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Tag: ONDO

  • Gunmen kidnap monarch Ondo

    A traditional ruler in Irele local government area of Ondo state, the Laragunsin of Iyasan community, Oba Abiodun Oyewumi has been reportedly kidnapped.

    The Nation learnt that the kidnappers, numbering 10 allegedly stormed the monarch’s palace on Monday night and operated for 30 minutes before taking him away.

    Since then, no contact has been made with his family by his abductors on what ransom should be paid for his release.

    A palace source said the hoodlums came into the village through Owena River which serves as boundary between Ondo and Edo state around 10.30pm and went straight to the palace where they demanded for the king.

    Irele Council Chairman, Hon Sanmi Elumaro, who confirmed the incident said the kidnappers numbering about 10 came into the town through the waterways and headed to the palace.

    He noted that the abdutors were fullly armed as no one in the community could challenge them until they finished their operations in the village.

    Elumaro said he could not say whether or not the kidnapping has to do with the chieftaincy dispute in the town as the monarch was properly installed as the monarch despite the legal tussle over the throne.

    The council boss said since the abduction, the Navy and the Police in the riverine area have been on the trail of the suspected kidnappers.

    The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Mr Femi Joseph also confirmed the abduction of the monarch.

    He however said investigation has begun to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

    Joseph added that reporters would be briefed as soon as there is any breakthrough in the investigation.

  • Ondo lawmaker doles out cash, cars, others to constituents

    Ondo lawmaker doles out cash, cars, others to constituents

    A lawmaker representing Akoko Northeast/Northwest Federal Constituency of Ondo State, Hon. Friday Olemija has distributed empowerment facilities and funds to his constituents in fulfilment of his electoral promises. DAMISI OJO reports.

    The lawmaker representing Akoko Northwest/Northeast Federal Constituency, Hon Friday Olemija, has dolled out cash and other items to his constituents.

    Among the items distributed at Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko Northeast are cars, tricycles, motorcycles, deep freezers, grinding machines, sowing machines, hair dryers, plasma television sets, electricity generating sets, musical instruments and wheel chairs for the handicapped with substantial cash.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, who is the former chairman of Akoko Northeast Local Government, Ikare-Akoko, praised the people of his constituency for the support rendered to him during the last year general elections.

    According to him, “to whom much is given, much is expected from such person and in fulfilment of my campaign promises, I have to make my people happy.”

    Olemija said in spite of the economic downturn in the country, he still obliged to put smiles on the faces of the people in his constituency.

    He said he had sponsored three bills on roads in the lower chamber to better the lot of his people, while providing boreholes in many towns.

    He promised that such gesture would be continuous.

    Olemija urged the Ondo State government to pay the salary arrears of the public servants.

    “The state government has no reason to owe its workers salary, considering the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Federal allocation accrued to the state monthly,” he said.

    He lamented that no fewer than 35 civil servants and pensioners have died due to lack of money for medication.

    The lawmaker, who decried the poor condition of workers in the employ of the Ondo State government, said the state has enough resources to cater for the needs of its workers without leaning on the Federal Government.

    He said Ondo State is blessed with abundant mineral resources, and being part of the Niger Delta states receives more allocation than many states in the Southwest, and wondered why the state government owes its workers five months salaries.

    Olemija expressed worry on what he described as poor welfare of workers in the state, saying the Mimiko-led administration has little respect for the state’s work force.

    He challenged the state government to pay the workers all their outstanding salary arrears, even as he urged the workers to fight for their right and ensure that the state government understands their plight.

    He maintained that the state is economically buoyant to pay its workers and execute physical projects in all the Local Government Areas in the state, adding that government’s insensitivity to the welfare of the people accounts for the under development.

    The legislator advised the people to vote for APC in the governorship election for the state to experience the development it deserves.

    Some beneficiaries of the legislator’s kindness appreciated him for fulfilling part of his promises, urging him to continue impacting on the lives of the people.

  • How to develop Ondo, by APC leaders

    How to develop Ondo, by APC leaders

    SOME leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo town at the weekend convened a political summit ahead of the November 26 governorship election, urging the people to ensure change in governance for Ondo State’s growth.

    Speakers at the summit organised by the Ondo Kingdom Leaders Assembly (OKLA) included its coordinator, Brig-Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin (rtd); a columnist with The Nation, Prof. Ropo Sekoni and a university teacher, Dr. Theophilus Adebowale.

