Ondo guber: Aiyedatiwa, Ajayi debate security, economy, governance

Ajayi: Workers will be happier when I pay N76,000 wage
Aiyedatiwa: Ajayi has no governance experience

With 12 days to the November 16 off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, the standard-bearers of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, engaged each other in a debate organised by Channels Television on Sunday.

The two governorship candidates locked horns on their plans for the people if elected. While Aiyedatiwa said the state is one of the safest in the country, Ajayi countered him by recounting how the state had suffered worst insecurity in the past months.

Ajayi accused the governor of collecting N1.2 billion monthly in security votes, claiming the funds have not led to any significant improvement in the state’s security situation.

The two candidates who had served as deputy to the late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu were at each others jugulars during the two-hour debate.

Aiyedatiwa vowed that the economy of the state, particularly agriculture, will be given priority. While alleging his co-contestant, Ajayi, of inexperience in governance, the governor said Ondo under his watch is taking advantage of the power devolution by the Federal Government.

Also, the governor maintained that with the current composition of Amotekun Corps, the security outfit is ready to transform into state police.

“Amotekun can trace crime to its root cause and the corps is ready to transform into a state police. There nothing like N1.2 billion security vote. It a lie from the pit of hell. Security vote is a Security issue and I can’t reveal it.”There are industries in Ondo State, among which is the linyin industry, where they convert cassava to ethernol and make textile materials. We also have industry that turn cocoa to chocolate. And they are being exported. “We have a lot of investors that have shown interest to invest in agriculture in the state.

They are interested in the state because of the peace existing in the state. There are businesses that the government does not ge involved in but to provide the enabling environment. Investors are ready to invest in Ifon ceramic. We are clearing land to boost farming, particularly cocoa.On his part, the PDP candidate, Ajayi, alleged that the governor had destroyed the legacy of their late boss, particularly the Amotekun corps.

He, however, vowed to strengthen the security outfit if elected as governor. Ajayi also claimed that Aiyedatiwa had turned a blind eye to the economy as well as the education sector.

“The poor people in Ondo State are more in numbers. What we rely on in Ondo is the collection of salary. The cocoa industry of the state has not positively impacted the economy of the state.”No single palm oil factory in Ondo State. When I become governor, I will established sunshine glass factory to replace the defunct Oluwa glass.”We will also invest in our local airport, which is a cargo airport, to boost agriculture and food security for the state. There is no single tractor in the state, so the government is not prepared to invest in agriculture.

“There no single development in Ilaje communities and the governor is from the area. When I am governor of Ondo, in one or two years, I will initiate policies that will drive the cocoa industry in the state”As governor, I’ll cancel the Ministry of Local because it is criminal not to allow local as their affair. “Ondo State workers will be happier when I pay N76,000. I know how administration works better than Aiyedatiwa. I have been a local government chairman, member of the House of Representatives, Deputy Governor, and Acting Governor.”