Ex-Ondo lawmaker declares gov ambition, says state deserves better deal

A former member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Mayowa Akinfolarin, has lamented that the handlers of the state had not been utilizing the human and natural resources it is endowed with properly.

Akinfolarin, a two-term federal lawmaker who represented the Ile-Oluji Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency between 2015 and 2023, declared that the state needed to be reconfigured.

He stated this while speaking with journalists in Akure, the state capital, on Wednesday.

The former federal lawmaker said, “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 to be great.

“Ondo State is where 70 per cent population are totally engaged in farming. But nobody is paying serious attention to that, all what we are doing is to bring projects that will bring money for us, we must start paying attention to the informal sector where we have the majority of our people.”

Akinfolarin, who declared intention to contest for the forthcoming governorship election in the state on the platform of the APC, said the state needed someone who would bridge the gap between the government and the people.

“Although we have so many people on the ground my own case is different. 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. Because there seems to be some gaps between government and the people in recent times.

“I’m properly rooted in this state, so I know what it takes to govern the Ondo 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 succor 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,” he stated.

On the death of the former governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, the All Progressives Congress chieftain said there was a need for the state government to immortalize the late former governor. He described Akeredolu as a straightforward person.

“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 ensured not only the state but the entire southwest region was safe through the Amotekun Corps.”