Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state has appealed to electorate in the state to vote for candidates who share the visions of his administration during next Saturday’s house of Assembly election in the state.
Akeredolu spoke at a state wide broadcast on Friday night and monitored by our correspondent in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
The governor’s broadcast was apparently coming on the heels of the defeat suffered by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the February 23rd elections in the state.
He urged the electorates to shun all forms of sentiment and vote for individuals to the house of assembly who would co-operate with the government in improving on the infrastructural development across the state.
Akeredolu said: ” My good people of Ondo state, I know you are aware of the next round of elections fixed for 9th march, 2019 by the independent national electoral commission (INEC). This is another very important exercise; local political leaders are going to be chosen to represent our people as governor and at the house of assembly.
” I appeal to you to see this exercise as a strictly family affairs in which brothers and sisters, with shared heritage, and even blood affinity, will be locked in an innocuous electoral combat for the benefit of all. Our dear state will be the ultimate winner if all of us approach it in the spirit of sportsmanship. All of us will be winners and our people will be the better for it.
” I enjoin you to participate, actively, without let or hindrance. The government, on its part, will ensure that adequate security is provided for all our citizens to exercise their franchise. Our people are encouraged to feel confident in their attempt to choose their leaders.
” Citizens of this state, who are of Yoruba, Igbo, Ebira, Hausa, Oyo and Edo extraction, as well as other minority ethnic groups, should feel free to participate in the exercise as members of this large and heterogeneous family. I appeal, passionately, that we cast aside all divisive and primordial sentiments. Ondo state is our primary place of domicile. Our allegiance to her must be unalloyed.
“The participation of the electorate in the state is limited to the election of members to the house of assembly. The gubernatorial election is due next year. This administration encourages voters to choose candidates whose campaign promises are in tandem with its vision on infrastructural development. We have been able to achieve this much due to the prudent management of limited resources. We hope to do more with the co-operation of patriotic members of the House of Assembly who await your mandate in a couple of days.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is important that we restate that our administration has made significant strides in the areas of road construction, provision of potable water, education through massive and unceasing renovation of public schools, health, rural development, fiscal stability, workers welfare, among other critical interventions.
“We, fervently, anticipate the consolidation of these achievements through understanding and co-operation of patriotic members of the House of Assembly. You, the good citizens of Ondo state, must be actively involved in the process. We solicit your assistance in this regard.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank you, once again, for the patience and understanding in the past two years since you gave me your mandate. I promised to make your welfare and the development of the state the primary purpose of governance.
“I feel proud to assert that I have not allowed anyone to shortchange you under my watch. I have continued to allow your interests to be the guiding principles of my administration. I intend to proceed till the final moment.
“I, therefore, solicit your understanding and active participation in ensuring that our dream of a prosperous and peaceful society becomes a reality.”
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC had on Friday issued a query to the governor over his anti-party activities.
According to the NWC, Akeredolu’s glaring anti-party activities led to the defeat of the party in the presidential and National Assembly Elections in the state.
YOMI AYELESO, Akure
