The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate in the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim has assured workers that their welfare will be of utmost importance to him as he said prompt payment of salaries will be his priority when elected as governor of the state.
Ibrahim who was addressing a large crowd of supporters that welcomed him to the state on Sunday berated the present administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko for its inability to pay salaries.
Business mogul , Ibrahim was last Thursday listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the PDP flagbearer. "My first priority is the payment of workers' salaries. This is because it will transform the micro-economic system of the state.
"If you pay salaries, the people will use it to buy their goods and services. This is a state where the father and the mother are civil servants and pensioners," Ibrahim said.
"It is criminal for the state government not to pay salaries," Ibrahim said.
The governorship candidate said he would ensure the transformation of the state from the present situation.
He said: "My plan will also be to transform this state from the present situation, to take away injustice and bring justice, to take away godfatherism and to take people from poverty to prosperity under the concepts of fairness, equity and justice."
Party supporters from all the 18 local government areas of the state converged on Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government Area, to receive Ibrahim in a carnival like occasion.
Traditional rulers and indigenes of the ancient town also trooped out to rejoice with the prominent son of Ikale land as PDP governorship candidature.
The state chairman of PDP, Prince Biyi Poroye, said the chance of the party and Ibrahim winning the forthcoming poll was bright.
"We are here at Igbotako today, home town of Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, to let his kinsmen know that the people of Ondo state as represented here by our leaders across the 18 council areas, are ready to support and elect their home boy as the next governor of the state.
"I was impressed with the large crowd I met here which only shows the popularity and support our candidate enjoys among his own people in Ikale land, the southern senatorial district and the state as a whole.
"Let me reassure you that with what I met on ground here, with the expression on your faces, with the victory songs, dance steps and accolades and prayers poured on the party and our candidate here today which I am proud to say will turn to massive votes, God in His infinite mercy will grant Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim a landslide victory at the poll."
Ibrahim's running mate, Ebenezer Alabi, hailed the people of Igbotako and Ikale land as a whole for the massive support and total commitment to the Jimoh Ibrahim governorship project.
Alabi stressed that the entire south would benefit immensely with Ibrahim as the next governor of the state.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under the leadership of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff yesterday said it would work with Jimoh Ibrahim and the good people of Ondo State to achieve total economic boom and infrastructural development which are the main policy thrust of Jimoh's administration. The party stated that the PDP manifesto believes that development is a deliberate and conscientious activity which involves all stakeholders.
In a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja and signed by Mr Benard Mikko, PDP acting National Spokesman, Sheriff said Ibrahim emerged into the Ondo political space for a 'rescue mission' planned to rebuild the state and fight hunger and poverty in the land.
'Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim came to the Ondo political space for positive development and building of critical infrastructures that have been denied the people and lacking in the state for too long'. Sheriff pledged.
The PDP national chairman further explained that development is about ideals and deliberate commitment to target and goal attainment and assured Nigerians, particularly the Ondo State people, that Jimoh Ibrahim will develop the state through result oriented leadership and not rhetorics.
He, therefore, urged the people of the state and all stakeholders to be focused with sincerity on goal attainment as nobody would be victimised or discriminated on account of opposition, 'because no modern state can develop in an atmosphere of fear, apprehension and cynicism'.
The party chairman also enjoined Ondo State people to prevail on its privileged sons and daughters not to be cynical or apprehensive about the apparent emergence of Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim as the next governor of the state.
Sheriff emphasised that the INEC recognition of Jimoh Ibrahim is in accordance with the rule of law and democratic principles and condemned the acts and mastermind of violence by arsonists following the INEC declaration of the authentic PDP gubernatorial candidate for Ondo State which he described as misplaced and unfortunate.
'Ondo people should not allow their destiny to be taken for granted by those who have failed in their professional calling or political adventure to make any positive contribution to the same state that has built them to prominence, fame and glamour'.
The national PDP leadership has called on all Nigerians and the good people of Ondo State to be committed to developing the state by working for the PDP and electing Barister Jimoh Ibrahim on November 26.
The party promised that its governorship hopeful will adhere strictly to the rule of law and democratic principle and will never cover up issues that have undermined the development and integrity of the Ondo State people for too long when elected.