    They urged the people to vote the right candidate as the next Ondo State’s governor.

    They condemned the past orientation of voting based on monetary inducement and primordial sentiments.

    Two lectures were delivered by Sekoni and Adebowale to sensitise the people.

    In his lecture entitled: ”Yoruba People- Where Are We Today?”, Sekoni advised Yoruba people to go back into the past and examine what led to the eroding of the high moral values that the race was known for in the past.

    He said this would enable them to inculcate high moral value in the new generation of Yoruba political leaders, so that the ethnic group can once again go back to the top of the ladder as leader of developmental efforts.

    Sekoni criticised what he called “cronyism” in government and urged the people to put in efforts aimed at ensuring that the right people always get into position of governance rather than government of cronies.

    The scholar took a swipe at the situation in the Southwest states, where issues of unpaid salaries had become a norm.

    He advised Southwest governors to stop paying lip service to the provision of qualitative education.

    Adebowale, who delivered a lecture on “Good Governance – Whither Ondo State”, said any serious “governor desirous of good governance should be able to create a viable economy unlike what is obtainable in the state with its vast resources”.

    The don, therefore, challenged the people to wake up and be ready to ask those desirous of ruling the state in the next dispensation very important questions on how they intend to ensure growth of industries.

    The former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd) slammed some top political office holders in the APC, whom he said kept on exhibiting high level of indiscipline.

    Akinrinade said: “APC had taken over in the last one year, but there had been so much indiscipline on the part of some of its elected officials, especially in the legislative arm.”

    Akinrinade urged the officials to exhibit high level of discipline needed for the APC to succeed and for Nigerians to continue to have confidence in its administration.

    The APC state chairman, Isaac kekemeke and other dignitaries attended the meeting.

  • ‘Ondo has no basis to be poor’

    ‘Ondo has no basis to be poor’

    Adeniyi Adegbonmire is a governorship aspirant in Ondo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke with reporters in Lagos on his plans for the state. Excerpts:

    What is your motivation for joining the Ondo State governorship race?

    Quite apart from Lagos, the richest Southwestern state, in terms of mineral resources, human capital and opportunities is Ondo. Ondo has no basis for not paying salaries, if its resources are being properly managed and properly deployed and unfortunately, we have not done that and my attitude to it is that government must be run like a business, but a business that does not make profit, because if you go into governance and say you want to make profit, then, you never going to do anything but you must run it like a business; in other words in effective and efficient manner in the sense that every five kobo that you put to it there is a goal to be achieved. Effectively in the sense that you ensure that whatever you do is geared towards development.

    Let take, for example; I have looked at Ondo State; what have we done in the last six, seven years? We have taken money from FAC because we are an oil-producing state. so, we rely heavily on derivation. That is what we have been spending. What is the IGR of Ondo State? It can’t even pay salaries. But, does Ondo State have the potential to do so? The answer is yes. We have got oil, we got bitumen, we have got cocoa, we got timber, we got cashew, we got cassava; name any cash crop; it grows in Ondo State.

    So, why has anybody not sat down to say how do I generate enough IGR so that, at least, from your IGR, you are able to pay your salaries? And what comes from FAC is for development purposes and that is what Lagos State is doing. What you should be doing is to sit back and look for opportunities to increase revenue.

    How do you intend to go about the party primary?

    Even if in the APC we have 100 aspirants, there will just be one governor. And why does the APC have so many? It is because it is the platform that offers an alternative. For me, there are only two parties that can present candidates in Ondo State and they are the PDP and the APC. The PDP is shut. And why do I say so? It is because whoever will run on the platform of the PDP must have the backing of the present governor, except we are deceiving ourselves. The only platform that is open is the APC. So, you have people coming to it. My duty is to sell myself to the delegates that I have what it takes to win victory for the party.

    What do you consider as your selling points?

    I am in the APC, not because of any personal gains, but because I believe in the ideology that the APC preaches for which I have always subscribed to. Then, I bring youth into governance. And like I said, governance must be run like an efficient company, but one that is not geared towards making profit and people of my age think government should be run that way.

    What is your take on zoning as being projected by some aspirants?

