of your party to retain power?

    I don’t understand what you mean by saying our valuable members have defected to the APC. What I do know is that we lost some and  gained others. As some were leaving, many were coming in droves. So, I cannot say that their leaving have had much impact on us. You may wish to ask me, why? Before the elections last year, many left the party for the APC and another set of fifth columnists remained in the fold to sabotage our presidential election efforts; they  only decamped after that election. Of course, we lost the presidential elections to the APC. This was not because of their activities, but due to the fact that the electorate had swallowed the deceit that the “change” mantra represented. However, the defining moment for us was the House of Assembly election which we won overwhelmingly. These so-called “valuable” members were defeated flatly in their backyard during that election. Their much-touted relevance, which they claim is their selling point simply did not sell; it was bad market for them and the trend will also continue. Therefore, you will agree with me that the election points to the fact that our party is resourceful and absolutely dynamic, because it demonstrated its ability to reverse an ugly trend and equally its mastery and understanding of the terrain where we play.

    Most of the politicians that defected were mere political jobbers in search of filthy lucre they presume will be available to them through their membership of the APC. I wish them luck. I know however that some of our friends who defected to the APC are daily groaning and full of regrets for their hasty action. This is because they still remain outsiders in that party where some “aboriginal” tenets are employed to shut them out or limit their level of participation. Again, I declare that before the election, we will still harvest  some, if not all of them as undemocratic actions within APC will drive them back to their political homestead which the PDP represents.

    The PDP remains solid in this state and that has not changed. You also allude to the presumption that Governor Mimiko hijacked the party. That is not true; no such thing happened. There are many levels of decision making in the party at all times and in all issues. These many levels play their roles effectively and it is not a case of the Governor, as the leader of the party pronouncing decrees on developments. For every appointment that the Governor made recently, it went through these levels, so it’s erroneous to even think or imagined that Mimiko hijacked the Party, he is too democratically minded to contemplate such action.

    There is a rumour that Mimiko has his own candidate for the ticket. Don’t you believe in credible primary where an acceptable candidate will emerge?

    There are numerous talk in town about candidates, the most interesting thing is that the APC is the one shouting loudest about Mimiko’s choice amongst the aspirants, this only indicate that they are scared about the fact that our Party will once again trounce them, as we traditionally do, in the forthcoming governorship election.

    However it is absolutely necessary to restate the fact that our Party has guidelines and constitutional provisions that guide how our candidates will emerge and we respect the constitution of the Party so much that every provision and clauses that relate to the conduct of the primary election will be obeyed. Ours is a democratic Party that relies absolutely on the desires of its membership and does not have a conclave where anointing  is made, thus at the appointed time, the whole world will witness our primary elections and see who emerges as our flag bearer, but I tell you that whoever becomes our candidate is that man who must have transversed the length and breath of the State to sell his candidature to Party members and in whom confidence must have been reposed!

    What is your opinion on the proposed local government election in the state?

    This State is actually overripe for the conduct of the Local Government election and I thank God that we now have a date for the election. Our Party welcome the development and will as such contest in every Ward and local government. I understand that the APC says it won’t contest the election, no problem, but I belief the Party is merely scared to expose the fact that is is merely a surface Party here in Ondo State and therefore not likely to make a headway in the election. They therefore do not want to expose to their sponsors that they are a bad investment here. That election will certainly be free, typical of elections conducted under PDP governments since the Jonathan era. It is only in APC States that actual results of voting in local governments elections are completely disregarded and conjured results are produced and made to stand. This happened in Lagos under Babatunde Fashola and also in Rivers under Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, but ours won’t be like that as we have credible professionals manning our SIEC, men who will work according to the dictates of their conscience and do only that which is right.

    Governor Mimiko too does not breath down on the institutions of state as he allows them to discharge their statutory functions unhindered, therefore if there are people in this APC wishing to contest and they are sure of their popularity and ability to win elections in their wards and local government, let them get out of that party, join another and test their popularity now! It is evil for them to jettison their ambition because a Party is just to timid to test its popularity and acceptability.

    How how many aspirants are in the race for the PDP?

    We have a number of people that are interested in becoming governor and they are solid characters who are accomplished in every respect. They are men who are of stern characters and discipline in every respect again. It will be wrong for me to tell you their numbers now as I may be shutting out some who may still wish to enter the race. However we have a manageable number and not a motley rowdy crowd others have and the benefit in this is that it will give us an added advantage in managing the Party.

    How will you react to the on-going probe of $2.1b arms cash?

