Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Jamiu Ekungba yesterday visited Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, where he fielded questions from the board of editors on the November 26 election, reports MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE.
Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Jamiu Ekungba has promised to turn the state’s economy around, if given the opportunity to serve.
Fielding questions from the Board of editors of The Nation when he visited the newspaper yesterday, Ekungba stated the people’s expectations have not been met by the government in power.
He stated most of the industries and agricultural ventures that used to provide the state with revenue have gone underground, because of mismanagement and incompetence on the part of the government.
The governorship aspirant added that his administration will put in place an economy that will work for the common good of the people, promote investment and ensure an environment that is capable of supporting the people’s dream.
He lamented that 40 years after Ondo came into existence, the state is now a shadow of its former self, stressing that only experts in accounting management could return the state back on track.
He said: “True to predictions, the first four years of the decade that followed the creation of Ondo State was one of the most important and significant period in our history as a people. So much happened that made the hearts of both natives and residents tremble in joy.
“The establishment of Oluwa Glass Industry, the Okitipupa Oil Plc, the Nigerian Romanian Wood Industry, the Ifon Ceramic, the Owena Motels, banks and insurance, Cocoa Processing Factory etc came into existence. But, looking down memory lane, they have almost completely vanished.
“What is pushing me is the fact that I cannot come from an oil-producing state that has bitumen untapped, while Nigeria is importing asphalts. I cannot come from a state which has the longest coastline, which if well harnessed, will attract more tourists, and still continue to lament of lack of resources.
“We have the deepest coastline in Nigeria, yet we don’t have a port. I come from a state that has a topography that is a mini Nigeria in terms of forestation, so there is no crop you plant in Ondo State that you cannot produce in commercial quantity and feed the whole of Nigeria.”
The aspirant stated he was not looking for job, but vying for the governorship to save the state from total collapse.
He stated it was sad that, Ondo being an oil-producing state, could not guarantee qualitative education, noting that a passionate administrator will help the state discover and exploit its potentials.
Ekungba recalled that Ondo under the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin witnessed prosperity. He added that similar streaks were witnessed in Lagos State under former Governor Bola Tinubu.
He said: “It was an indisputable fact that this state under the guidance of leadership of Ajasin had what it took to challenge the supremacy of Lagos, in terms of opportunity and development.
“Akin to this same developmental drive, government of states like Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Edo even in the face of overwhelming odds are approaching the task of governance with focus on how to heal the wounds that has been left by their processors.
“Today, they are not the only state in the federation where governments are concerning themselves with the task ennobling life in all spheres; states like Kaduna and several others are now on the progressive side of politics.
“But, in Ondo, the story has not changed; life under the sky of this tremendously blessed state is still defined by poverty, as well as want and governance by corruption. If there is one word that captures the suffering of our people, the word that best described their predicament, it is calamity. Ondo State has become an object of pity.” He added that the present administration has frustrated many people because of presence of people of questionable characters in position of authority.
Ekungba added: “If you are living in a state where those who should hang their heads in shame walk about freely, a land where you can pursue a questionable course, if you have money, then, there is trouble.
“But, if your people see you as a guide, who knows what they need and how they feel, if they have discovered from research that you can discern why things get lean and how to make them green, if from experience they can see that you have it takes to draw out their strength and help them, they will certainly appreciate you.
‘’If it is on record that you are a humanitarian whose only concern and joy is the growth and happiness of your people, would you be willing to take a stand to see justice done?
“If those who are guiding the corporate destiny of your people engage in a practice that is unfair, immoral, unsafe and illegal, even if such stance is not popular, what will you do?
“I pointedly say that anyone looking for a middle course in Ondo and among us the aspirants is only in the game to make business of politics and such a person may close himself to the distress of his fellow human beings.”
The aspirant urged the APC to adhere to its zoning formula, which has been adhered to since the creation of the state. He maintained that zoning of party positions was done in Osun, Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo and Ogun and that the same method should be allowed to prevail in Ondo State.
He said: “The constitution of the APC says there should be zoning; if that is the constitution of the party, why should I say it should not be done?
“Again, the issue of money politics should be discouraged. we are appealing to our leader to help in a way to discourage money politics. The exercise that brought President Muhammadu Buhari into office was not monetized.”
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The Nation