    Coming to the issue of zoning, my party has said several times that there will be no zoning, that everybody should go into the primary. This issue of zoning, I have always said it is a latter day introduction into the political space of Ondo State. If there was zoning in Ondo State, some of the people who were governors would not have been governors. People to agitate it should be the South and the Central, but I don’t believe in that. My party said no zoning. Let the best person win.

    Do you think you have the chance to win?

    My answer is yes.

    Why?

    Like I said before, I bring youth, to the race. I don’t have baggage and I come from an exceedingly respected political family. My father was a politician from 1952. You ask people who have interacted with me as a lawyer, I am straightforward person and I am very honest, even if I say it myself. I have also gone round the state and I don’t know any aspirant that is not taking Adeniyi Adegbonmire seriously.

    Who is your godfather figure?

    My godfather is God himself because with God all things are possible. That is my answer to that.

    What is your relationship with the leadership of the party and do you really trust the leadership of the party?

    I am sure all of you have followed the Republican primary. They say Donald Trump is the presumed party candidate. The party leaders say we don’t want Donald Trump and they have been working against him openly.

    Any aspirant that says he is disengaging himself from the party leadership is not a party man and it is a dangerous trend because where you have a governor that doesn’t believe in the party supremacy, it would be difficult to pull back such governor when errors are being committed. So, I subscribe to party leadership.

     

  • Edo, Ondo polls: Court orders INEC to accept candidates from Sheriff camp

    Edo, Ondo polls: Court orders INEC to accept candidates from Sheriff camp

    Another twist was added to the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, as a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept only candidates from the Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC), for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo.

    Justice Okon Abang, in a ruling yesterday, granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining INEC, the PDP and their agents from dealing with or according any facility required by law (regarding the governorship elections to be conducted by INEC in Edo and Ondo states) to any other persons or group other than the Senator Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju-led NWC of the party

    The judge directed INEC and the PDP and their agents to “recognise, deal with and accord all facilities required by law“(regarding the elections in Edo and Ondo states) to the Ali Modu Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju led NWC.

    Justice Abang further directed INEC and the PDP to “reject and ignore any activity (including primary elections/congresses for the nomination of candidates of the PDP for the elections in Edo and Ondo states, purportedly conducted on behalf of the 2nd defendant (PDP) by any other persons or group of persons other than the Senator Sheriff, Prof Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju-led NWC.”

    The judge said the interlocutory orders were to subsist pending the determination of the substantive suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/439/2016 filed by two governorship aspirants of the PDP in Edo and Ondo states – Chief Benson Akingboye (Ondo) and Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo).

    Justice Abang’s ruling was on a motion on notice for interlocutory orders pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit with INEC as 1st defendant and PDP as 2nd defendant.

    Before the hearing yesterday, the judge resolved the dispute between two senior advocates – Emmanuel Ukala and Olagoke Fakunle – over who should represent the PDP in the suit. While Ukala claimed to have been briefed by the Ahmed Markafi-led faction, Fakunle said he was briefed by the Sheriff faction.

    In resolving the dispute between the two lawyers, the judge noted that while a Federal High Court in Lagos in two separate orders on May 12 and May 20 recognised the leadership of Sheriff and restrained parties from proceeding with the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt, the Markafi leadership of the PDP emerged from a convention against which there was a pending order.

    He said there was a pall of doubt about the legality of the convention from which Markafi-led Caretaker Committee emerged, while there was a subsisting order recognising the Sheriff-led NWC. The judge consequently recognised Fakunle as the lawyer for the PDP and excused Ukala from the proceedings.

    Shortly after, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, accompanied by Babs Akinwumi, moved the motion for interlocutory injunctions. Fakunle, who represented the PDP, said he filed a response to the substantive suit, but that he was not objecting the granting of interlocutory injunctions in the case. Lawyer to INEC, T. M. Inuwa, said he would remain neutral as his client would abide by any decision of the court.

    After listening to the lawyers, Justice Abang granted the fourth prayer contained in the motion on notice, dated June 21, 2016. He adjourned to October 25 for hearing of the substantive suit.

    The plaintiffs are, by the suit, asking the court, among others, to determine between the Sheriff-led committee and the Markafi-led committee, who the legitimate leaders of the PDP are in view of the various court orders obtained in relation to the dispute over the party’s leadership.