    Like any well intentioned Nigerian, I have always said that corruption is evil and we are its victims, any action that is geared to exterminate this scourge is laudable, but such actions must be sincere and wholesale. It must not in any manner be selective or enmeshed in propaganda and falsehood. The $2.1billion issue is a propaganda issue, fact of the matter is that this amount represents the entire defense budget for the about six years that Jonathan was President and we all know that in all budgets, there are recurrent and capital issues and if the Buhari government is saying that all this was stolen, it means salaries were not paid to the personnel under the defense ministry, both military and civilian! Isn’t that curious? It is also not out of place that people saddled with responsibilities may sometimes become deviant and not execute their assignments diligently, thereby necessitating this kind of development. It does not mean that it is the Party he belongs to that is responsible for it. The Halliburton matter far outweighs this issue and those responsible for that heist are today me,bears of the APC and government is still silent on it. Corruption is evil and its perpetrators are evil minded, there must be no discrimination in addressing it. I am sure more revelations on corruption will still be unearthed, even the President must be ready to surrender himself for probe when those that directly concern him are mentioned, that is just the required attitude to deal with corruption.

    Again I observe that only PDP people, safe for that Isa, have been interdicted for corruption, tried and convicted in the media, while APC people are angels! It is even jocularly said that if you become a member of APC today, your past corruptions are forgiven and this talk is being walked! There is a Jim Nwobodo who was also alleged to have received  N500 million, but since he became APC, nothing has happened to him.

  • Ondo can thrive without federal allocation, says aspirant

    Ondo can thrive without federal allocation, says aspirant

    ondo State All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Akinyinka Akinnola has said the state can survive without federal allocations, if proper use is made of its huge human and material resources and its strategic geographical location.

    Akinnola, an engineer with over 30 years’ experience in manufacturing and infrastructural development, said, if elected as governor, he would concentrate on industrialisation.

    He said: “My own task is to embark on industrialisation of Ondo state on a scale never seen before in this country. Ondo state produces over  40 percent of the cocoa from Nigeria and of course we have timber and vast land for agricultural development.”

    Akinnola added: “I shall concentrate the state’s resources first on these areas and ensure a calendarised programme that will encourage in-situ processing and thereby adding additional value to these items. Eventually raw materials  taken out of Ondo state without any value addition will attract heavy taxation.

    “This will encourage the setting up of industries and the resultant creation of employment. We shall develop and deploy an efficient inspection and monitoring mechanism for this . Also, Ondo  state has a comparative advantage for the setting up of location positive industries. What is meant by location positive industry is whereby the raw materials are domiciled within the state as a natural resource. We have the glass sands  in Okitiputa, we have iron ore in the Akokos, we have granites in the Iwaro area and so on and so forth. We will seek for private public partnerships for the development of these resources also with the caveat of calenderised value addition.

    “We shall also take advantage of our geographical location and attributes. The ancient city of Owo and the  city of Ore are respectively key gateways to the Northern and eastern part of this country respectively. We shall invest heavily in developing these areas  as both transit and distribution points for goods, providing such infrastructure and services to encourage warehousing and  inland port activities. All these shall create further employment and shall form a basis for government revenue through taxation.

    “Describing Ondo as a coastal state, he said. “Traditional  commercial water transport routes ( from the colonial era) to  Lagos shall be  revisited  and developed as a means of getting produce out of Ondo more economically and safely. The whole riverine area is prime for a major commercial fishing and fisheries  enterprise and  sea salt production. These are just a few of the programmes we shall be looking at.”

     

  • Ondo 2016: APC leaders move against violent supporters

    Ondo 2016: APC leaders move against violent supporters

    The leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved to curb the excesses of some supporters of its governorship aspirants for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    Ahead of the 2016 governorship election in Ondo State, tension continue to mount within the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with governorship aspirants engaged in accusations and counter accusation over the activities of violent supporters and party members. According to reliable party sources, the leadership of the party is worried that the current unhealthy rivalry within the aspirants, if not curtailed, may work against the APC at the general election.

    The Nation learnt that the leadership of the party recently summoned APC aspirants to a close door meeting where the issue of violent attacks and provocative statements were addressed. The purpose of the meeting, according to the party, was to douse mounting tension within the party caused by negative politicking by the aspirants and or their supporters.

    According to Hon. Fola Ademuwagun, a chieftain of the party in the northern senatorial district, there is an urgent need for the APC in Ondo State to stem the tide of negative political rivalry if it intends to defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next governorship election in the state.

