Oke warns APC against rigging, promises to revive dying industries

The governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Olusola Oke, has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) against rigging the election.

The chairman of his media and publicity team, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, spoke yesterday in Akure.

He said the warning became necessary following the statements by some APC leaders that they would use federal might to influence the polls.

According to him, elections in the country have grown beyond ballot box snatching and stuffing.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for being a democrat, he warned those planning to rig the polls to be ready to incur the wrath of the people.

He said: “We have a president who is a democrat and who does not believe in the plan by his party members in the state.

“It is now outdated to think that results of elections could be manipulated in their favour without incurring the anger of the people.”

He explained that the country’s electoral process had grown with the introduction and insistence on the use of card readers for election.

Oke added that the power to decide the winner of an election was with the people, adding that he would rely on their support for the polls.

The candidate expressed dismay at the number of abandoned industries in the state and promised to revive them if elected.

He cited the multi-billion-naira Okeluse cement factory and the Ifon ceramics industry in Ose Local Council area.

While addressing his supporters, he said: “It is sad that the ceramics factory is in ruins. The current government has inundated us with tales of how billions of naira were spent on it and up till today, there is nothing to show.

“We are going to turn around the fortunes of all our industries and make them functional. We shall ensure that we bring back the Ondo State of old where industries existed to employ our youths.” he said.

According to him, an AD government would plug wastages and renegotiate the huge debt profile that the outgoing government had incurred. It would also partner investors to make the state an industrial area.