Ondo 2020: Why I’ll not contest against Akeredolu – Jimoh Ibrahim
By Adekola Afolabi.
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Popular business magnate and politician, Jimoh Ibrahim, said he was not ready to contest against the incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in the coming governorship election in the state.
Explaining the reason he could not contest against the re-election bid of governor Akeredolu in the October 10 guber poll, Ibrahim described the governor as a respected member of the Bar and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) who has further justified the confidence reposed in him by transforming the state in every sector.
The Igbotako born business mogul in Okitipupa Local Government area of the state equally added that another thing that endeared him to governor Akeredolu was his bold and courageous stand on the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’, saying governor Akeredolu really demonstrated uncommon political will to protect the lives and property of the citizenry.
Ibrahim who spoke on Saturday during the foundation laying ceremony of the University of Fortune, in Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government area, stressed that governor Akeredolu would be re-elected for a second term in office and come back to commission all the buildings whose foundations were laid by the governor.
“I have never seen a governor that can be this bold and radical to fight the cause of his people within the Southwest region. We are not looking for succession but we are concerned about the security of lives and property. Mr Governor, you did very well in fighting that cause”, he stressed .
Speaking on why large projects failed in Nigeria, the founder of the Fortune University said until solutions are provided to address the problem of abandoned projects, Nigeria would not get it right.
According to him, three out of 11, 886 federal government projects that failed in Nigeria are equal to 60percent of our foreign debt. The three projects are Ajaokuta Steel Rolling, Second Niger Bridge and Sure-P projects.
Ibrahim explained the Fortune University is set up to address the challenges facing the country and bridge the gap of abandoned projects in Nigeria, saying that education must be redirected to produce the needed development in the society.
The business magnate noted that the University would be built with the highest speed to ensure quick completion and timely take off of academic activities to further support the giant strides of governor Akeredolu in education development in the state.
Speaking after performing the foundation laying ceremony of the University, the State Governor, Akeredolu, commended the founder for his good initiative, saying that when completed the University would be a true citadel of learning.
Akeredolu who described education as the bedrock of development, also called on individuals and corporate organisations to invest in university education as government alone cannot do it.
The governor added that the initiative would further complement the determined efforts of his administration towards societal development.
According to him, the Fortune University would bring a lot of fortunes economically not only to the people of Igbotako but the entire state in terms of jobs creation and manpower development. The governor promised continued support to ensure the University succeeds.
He also informed the gathering about the landmark achievements of his administration in the area of infrastructural development in the Olusegun Agagu University which had been abandoned for the past eight years, roads network in the southern senatorial district including Okitipupa bypass, Ayeka road, aggressive infrastructural in all the public primary schools across the 18 Local Government areas of the state among others.
Governor also urged the people of the state to take simple and effective precautionary measures against the killer Coronavirus also known as Covid-19 by washing their hands regularly and avoid crowded areas, among other preventable measures.
In his goodwill message, the Special Guest of Honour and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, who stressed the importance of education to the socio-economic development of the country, noted that when the university takes off, it will be a centre of excellence for teaching and research.
