...Says "Okeigbo is a historic town deserving of a local government headquarters"
"Igbo Olodumare now an International Tourist Center, hosts inter-ministerial meetings of Ondo State Government" - Olu of OkeIgbo
Speaking like a valiant soldier without a dint of fear, the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Thursday, told opposition parties to surrender to him as the October 10th 2020 governorship election in the state gathers momentum.
Reeling out his achievements one after the other when he visited IleOluji/OkeIgbo Local Government of the state in continuation of his campaign tour, Akeredolu, in what looks like a display of courage and valour, said his victory was already sealed and confirmed.
He said opposition parties are only wasting their time in their attempts to capture Ondo, saying "if governance is about distribution of democratic dividends to the people amidst equity, fairness and justice, I have done well to deserve a second term in office and I am sure the people are behind me and they will never allow Ondo State to return to the grip of the Golgotha"
Akeredolu, who is seeking another term of four years in office, is the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing a large crowd of people who trooped out to receive him in Ileoluji, the headquarters of the local government, Akeredolu said he has delivered all the promises he made to the people of the town when he came to campaign there in 2016 without an exception.
Akeredolu, who defied a heavy downpour and refused to collect an umbrella, the symbol of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) when offered by some party members, said under his leadership, almost all the untarred trunk B and C roads and dilapidated school and health infrastructures in the town have been tarred and rehabilitated.
"When I visited you in 2016, I promised to tar all your roads and reconstruct all our primary and secondary schools and health centres, today, by the grace of God, we have fixed almost everything.
"I promised to give your sons and daughters in IleOluji fair representation in government, today, Ileoluji Sons – Wale Akinerinwa and Boye Oyewumi - are in charge of finance and investments of our State.
"We are in power. As a person, I know the power of incumbency cannot work if the incumbent has been rejected by the people but in this case, I am an incumbent enjoying the support of the people. I have fulfilled almost all promises I made to you in 2016, please let's speak with our votes again on October 10th to enjoy more" Akeredolu, said.
Earlier, the Governor visited the palaces of Olu of OkeIgbo, Oba Lawrence Oluwole Babajide and Jegun of Ile Oluji, HRM, Oba (Dr) Julius Olu Ekun Adetimehin to receive their royal blessings.
He thanked the monarchs for what he described as "unflinching supports" he has received from them thus far.
Akeredolu described Okeigbo as a historic town that needs to be promoted to the international world because of its uniqueness and place in the history of Yoruba land.
In his words, the governor said "by the grace of God, OkeIgbo will have a separate local government if I win a second term. Here is a town that history will always be kind to. It deserves a local government headquarters. That will be settled in our second term"
The Olu of OkeIgbo, in his remarks, said Akeredolu has performed creditably in the town to deserve the support of his people.
The monarch said inter alia "Our community, before now, lacked portable water; our roads are abandoned; our school infrastructures are blot on the landscape; our health centres were in moribund; but today, everything is receiving attention from the Akeredolu led administration.
"We used to have a problem of insecurity here, especially in our farms, but with Amotekun, today, our farms and forests are safe. The popular Igbo Olodumare here in Okeigbo is now a tourist center. The Akeredolu government has turned it into an international tourist center that now hosts inter-ministerial meetings and other official events of the state government."
Oba Adetimehin, in his own remarks, described Akeredolu as a brand that does not need to be advertised before it can sell. The first class monarch said Akeredolu has surpassed the achievements of his predecessors thus deserve to be returned convincingly.
On the campaign train with Akeredolu were his running mate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, his Chief of Staff, Olugbenga Ale, the Director-General of the campaign, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan, APC Chairman in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and Director-General of the National Technical Aid Corps, Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi.
Others were the state Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa, Chief Executive Officer of the Ondo State Investment and Development Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), Mr. Boye Oyewumi, Chairperson of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Princess Oladuni Odu and a former governorship aspirant, Chief Olusola Oke.
Also on the entourage of the Governor was a former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Chief Sola Iji, House of Reps member, Mayowa Akinfolarin, immediate past president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Dayo Faduyile, member representing Ileoluji/OkeIgbo State Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Festus Adekinaye, amongst others.