  • Ondo lawmaker doles out cash, cars, others to constituents

    Ondo lawmaker doles out cash, cars, others to constituents

    The lawmaker representing Akoko Northwest/Northeast Federal Constituency, Hon Friday Olemija, has dolled out cash and other items to his constituents.
    Among the items distributed at Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko Northeast are cars, tricycles, motorcycles, deep freezers, grinding machines, sowing machines, hair dryers, plasma television sets, electricity generating sets, musical instruments and wheel chairs for the handicapped with substantial cash.
    The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, who is the former chairman of Akoko Northeast Local Government, Ikare-Akoko, praised the people of his constituency for the support rendered to him during the last year general elections.
    According to him, “to whom much is given, much is expected from such person and in fulfilment of my campaign promises, I have to make my people happy.”
    Olemija said in spite of the economic downturn in the country, he still obliged to put smiles on the faces of the people in his constituency.
    He said he had sponsored three bills on roads in the lower chamber to better the lot of his people, while providing boreholes in many towns.
    He promised that such gesture would be continuous.
    Olemija urged the Ondo State government to pay the salary arrears of the public servants.
    “The state government has no reason to owe its workers salary, considering the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Federal allocation accrued to the state monthly,” he said.
    He lamented that no fewer than 35 civil servants and pensioners have died due to lack of money for medication.
    The lawmaker, who decried the poor condition of workers in the employ of the Ondo State government, said the state has enough resources to cater for the needs of its workers without leaning on the Federal Government.
    He said Ondo State is blessed with abundant mineral resources, and being part of the Niger Delta states receives more allocation than many states in the Southwest, and wondered why the state government owes its workers five months salaries.
    Olemija expressed worry on what he described as poor welfare of workers in the state, saying the Mimiko-led administration has little respect for the state’s work force.
    He challenged the state government to pay the workers all their outstanding salary arrears, even as he urged the workers to fight for their right and ensure that the state government understands their plight.
    He maintained that the state is economically buoyant to pay its workers and execute physical projects in all the Local Government Areas in the state, adding that government’s insensitivity to the welfare of the people accounts for the under development.
    The legislator advised the people to vote for APC in the governorship election for the state to experience the development it deserves.
    Some beneficiaries of the legislator’s kindness appreciated him for fulfilling part of his promises, urging him to continue impacting on the lives of the people.

  • Ondo communities decry poor state of roads

    Community leaders in the four local government areas of Akoko land, especially Ikare- Akoko, headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State have urged the Federal and the state governments to rehabilitate the deplorable roads in their communities.
    The community leaders conducted reporters round some of the roads which they said had been hindering economic activities and affected smooth movement of goods and prevented commuters in Akoko land from travelling at will.
    They pleaded that the roads be fixed immediately to enable the residents of the communities to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
    Speaking through the Owa Ale of Ikare land, Oba Samuel Kolapo Adegbite Adedoyin, the aggrieved residents listed the Owo-Ikare highway which is a Federal Government road.
    The monarch said: “The Owo-Ikare road is now a death trap for travellers. The importance of the road cannot be over-emphasised considering the fact that it links the nation’s federal capital, the northern and eastern parts of the country.
    “Also, the Owo-Ikare Road is also economically important to Ikare and Akoko people, in the sense that they evacuate their agricultural produce to the cities through the road.”
    The monarch appealed to the Federal Government to prioritise the Owo-Ikare Federal road to boost the economy of the area and prevent incessant accidents on the road.
    He also urged the Ondo State government to fulfil some of its electoral promises for Ikare and the entire Akoko land.
    Also speaking, Olotu Omolola, Alhaji Momoh Aliyu Ogunyen and Chief Ahmed Ohunjugbagbe, appealed to Governor Olusegun Mimiko to assist in rehabilitating the deplorable Awara Road which is very important to the Ikare community as the road links many Ikare farmlands.
    The community leaders jointly drew the state government’s attention to its promise to make Ikare-Akoko township road a dual carriage way such as that of Akure.
    They also solicited for the reticulation of Awara Dam to enhance distribution of potable water to Ikare and the four local government areas of Akoko land.

  • Monarch to Ondo govt: listen to workers

    The Aladeokun of Alade-Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Olusegun Akinbola, has urged the state government to be sensitive to the plights of workers.

    The monarch, who is celebrating his 21st year coronation anniversary, said those at the helm of affairs were responsible for the current impasse over unpaid salaries between the government and workers.