    “The aspirants are tearing our party apart in words and deeds. There is an urgent need to caution them. Not too long ago, the party leadership summoned all of them to a meeting and urged them to toe the path of peaceful rivalry. They all pledged to caution their supporters. But rather than improve, the situation went from bad to worse. When they talk, they destroy each other; when they act, they target one another. Such politics is not in the interest of the party,” Ademuwagun said.

    Aspirants already jostling for the party’s gubernatorial ticket include Senator Ajayi Boroffice; Tayo Alasoadura; Olusola Oke; Rotimi Akeredolu; Segun Abraham; Foluso Adefemi; Awodeyi Akinsehinde; Victor Olabimtan; Odunayo Akinrinsola; Niran Sule; Bode Ayorinde; Derin Adesida; Bukola Adetula and Paul Akintelure, among others.

    A season of attacks, allegations

    Recently, some suspected political thugs attacked the convoy of Segun Abraham, a frontline APC governorship aspirant, at Iwaro-Oka,  Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. According to reports, Abraham was in the community to solicit for support from party men and women ahead of the gubernatorial poll that will come up later in the year.

    It took the swift intervention of security men attached to him to save him from being hurt by the rampaging hoodlums who swooped on his convoy midway into the campaign exercise. While no life was lost, several persons sustained injuries of various degrees. Also many of the vehicles in the convoy were damaged.

    “The attack was so sudden that nobody saw it coming. The windscreens of the three vehicles in the convoy, including two others belonging to Peace Corps officers were smashed. Many people were injured,” an eye-witness said of the incident that is now widening the crack within the party.

    “They first attempted to attack Abraham after he addressed APC members. But he was swiftly led back into his vehicle by his security men. From that point, they started chasing the convoy all over town.  They were throwing some harmful objects like, sticks, cutlasses, stones and others,” he added.

    Abraham said they started suspecting strange faces with daggers, sticks, machetes in the hall when he was addressing the party members. He said he could not be frightened by the attack but that he would go ahead with his ambition, claiming he enjoyed large support from the party members.

    “Some of those harmful objects were seized by my security men. I am so surprised that Boroffice and his people could do these kinds of things to us. I have been to five local government areas and there was no one where I was attacked. What are we talking? I understand that they were calling him and he was given them instructions.

    I have been to South and Central and other parts in Akoko; why is it that it was only here that we were attacked and machete was seized from one of them? They cannot subdue people’s wish because I have large number of supporters in the party but it is too early for an attack and we must stop encouraging violence in politics,” he alleged.

    Senator Borrofice however denied the allegation. He said he was not in the state when the incident occurred. “I am highly embarrassed and scandalized by the allegation. How could I have done that to a fellow party man when I was not even in the state at the time of the incident? It is a very embarrassing allegation,” he said.

    “When it happened, I tried to find out what led to it. To me, it is an embarrassment because as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Asiwaju of Akoko land, I cannot mastermind attack on a fellow party man. When I heard about it, I asked people to investigate the incident and I was informed that when Segun Abraham got to the community, he went to St. Catherine Hospital in the community.

    He addressed the people and they listened to him. Then he announced a donation of N5milllion to the hospital. I think it was at this point that the community boys, Okada riders and others felt that if he has N5m for the hospital, he should also give them their own share too.

    I leaned that they approached him but some of his security men prevented the youths from reaching him and they started banging his cars and his police men fired shots. In fact, one of the boys was injured and he drove away in a dangerous manner. It was not masterminded by anybody; many aspirants have been to Akoko South West. Olabimtan, Jamiu Ekungba, Bode Ayorinde have all been to the council and they were not attacked.

    “It was just an unfortunate incident and I took it up with Segun Abraham. I told him that I can never be part of it because I don’t work around with thugs. I told him I was sorry but also worried that he went on air to say I was behind the attack and that I want him to reverse that statement but he said he would not do so”.

    Caution urged

    The Nation learnt that the incident has heightened the tension within the party with supporters of the two aspirants threatening to continue the reign of terror as the campaign rallies continue across the state. Party sources said the situation is so bad that the leadership of the APC may be forced to halt all forms of campaigns by its gubernatorial aspirants till further notice.

    “We have a worrying situation on our hands. The incident that happened in Iwara-Oka is not a good one at all. The effects are still being felt by the party as supporters are now bent on retaliation. This is not good for the party and we must find a way of halting the trend and returning the party to the path of peace,” a chieftain of the party said.

    The Nation also learnt that the APC in the state has issued a stern warning to all governorship aspirants ?in the party and their supporters to desist from any action that could cause division among members of the party and jeopardise its victory at the polls during the forthcoming governorship election.

