All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State Dr. Bayo Orire, has said he is in the race because he understands the problems confronting the state.
Describing himself as “the best man for the top job,” Orire explained that Ekiti people needs a governor who lives in their midst, understands their problems and capable of solving them.
Speaking with our reporter in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, he said he fited into the description, having lived and practised medicine among the people for over 30 years.
Orire, who is also cleric, said Ekiti people are tired of “half-known people” who always come home whenever elections and near to contest for governorship and disappear thereafter.
He described himself as a “committed progressive who has all his investment at home and always ready to solve people’s problems.”
The medical doctor-turned politician said he has the advantage of having the support of party members whom he had assisted at one time or the other in all the 177 wards of the state.
This, he said, would give him an edge when the APC governorship primary comes up and at the main election if he emerges as his party’s flag bearer.
Orire said: “I know I am the best among all the aspirants across all the contending parties because Ekiti people want somebody they know, somebody who has been pat of them for years.
“They are tired of half known people, they are yearning for home-based person who will understand their problems and needs.
Ekiti people are looking for somebody of character and integrity and somebody who will take care of their needs like he has been doing before.
“My party, APC, needs a proven and known progressive who has been stable and invested in the progressives over a long period of time.
They don’t want an in-and-out, bread-and-butter politician.
“We want Ekiti to be moulded in the fold of the progressives; Ekiti people want somebody whose programme and agenda will take care of their problems.
He added: “These are encapsulated in my agenda of massive industrialisation, pervasive agro-allied pursuit and re-enactment of Ekiti spirit of honesty, integrity and virtue.
“They want somebody who has made a success of his life and who may likely use that as a template to make a success of Ekiti.
“They don’t want a packaged and branded aspirant again; I am most qualified across board. The talk of the town has been Dr. Orire is the best if they are to choose.
“They are saying he is the most known, that he is the most acceptable across all divides.”
The Nation