    Speaking with The Nation in his palace, Oba Akinbola, who is a former lecturer of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State, said the strike embarked upon by the workers needed the intervention of traditional rulers and other key stakeholders to resolve.

    He decried the poor working condition of workers in the employ of the state government, stressing the need for the government to dialogue with the workers to resolve the dispute.

    The monarch noted that the hardship in the state was not limited to the public servants, hinting that monarchs were also affected.

    He urged the government and the workers to return to the drawing board in the overall interest of the state.

  • NDLEA arrests 66 drug suspects in Ondo

    NDLEA arrests 66 drug suspects in Ondo

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ondo State at the weekend said it had arrested no fewer than 66 drug offenders in the state between January and May this year.

    State Commander Mr. Mohammed Malami Sokoto spoke at a news conference on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking held in Akure, the state capital. The event was themed “Just Listen”.

    Sokoto said those arrested were 55 males and 11 females. He added that 22 of the suspects had been charged to court and convicted to various jail terms.

    He said the agency had seized Cannabis sativa weighing 1,348.62kgs within the period under review.

    The NDLEA boss, who noted that there was a reduction in the demand for drugs, said 23 persons were under counseling and seven had been rehabilitated.

    He hinted that the agency destroyed 36.7tons of cannabis at a farm land.

  • ‘Ondo deserves a visionary leader’

    ‘Ondo deserves a visionary leader’

    Michael ‘Laolu Adeyeye is one of the governorship aspirants in Ondo State contesting under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, he shares his visions for the sunshine state. Excerpts:

    Could you say Ondo State has met the expectations of its founding fathers who envisioned the creation of the state over 40 years ago?

    Unfortunately, when you look at Ondo State today, it’s a sorry sight. Called the sunshine state, unfortunately the sun is really not shining there. You can look at it sector by sector. Take our educational sector for instance, it is declining. I can go on and on.

    We’ve debts immeasurable. We’ve taken loans that we cannot really account for. We’ve issued bonds that we cannot point to the money that we raised.

    You seem unhappy that the state was ever created?

    No, l do not regret that the state was created. In fact, l don’t want to sound like a protestant. It’s a great thing that Ondo State was created. But the resources that Ondo State has have not been maximised.

    We’re focused on little things. We’re focused on window-dressing, particularly the outgoing government which by the grace of God will not come back. PDP will not come back in Ondo State.

    The PDP in Ondo State over the last seven and half years has focused on window-dressing by branding the state in white and orange without giving us substance.

    You seems to lay the blame solely on the current government. Why?

    The Olusegun Mimiko administration is fortunately a two term government which is a rare phenomenon. In Nigeria for a governor to have eight full years to implement an agenda of change and improve on lives and to have failed to utilise such a golden opportunity is really unfortunate for Ondo State hence my focus on the immediate past government. A number of recent developments were championed. It’s not about the party really. We’re trying to be objective in our analysis. The government of the late Governor Olusegun Agagu was particularly more focused. They left money in the coffers of the state. That government built good quality roads, bridges in this state that we still point to till date. That government did a long-term development plan for this state. Every government has had their time. The outgoing government has done a few good things like the Mother and Child Hospital has been a very good development l must say. But it’s not enough. If you have a population of over 4.5million and the hospital is catering to about 20% of that population, then you’re saying that you’ve provided for the health sector? You have not succeeded in that regard.

    Why do you want to be governor of Ondo State? You must be aware that to emerge as the party candidate, you must have a structure in place and you must also have the funds to prosecute your campaign. How rooted is your structure and how deep is your pocket?

    Being a governor in Ondo State is an ambition that I have nursed very quietly and prayerfully for a very long time. And I believe very strongly that the time is now.

    Why do I say that the time is now? I looked around and I can see that there is a gap that needs to be filled. There is a need for an energetic leader for Ondo State, a young visionary leader for Ondo State; a leader with a modern outlook, a leader that can marry modern technology with traditional governance system and achieve great results for the people.

    We need a leader who understands the dynamics of governance in the 21st century and is not bogged down by the politics of sentiments and subjectivism. I realised that there is that gap and I have looked at the field and I have spoken to my people and they have said the only leader they want to see now is a youthful, visionary leader and I believe by the grace of God, I meet those specifications.