    According to party sources, the development might not be unconnected with the tension generated by the Iwara Oke incident. While Abraham has consistently said he will not be engaging Borrofice or any other aspirant for that matter in a violent rivalry, there are fears that his supporters may be bent on retaliating the treatment meted out to them in Iwara Oke.

    “The strength of the APC after the governorship primaries is seriously threatened by the bad manners of some aspirants and their supporters are going about their own brand of politics.  The desperation some of them have brought to the contest for the governorship ticket of the party is alien to us in our party.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, APC appreciates the contributions of all the governorship aspirants to the growth of the party so far. We appeal to all aspirants to control their supporters, both genuine and otherwise. Those whose supporters beat war drums and fan the embers of discord in our intra-party contest endanger their chance of winning the primaries.

    “The leadership of APC is committed to ensuring that the party remains united and formidable after the primaries. Therefore no aspirant should attempt to crush his opponent as the support of all will be needed towards winning the actual election. Besides, every wise aspirant should appreciate the fact that he will jeopardize his chances if, in the build up to the primary, he portrays himself as someone who will not tolerate opposition should he become governor,” he said.

    Also of serious concern to party leaders, according to findings by The Nation, is the fact that as the APC struggles to keep its house in order, ahead of the governorship contest, fifth columnists are busy fanning the embers of the budding intra-party squabbles.

  • Ondo APC aspirants trade words over attack on convoy

    Two All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants, Mr Segun Abraham and Senator Ajayi Boroffice are trading words over the recent clash in Akoko South West Local Government Area.

    Abraham, who last week  met party chieftains at Iwaro Oka-Akoko, was attacked and five vehicles in his convoy was damaged by suspected political thugs. Although, no life was lost but a man sustained injury and a female supporter was striped naked.

    The aspirant, however, pointed accusing finger at Boroffice, who is from that council as the brain behind the attack.

    Abraham said they started suspecting strange faces with daggers, sticks, matchets in the hall when he was addressing the party members.

    “Some of those harmful objects were seized by my security men. I am so surprised that Boroffice and his people could do these kind of things to us.

    “I have been to five local governments and there was no anyone where I was attacked. What are we talking? I gave then money but understand that they were calling him and he was given them instructions.

    “How can he be in his local government? Akoko to Akoko? APC to APC? Ondo to Ondo person? I have been to South and Central and other part in Akoko where is it that it only here we were attacked and matchet was seized from one of them”.

    Abraham said he could not be frightened by the attack and he would go ahead with his ambition, claiming he enjoys large support from the party members.

    But, the senator denied the allegation, saying it was an embarrassment to him because he was not in the state when the incident occurred.

    Boroffice said: “When it happened, I tried to find out what led to it. To me it is an embarrassment to me because as a senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Asiwaju of Akoko land I cannot mastermind attack on a fellow party man.

    “When I had about it, I asked people to investigate the man and I was informed that when Segun Abraham got to the community, he went to St. Catherine hospital in the community. He addressed the people, they were attentive and corporated with him.

    “Then, he now make announcement that he is donating N5million to the hospital. So the community boys, Okada riders and others felt that if you are given N5m to an hospital, they want there own too”.

  • Ondo ’ll become model state, says Akinnola

    Ondo ’ll become model state, says Akinnola

    Akinyinka Akinnola is an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ondo State.In this interview with reporters in Lagos, he speaks on how zoning deprives the electorate of the opportunity to pick the best person for the job. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE was there.

    Why are you in the Ondo governorship race?

    There have been a lot of developments in the country of recent. A wind of change is blowing all across the country and it is important that everybody should be part of this change. I found that most of the time people like myself with exposure and experience do not participate actively in politics, but we complain loudest when things are not going well. It is for us to get involved to bring a change to the country.

    Coming from the same district with the incumbent governor, what gives you the edge over other aspirants?

    The man on the street is less interested in where the governor comes from, but more in what the governor is able to do to better the life of the common man. What is important is the passion, the commitment and the competence to do the job. Too many times we have been short-changed by the politics of placement and positioning which insinuates that there should be a direct benefit from the people of a particular area because the governor comes from there. But, the fact is that a turn by turn approach to governance doesn’t give us the best we deserve. Let us look at it. There is representation for wards  at local councils and  for local governments at the state House of Assembly. The governor does not represent any ward or local government. He is the governor of the entire state and is not mandated to represent any group or area. Thus, his origin is of no importance. Ondo State is at such stage where it needs somebody who has the experience, the exposure and the commitment to put things in order. I believe people of Ondo and indeed Nigerians generally are getting more and more enlightened in this regard. So, what is important is the competence and ability to deliver.

