Chief Olusola Oke, the Governorship candidate of Alliance For Democracy has said he will work to ensure that the state is listed as one of the strongest economies in Africa sub-region if voted as the state’s helmsman in the forthcoming polls scheduled to hold in the state on Saturday.
The prominent politician who gave the assurance while speaking with journalists said he decided to join the race to ensure that the huge potentials of the state are well harnessed to boost its economic prosperity.
He said, “I contested in 2012 to be Governor, there were good reasons for me to contest then. These reasons have only multiplied, they have increased, expanded and therefore, so long as those conditions are still prevailing and multiplying, I will be failing in my responsibilities not to come out at this time.
” Ondo State is a state generously loved by God. If we look at the resources available to us, we should be leading; a shining example to others in Nigeria. Am talking in terms of natural resources, human resources, agriculture resources; whatever resources you can imagine that would help the development of a state, Ondo state has it in abundance: the largest rich human resources, they are all there but we are not doing well.
“A critical assessment of Ondo State today would show that the people of Ondo State are poor. They are not poor in their heads but in their pockets. And I have come to appreciate that over time that poverty of the pocket could also affect the poverty of the head.
“If you traverse the entire landscape of Ondo State today; you cannot. find one industry that is producing anything. The concomitant effect of that is that employment cannot be generated anywhere. Government
has come to a standstill in terms of the employment of its citizens.”
Oke affirmed that there is urgent need to diversify the state’s economy to be able to get its citizens engaged. Pointing out that for seven years running, graduates from the universities have come out in their hundreds of thousands with no employment opportunities.
He lamented that the effect presently is humiliatingly, saying ” most of them have become okada riders, drivers, beggars and idling away at cheap joints of the communities. This is not good for us, it is the recipe for revolution any moment and therefore, I cannot fold my arms.
“You look at our infrastructure, they are in a state of decay, industrialization is zero and these are also affecting the educational sector, the health sector and the total being of the citizens of Ondo State. When you have situation like this, it calls on men who have the fear of God, who have vision, who have direction and who have mission to come on the stage.
“I believe that given the opportunity to be the governor of Ondo State, I can start to re-direct the development of the state. And the starting point will be to examine what is on ground. I already have the database on what is on ground; how do we utilize what we have to solve the problems confronting us.”
If voted by the electorates on Saturday , Oke said he will look at the various industries mid-wifed by the last regime which are in different and varying stages of completion that were abandoned and ensure they are completed.
He opined that if they are completed, not only would they add value of their own that can be disposed off at anytime for consideration, they will help in solving the problem of unemployment.
“They will help in creating wealth for our people; they will help in adding value to the communities where they are situated. I believe further that anyone who must lead Ondo State at this crucial period must have the fear of God, must be one that is well known to the people and that knows the length and breadth of the state, and I fit into these descriptions.
“That is why I cannot relent until we sing a new song in Ondo State; until we have a new lease of life; until we have a new sense of direction; that is only when I can say okay, let others run. For now, it is a man that fits my description that Ondo State needs,” he said.
