… Laments gaps between govt, citizens

A former member of the House of Representatives, Mayowa Akinfolarin, who represented Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency, has vowed to reconfigure Ondo State if he emerged as governor of the state.

Akinfolarin, who decried the gaps between the government and the citizenry in the state, emphasised that the state needs urgent reengineering in order to turn its fortunes around in the areas of the economy and the agricultural sector.

The two-term federal lawmaker and former Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly stated this while declaring his ambition ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

According to him, “If you look at the state of affairs in the state, you will all agree with me that Ondo State needs to be reconfigured; we need to reconfigure the developmental structure of this state. There seem to be some gaps between the 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 great.

“Ondo State is where 70 percent of the population is totally engaged in farming. But nobody is paying serious attention to that; all we are doing is bringing 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 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 the economic and political terrain of Ondo State. I know what governance is, and I know what can be done to give succour and hope to our people. People no longer have confidence in what the government is doing; we need someone to energise the system; we need someone to give assurance; we need someone to let us know that this government is our government.”

Akinfolarin further stressed that “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 community 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.

Akinfolarin, who also spoke on the death of the late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said: “We will be very unkind to Aketi (Akeredolu) if nothing is done to immortalise 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 he 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 them.”