    Revenue is at an all-time low. If elected, what would you do to ensure governance does not suffer?

    First of all, success in governance, like any other human endeavour, is determined by the quality of people you have in charge. I will assemble a team of competent people with more experience and knowledge than myself in their chosen field of endeavour. We have all had experience in the private and public sector, confronting problems and proffering solutions?.  We are going to take our eyes off the federal allocations because that can hardly sustain us as it continues to dwindle, and  concentrate on internally generated revenues through various activities  and programmes.

    What is the assurance that the delegates will vote for you at the primary election?

    First thing is that I am running on a platform that has democratic values. I mean my party the APC. The delegate system now being adopted gives a wider voice to party members as it is more inclusive. We are engaging the delegates. A lot of them we have spoken to and interacted with, and what I see is that people are beginning to understand that this is beyond a game of immediate gratification. Everybody has been pushed to the level where they cannot fulfil basic aspirations or take care of the family and they are realising that it is time to bring in sincere and appropriate people into government. It is about building confidence and  good relationship and we are developing this relationship with them everyday and I’m confident that by the time we go for the primary we will be in a position to appeal to a very large segments of the delegates to support us for the office.

    The incumbent governor has different ratings among different people. What do you hope to do differently?

    What we need to realize about governance is that continuity is the bedrock for growth. We’ll review all programmes we may inherit and certainly such programmes that are good and viable will definitely be sustained. We do not know the financial models upon which they are based but if these programmes are beneficial to the people and are financially viable in terms of sustainability they should endure. That is my view regarding that.

    As for what I hope to do differently, my experience over the last 30 years has been in engineering, infrastructure and manufacturing and that is what I really bring to the table here.

    Your sister was the immediate past minister from Ondo. Your late father was a former commissioner in the old Western State. And you are also running for governor. People are tempted to ask whether your family is the only one in Ondo State.

    My father was a commissioner in Western State more than 45 years ago and had since been in private business but constantly contributing to the progress of the state. Apart from industries set up in Ondo state during his stint as commissioner for Industries in the western region, he was also the representative of Ondo state on the federal revenue mobilisation committee and pushed for the adjustment of our boundary with Edo state that saw more oil installations falling within Ondo State and thus increasing our revenue from derivation. My sister Omobola Johnson is a very accomplished technocrat?. She was the Country Manager of Accenture in Nigeria and it was from there she was chosen to be on the Vision 2020 programme of the Yar’Adua government and she excelled. From there again she was called to be part of a presidential advisory committee with President Jonathan and it was from there she was selected to be minister. She is not a politician; she never contested for any office. She was  selected on her merit and she performed creditably well. I, in contrast to my father and sister,  am going in for an elective office along with about 20 other contestants to compete.

    So, there is no issue of the Akinnolas being the only family in the state. Everybody should have the right to compete and everybody should work hard to distinguish themselves.

    What is your position on zoning?

    Ondo state is very rich in terms of human capital. From all over the senatorial districts we have very competent people?. The question is do all these people always come into government and compete? In a competition – which this exactly is – I don’t think anybody should be saying anybody from here is good or anybody from there is better or it should be reserved for anyone. We should all come out and compete. The party (delegates) will decide who emerges at the end of the day and then the electorate will decide. Zoning, a lot of the time, doesn’t create an atmosphere where the best can be gotten. It doesn’t create healthy competition. And so without zoning, which is what the party is saying now that they are yet to adopt zoning as a formula, they are asking everyone to come out and compete.

    The theme of your campaign is ‘less politics, more governance.’? How did you arrive at this and what do you mean exactly?

    As you rightly observed, that is the theme of my campaign. Less politics, more governance. The reason we get into governance is because of the electorate: to provide services? To the people, security, social services and employment and so on. But we see that politics is given more time than governance. At a time government should busy itself with governance all you hear of is political scheming, re-alignments, camping and decamping, etc., etc. The amount of time that ought to be given to governance, relative to what it should be, is not so. Governance is about the executive and the legislature coming together to work for the people. All actions ought to be geared towards governance. There should be a shared objective and a cohesive plan of implementation that the executive, the legislature and the local government and our elected federal representatives key into. We should all hold each other accountable and extend to each other the regard the respective offices deserve.  Where there is weakness in terms of capacity within any of these groups we should work together to support them. Of course there will always be politics but what we are saying is that it should not be the main thing once we are in government. Governance is the reason people get elected to public office.