Akeredolu’s victory is legitimate; his second term will be better than the first- Ilekunola Solomon

Comrade Ilekunola Olamide Solomon, the Vice Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) representing Northern senatorial District of Ondo state who is also the Former Chairman Ọsẹ local government 2019-2011 under Labor Party has revealed that the victory of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN in the October 10 2020 Gubernatorial election was not determined by the party or through any political affiliation or allegiance but was determined by the electorate that’s the people who he stated gave the Governor the mandate to continue his stay in office. He stated this while responding to news men in Akure, the Ondo State Capital on the 20th of January 2021. He revealed that the Governor’s victory was as a result of the impressive and laudable efforts of the State Governor in his first term which saw the state across its 18 local government attaining a new and better height among its contemporaries. He explained that the last four years in Ondo State had seen the Governor repositioned the state for better economic development through infrastructural cum industrial revolution, one which is unprecedented in the State. Speaking regarding the recent order given by the Governor ordering Fulani herdsmen who are not registered with the state government to vacate the forest, he stated that the Governor as the Chief Security Officer of the State has the right to make such law and it had in no way contravened the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; he explained that the recent uproar from the presidency and those who are against the order is because they do not understand the content of the information passed by the Governor. In his words,” Akeredolu did not asked the herdsmen to go. He never said that. He only said if you want to continue to doing your job in Ondo State, then you must be duly registered with the State Government; those who are not willing to do this should vacate the state’s forest within 7days” “If you look at it within the space of 3 days, a pastor was killed, deputy registrar of FUTA was killed, just last year a first-class Ọba in Ondo state, the Olufọn of Ifọn was killed and last year, the daughter of Pa Fasanranti was killed. These are deaths too many. No reasonable government will fold her hands and watch as her citizens are been slaughtered like cows in broad daylight. And all accusing fingers have been pointed to this Fulani herdsmen. This is why government issued out that a ultimatum.” He added Responding to questions regarding his expectations for the second term of the Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, he stated that,” With my position I think I am in a better position to say what the government will do better in the second term in the office. There are 24 projects apart from the on-going that the government wants to do. Firstly, we are going to have a deep seaport in Ondo state that will be completed within the next 3 years. That’s 100 percent certain. Then exploration of Bitumen will come on board within 2 years. The third one is a link road between Araromi to Lagos, that road will be dualize and completed within 3 years.” He also added,” Then again, the industrialization that has began in ondo south of course will cut across the 3 senatorial zones. The Bitumen will surface in Okitipupa that’s in south, Tomato process industry at Arigidi Àkókò will come on board, we are bringing investors there. Then powder egg at Owo before Emure-ile will come on board and lots more that will turn the lives Ondo state citizens around for good. Moreover, the government is going to invest enormously in agriculture in this second term.” He also advised members of the party to cooperate with the Governor as he prepares for another 4 years in office, he explained that they all should imbibe the values of patience and commitment towards the Party’s ideals. In his words, “ What I want to tell our party members is that they should keep calm. We are just starting. If you didn’t get today, you’ll get it tomorrow. But don’t destroy the structure of the party. If the party is still alive, you are assured that one day you will get your own.” Furthermore he stated,” During the time AD (Alliance for Democracy), PA Hamzat was the chairman of the party, he never get appointment apart from that. But today he has two sons who Permanent Secretaries in Lagos state, his son is the Deputy Governor of Lagos and his son is equally chairman of Ifako-Ijaye local government. Once you don’t rock the boat of the party, it will get to your turn one day.”