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Day when Tinubu, 11 Govs, other APC leaders stormed Akure

By Adekola Afolabi

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It was a carnival like event last Saturday in Akure, the Ondo state capital, as the second term re-election campaign flag-off for APC candidate and governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, kicked off.
Heaven opened and there was a shower of blessing in the state. The rain which had ceased to fall since the past two months began to fall in torrents to the excitement and comfort of the people.
The downpour added glamour to the campaign flag-off as people trooped out to welcome the heavenly showers with pumps and pageantry. According to many, the rain signified showers of blessing which the APC would further bring into the state in the years ahead.
The state capital was agog for the carnival like campaign flag-off which brought not less than eleven APC Governors, Ministers, members of the National Assembly and who-is- who in the ruling party across the country.
The APC leaders who were obviously happy to identify with Governor Akeredolu based on his outstanding record of performance across sectors, also defiled the downpour to kick start the campaign rally in the heart of the state capital. The campaign flag-off cannot be forgotten in a hurry.
To them, four more years would bring continuity of good governance, progress and development to the people and the state at large.
APC Governors who graced the campaign flag-off held at the Akure Sports Stadium, included Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State and Chairman, APC National Caretaker Committee; Chairman Ondo APC National Campaign Council and Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman, Progressive Forum, Samuel Lalong of Plateau state; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State; Nasarawa; Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Others are; Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum; Kwara state Governor, AdulRasak; Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola and his deputy; Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Sani Bello of Niger State, and the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Chief David Onoja.
Also in attendance were former Interim National chairman of APC, Bisi Akande; Minister of Transportations, Rotimi Ameachi, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Silva, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Tayo Alasoadura and other notable leaders.
The leaders alongside the people of the state came out in their large numbers and defied the heavy downpour which started early in the morning.
At the event, some leaders of the PDP including Femi Adekanbi and Jimoh Ibrahim with their supporters were officially received into the APC.
Speaking one after the other, the APC Governors commended Governor Akeredolu for his landmark projects which they said have improved the lives of the people and transformed the state.
They expressed confidence in the landslide victory of the APC in the October 10 governorship election in the state, noting that Governor Akeredolu has delivered and fulfilled his promises to the people of the state in the past three and a half years of his administration.
Yobe State Governor and Chairman, APC National Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni, noted that he was satisfied with Governor Akeredolu, saying the Governor has made the job of the campaign team easy as a result of his excellent performance in office.
Also, the Chairman Ondo APC National Campaign Council and Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, applauded the Governor for his various achievements in all sectors with a charge to the people of Ondo state to come out en masse and vote massively for Governor Akeredolu’s re-election to ensure continuity of good governance in the state.
The Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, explained that Governor Akeredolu has shown evidences of good governance, passion, competence, progressive leadership and an ideology of progressive governance in the last three and a half years of his administration.
“Governor Akeredolu has demonstrated beyond any doubt that he is man that can be relied on. In Akeredolu, all promises have been confirmed, and that is why all of us are here to let you know that we are completely in solidarity with the people of Ondo state, the continuity of good governance in Ondo state with peace, with progress, with development, with good governance which Akeredolu represents.
“So four more years for Aketi is four more years for progress. Four more years for APC is four more years for development”, Fayemi added.
On his part, Chairman, Progressives Forum, Samuel Lalong, said Governor Akeredolu has kept his promises with the people, just as he said his record of performance would earn him second term re-election.
Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, appreciated the APC leaders, his brother Governors and the people of the state for their support, saying remains one united big family.
He urged the people of the state to troop out on October 10 and vote massively for him so that the good works can continue across the state.
Popular gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele was on ground to entertain the audience with his sonorous music.
Akeredolu leading Ondo to economic prosperity – Tinubu
…commissions Ondo Revenue House
As usual, it was a standing ovation for the National Leader of the APC and former Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as he made his way to commission the multi-million Revenue House built by the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led administration.
Inaugurating the historical project along Igbatoro, Akure, Tinubu applauded Akeredolu, for laying a solid economic foundation for economic prosperity and overall development of the state.
The former Lagos State Governor specifically commended the Governor for leading the state along an intelligent path, saying Akeredolu has brought much economic development more than talk development, and has dedicated himself and his government to bringing development to the state.
Tinubu who stated this while commissioning the multi-millionaira Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) buildings in Akure, the Ondo state capital, equally called for timely review of the nation’s revenue formula.
He observed some loopholes in the revenue formula and appealed to governors in the South-West geopolitical zone to apply strategy used in Oodua Investment to address the problems to further create jobs for the youths and improve the economy of the respective States.
Tinubu who described the Nigeria revenue formula as cumbersome advised the leaders to be consistent in the level of financial inquisitiveness as to where, why and when the revenue allocation formular will be consistent.
He said there were various encroachments he had noticed which the leaders could reform the federal bottle necks, advising them to apply the strategy used in Oodua Investment to address the challenges.
The APC National Leader particularly commended Governor Akeredolu for his laudable landmark projects across the state including Ore Interchange (Redemption Bridge) and Ore Industrial Hub, stressing that the industrial hub would bring needed employment and economic development to the deserving people living in the Ore vicinity and the state at large.
He lauded the Governor for his visionary leadership and courageous initiative, saying since Akeredolu came on board, he has had his hands on the plough, recording one milestone after another.
“Step by step, project by project, industrial hub by industrial hub is how we construct the foundation for durable progress and prosperity. Governor Akeredolu has done more than talk development; he has dedicated himself and his government to bringing development to this state.
“A key part of his development plans is the prudent and progressive agricultural empowerment programme. That programme is much like the very crops it seeks to produce and raise for the benefit of the people. You plant a seed that it may grow into a plant that will feed the people.
” The agric empowerment programme is an investment in your collective ability to grow what you need and to establish the state’s economy as a catalyst for growth.
“Focusing on agriculture in a bid to free our economy from an undue dependence on oil is the path we must take. The programme expresses the governor’s confidence in the people. Governor Akeredolu is to be commended for leading the state along this intelligent path.
“As such, you should repose even greater confidence in him. There is no doubt that Ondo State will be better for it at the end of the day. He has also embarked on important social welfare programmes”, Tinubu emphasised.
While asserting that Ondo State has a great potential for energy, economy and agriculture, the APC National Leader further encouraged the residents of the state to see prompt payment of their taxes as obligation as no nation could develop without contributions from its citizens.
Speaking at the event, Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu said the construction of the 21st century Revenue House became imperative to create conducive environment for revenue workers thereby increasing the fortunes of the state.
The Governor revealed that when his administration came on board the state Internally Generated Revenue was between N500m and N700m, but has now risen to N2bn.
In his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa said the complex project was solely finance from the IGR without borrowing from any kind and was constructed under most effective regime which ensured that there was cost variation and delivered on time.
The Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Tolu Adegbie applauded the Governor for his political will and support which he attributed to the achievements and success of the service in the over all interest of the people of the state.
The commissioning was graced by many bigwigs within the APC, including the pioneer National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola and his Kogi counterpart, Yahaya Bello.

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