Agunloye urges support for SDP to transform state

The standard-bearer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 26 governorship election, Dr. Olu Agunloye, has urged the people to vote for a candidate who would develop the state.

In an interview with The Guardian yesterday, Agunloye said the appeal became necessary so that Ondo could be taken out of the poor situation that the outgoing administration has reduced it to.

He said: “The present status is that poverty is fast-becoming the standard of life. Today, small quantities of rice are being distributed to the people as if they were in refugee camps.

“Serving and retired workers are being denied their salaries and pensions, while contract fees are withheld. These are the common features under Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration.”

According to him, Ondo is in crisis because of the struggle for power and the controversial primaries in the rival political parties, particularly in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Progress (APC).

He added: “The action of the other candidates does not portray them as people who would bring development to the state.”

Agunloye, who is a former Minister of Mines and Power, said the SDP is presenting itself as an alternative channel to promote the growth, welfare and development of the state.

He described the SDP as “an offshoot of the old Action Group (AG), which developed the southwest region during the First Republic, at a speed that was second to none in Nigeria and Africa.

“It is also an offshoot of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the Second Republic and the SDP in the short-lived Third Republic, which produced the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, M.K.O Abiola.”

Agunloye added that his party gave him the governorship ticket to have the opportunity to rebuild the state.

The former Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) dismissed the belief that the PDP and APC would use their power of incumbency and financial strength to hinder his victory.

“My selling point is commitment, integrity and determination to transform Ondo State. It is time to rebuild and rescue the state. It is not about who is running well, but who can take the state out of crisis.

“This election is also about the candidate who has the basic experience, integrity and skill and can be trusted to change the status quo,” he said.