Mayowa Akinfolarin, a former member of the House of Representatives and aspirant in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state, on Wednesday said the state requires reorganization and he is fully ready to reconfigure the political terrain of the state for the benefit of the people.
Akinfolarin, while declaring his ambition ahead of the November governorship election in the state, said the past governments in the state have done their best, but they have neglected their leaders who are supposed to help in the development of the state.
A two-term member representing Odigbo/Ileoluji-Okeigbo federal constituency said; “although we have so many people on ground but my own case is different, if you look at the state of affairs in the state, you will all agree with me that Ondo state need to be reconfigured, we need to reconfigure the developmental structure of this state. Because there seems to be some gaps between government and the people in recent times.
“Ondo state is full of potential, human and material alike. It is one of the most prosperous states in this country because we have so many things that can make us to be great. Ondo State is where 70percent population are totally engage in farming. But nobody is paying serious attention to that, all what we are doing is to bring projects that will bring money for us, we must start paying attention to the informal sector where we have the majority of our people”
“I’m properly rooted in this state, so I know what it takes to govern the Ondo state and with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some of us think that we need to come together to move this state forward.
“Based on my experience and antecedent, I have really navigated both economic and political terrain of Ondo State, I know what governance is, I know what can be done to give succor and hope to our people. People are no longer have confidence in what government is doing, we need someone to energize the system, we need someone to give assurance, we need someone to let us know that this government is our government.
“We are coming out to give hope, we are coming out to make some corrections, all the past. But for me I need to reconfigure this state and by the time I get the votes of the people of this state, I know that they will be very happy having me as their governor.
“I want to offer myself now to be the governor of this state in order to serve the good people of Ondo state, and with what Mr. President is doing in this country, we need someone that will compliment his efforts here in Ondo state. The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to make Nigeria great and reclaim her position in the comity of nations. Under this agenda, Ondo state must not be left out and I am the right person to make this happen.
I’m properly prepared for this job, in fact I’m the most suitable for the job. I was a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly and a two-term deputy speaker of the Ondo state House of Assembly, I also served on the board of National Library, and I was in the National Assembly as member representing Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo federal constituency of Ondo state for eight years. While serving as honourable member, I was made Chairman of House Committee on Road Safety where I pushed for bills that changed the international perception of the Federal Road Safety Corps. I sponsored the NYSC start-up fund among many other life-changing bills. So I have devoted my time and life to serving the masses especially those at the lower rung of the ladder in the society.
“Therefore, I put myself forward to seek the support of all and sundry to enable me serve as the governor of Ondo state. So we can change the narrative and transform the state for good for our and our children’s children.
“I’m ready to pay serious attention to agriculture, we need to give support to our farmers, by giving them seedlings and things that will make them very productive in the state, we must be practical this time around, time for rhetorics is gone. We must know what works for us and what will not work. Our people simply need purposeful leadership. Someone they can entrust their future in his hands and go to sleep. This is why I am running”
“We are going to be very strategic and systematic in whatever we are going to do, we are going to prioritize our programmes, we are going to give attention to every class of the society that needs it. We must give adequate attention to our farmers for them and the state to be prosperous.
“Also, women are going to play a very prominent roles when I become the governor of this state. And I have asked God before declaring my intention to contest the forthcoming governorship election, and that’s why I tagged the project as ‘Ise-Oluwa’, the work of God. So God will take absolute control.”
Akinfolarin, who also spoke on the death of late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said; “we will be very unkind to Aketi if nothing is done to immortalize him. This was a man that came with good intentions, he did his best, he was not a pretender, he was a practical person and ensured not only the state but the entire southwest region was safe through the Amotekun Corps.
“I am the bridge between successive governments, having been a key part of the late Dr Olusegun Agagu government and that of Dr Olusegun Mimiko. I know where the gaps are and I know how to feel it in.”
