With 13 days to the forthcoming November 16 forthcoming off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, the standard-bearers of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, battled as they engaged in a governorship debate organised by Channels Television on Sunday.
While slugging it out on their agenda for the people of the state for the next four years, the two frontline candidates who had served as deputy to the late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu were at each other’s jugular during the two-hour debate, countering each other on their plans for the state.
According to Aiyedatiwa, who disclosed that the safety and security of the people of the state will be its primary mandate, he vowed that the economy of the state, particularly agriculture, will also be given priority.
While alleging his co-contestant, Ajayi, of inexperience in governance, the governor stated that Ondo State under his watch is already taking advantage of the power devolution by the Federal Government.
Also, the governor maintained that with the current composition of the Amotekun Corps, the security outfit is ready to transform into a state police.
“Amotekun can trace crime to its root cause and the corps is ready to transform into a state police. There nothing like N1.2 billion security vote. It a lie from the pit of hell. Security vote is a Security issue and I can’t reveal it,” he said.
“There are industries in Ondo State, among which is the linyin industry, where they convert cassava to ethanol and make textile materials.
We also have an industry that turns cocoa to chocolate. And they are being exported.
“We have a lot of investors that have shown interest to invest in agriculture in the state. They are interested in the state because of the peace existing in the state. There are businesses that the government does not ge involved in but to provide the enabling environment. Investors are ready to invest in Ifon ceramic. We are clearing land to boost farming, particularly cocoa.”
On his part, the PDP candidate, Ajayi, alleged that the governor had destroyed the legacy of their late boss, particularly the Amotekun corps. He, however, vowed to strengthen the security outfit if elected as governor.
Ajayi also claimed that Aiyedatiwa had turned a blind eye to the economy as well as the education sector.
“The poor people in Ondo State are more in numbers. What we rely on in Ondo is the collection of salary. The cocoa industry of the state has not positively impacted the economy of the state,” he said.
“No single palm oil factory in Ondo State. When I become governor, I will established sunshine glass factory to replace the defunct Oluwa glass.
“We will also invest in our local airport, which is a cargo airport, to boost agriculture and food security for the state. There is no single tractor in the state, so the government is not prepared to invest in agriculture.
“There no single development in Ilaje communities and the governor is from the area. When I am governor of Ondo, in one or two years, I will initiate policies that will drive the cocoa industry in the state
“As governor, I’ll cancel the Ministry of Local because it is criminal not to allow local as their affair.
“Ondo State workers will be happier when I pay N76,000. I know how administration works better than Aiyedatiwa. I have been a local government chairman, member of the House of Representatives, Deputy Governor, and Acting Governor.”
