By Adekola Afolabi & Kayode Olabanji

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Mammoth crowd yesterday welcomed Ondo state Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his running mate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to Ese-Odo Local Government area of the state as the governor began his re-election campaign rally in the council.
The first point of call was the Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom in Ese-Odo where Governor Akeredolu appreciated the people for their unalloyed support since inception of his administration about four years ago, with a promise to continue to ensure the people enjoy more dividends of good governance.
The governor charged the people in the local government to vote for continuity of good governance to enable his administration consolidate its numerous achievements in all sectors and permanently place the state on the path of sustainable economic growth and development.
This is coming as the people disowned the embattled deputy governor and candidate of the ZLP, Agboola Ajayi, calling him betrayal of trust.
At the Palace of the Agadagba of Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty, Pere Zaccheaus Egbunu, Governor Akeredolu appreciated the monarch for recognizing his administration’s efforts despite the paucity of fund, just as he assured of his readiness to address some of the challenges of the people in the community.
The governor revealed that work has commenced on the abandoned hospital in the area, adding that the contractor handling the hospital project which was abandoned by the past administration has been invited back to commence work.
He said he recently ordered the redeployment of doctors and nurses to the hospital in Ijaw -Arogbo community to arrest the trend of seeking medical attention in far away Irele.
The governor equally assured the traditional ruler of his commitment to renovate more schools and also employ sons and daughters of Arogbo to teach in the schools.
Earlier, the Agadagba of Arogbo Ijaw, Pere Zaccheaus Egbunu, applauded the achievements of Governor Akeredolu, stressing that the Akeredolu’s administration has succeeded in fulfilling majority of the previous campaign promises.
He rated high the performances of the governor in the areas of the construction of infrastructural facilities such as roads, overhead bridges, workers’ welfare, hospitals, standard water supply schemes, schools among other people-oriented programmes and policies.
Also, it was a rousing welcome for the governor and his entourage at the local government rally held at the RCM School in Igbekebo, headquarters of Ese-Odo Local Government as the people massively trooped out with excitement and enthusiasm, defying the rain, to express their support for Governor Akeredolu’s second term.
Speaking at the event, Governor Akeredolu revealed that he is a son of the soil in Ese-Odo, and that coming to the local government to campaign is a homecoming for him.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue to deliver on his electoral promises, just as he called for more support from the people to collectively transform the state.
Over 1,200 members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ese-Odo Local Government decamped to the ruling APC at the event.
Former governorship aspirant of the party, Isaacs Kekemeke, who hails from the local government, said the people of Ese-Odo must apologise to Governor Akeredolu, saying the embattled deputy governor’s act of betrayal was alien to the culture of the Ijaws who are known for their courage and steadfastness.
Also, another governorship aspirant and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Togo, Sola Iji said, “the act of the deputy governor is alien to our culture. We don’t betray and we don’t stab people behind. The act of the Deputy Governor should be isolated and we apologise for this very strange behaviour of paying evil for good”.
Another former aspirant, Chief Olusola Oke, noted that Governor Akeredolu has done well and deserved to be re-elected for a second term in office, promising massive votes for him from the Ijaw people.
The state Chairman of the APC, Ade Adetimehin, disclosed that the magnitude of the crowd at the rally showed the acceptability of the APC and its candidate in the local government, calling the people to come out en masse come October 10 and re-elect the governor.
“This election is for APC. The day of reckoning is October 10. APC is my party, and our party,” Adetimehin said.
Also on the campaign train are the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale; Prof. Francis Faduyile among several leaders.