    In terms of political structure, l want to let you know that for a start, l was almost born in Ondo State. I was born a month after the state was created. Within the first six months of my life my family moved to Ondo State. So, I grew up in Ondo State. I went to primary school in Ondo State, had my secondary school in Ondo State and l was privileged to have gone to the Obafemi Awolowo University straight out of Ondo State. I enjoyed good public education in Ondo State at some point in time. So l’m not a stranger to Ondo State.

    I presently work and pursue my career in recent years in Lagos State. But I have not been far from home. As a legal practitioner, l maintain an office in Ondo State. I’m connected to a structure that is statewide. I have tentacles in every local government area and wards in Ondo State. I want to assure that my structure is solid, it’s virile and it’s far-reaching.

    In terms of having a deep pocket and how much money we’re ready to commit to the state, l can tell you we’re not here to play money politics and we’re not playing godfatherism. The only father we have is God the father!

    We’re not here to splash money around. We’re here to make sacrifices. We’re here to effect visible and transparent change that does not need to be sugar-coated or window dressed. That is why we’re in this race.

    I’m aware that a lot of people in the party have thrown their hats into the ring and it’s almost as if multitudes are after the same governorship position. What are those qualities that would stand you out? Do you also see yourself as the underdog?

    Let me start from the last question. You’re asking if I see myself as an underdog? To a very large extent when you look at the realities on ground and the calibre of persons who are in the race, we have two serving senators who have indicated interest, serving members of the House of Representatives; we have former office holders and former ticket holders of the party who are interested; I can legitimately be perceived as the underdog in this race.

    But l tell you what, the qualities that stand me out in this crowd are many. First of all, l make bold to say that I’m the youngest. I believe that l am the youngest because I have not run into any other candidate that is younger than me or that is about my age. At the age of 40, l believe l am the youngest candidate. With my level of exposure, my education, my practice experience as a lawyer, which has largely been around projects and development of projects, l believe l’m one of the most suited candidates in the field to develop the state and to attract the necessary investment that we need from the private sector. The state government cannot develop the state. We need to connect with the private sector and Ondo State is a greenfield. It’s a fertile ground to which we can attract investment and I believe l’m the man that can make that happen.

    What are the factors that would shape the coming gubernatorial election in the state?

    As we go into the next governorship election, l believe it is crucial that the process of selecting the flag bearer of our party in the All Progressives Congress (APC) is transparent and that the most popularly accepted candidates are fielded by the party; that there will be no imposition of candidates upon the people. Internally, there are ramblings about the politics of where you’re from; whether you’re from a particular political division or from a particular senatorial district. There is that on ground as well. But there is no consensus on the way it should go yet. As it stands, l speak for the APC. The leadership of the party has said to us that it’s going to be free and fair. That we should go to the field and work. And this is what we’ve been doing for the better part of last year. Those are the factors that I believe will shape the forthcoming election.

    Do you think the electorates in Ondo can easily connect with you and your aspiration or put more simply, do you think Ondo State is ripe for a young man like you as governor?

    I like to allude to the scriptures from time to time. I’ll summarise it this way: I can both abase and abound as much as I can mingle with boardroom of a Fortune 500 company or in the executive council of the state. I can mingle at the grassroots level. My people know me. I interact well with them. I speak bits of the local dialects around this place that I have picked up in my travels and l’m able to connect with the people. Someone said to me on the campaign ground that you remind me of my son. You’re like my son. He is also in Lagos but he doesn’t come home. But l have made myself available to come and give back to my source and that is something that the people appreciate. And l’m very confident that when the ban on political campaigns are lifted, l’ll really go out there to seek the approval of the general electorate. And if the APC elects me as its flag bearer we’ll triumph with a landslide at the polls against any candidate.

    Can you encapsulate your vision in one sentence?

    My selling point as an aspirant of the APC in the forthcoming election is the fact that I’m a candidate that would bring 100% sincerity to the table. I’ll bring 100%transparency to the table. A candidate that would put the people first and not my pocket first because really if I was thinking about my pocket, l will stay in private practice as a lawyer and I’ll be comfortable with my small family. But because l am putting the people first, l will make sure that our programmes are people-oriented and tackle the problems head-on like youth unemployment, which is a bigger problem than any problem that we have today.

    We’re going to do simple things with sincerity, integrity and transparency. And because l am coming from a good pedigree and a good name, which the Yoruba people say is better than silver and gold, l won’t disappoint people.