Senator Jimoh Ibrahim
Two of the aspirants jostling to be flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Ondo State governorship election slated for Nov. 16, have reeled out their plans for the state
The aspirants, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim and Mr Wale Akinteriwa, spoke with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, after submitting their Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to contest the APC primary slated for April 20.
Ibrahim, Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, promised to fortify the state’s local security outfit, Amotekun, if elected as the next governor of the State.
The aspirant said he would work to address issues of insecurity with technology and Artificial intelligence and ensure that the state’s mineral deposit worth $47 billion was properly harnessed.
Ibrahim expressed optimism that he would win the party’s governorship ticket and the state governorship election.
“Our strategies of winning election is very clear and straight forward. I can assure you that we are going to win the next election,” he said.
The deputy chairman of the Senate committee on gas, assured that if elected governor in the state, he would ensure that the state’s Bitumen deposits worth $47 billion was properly harnessed.
“I brought the current Bitumen bill before the the National Assembly and we are now on the third reading, so that we can have a law backing Bitumen,” he said.
Ibrahim also said he was not expecting anyone to step down for him, adding that he was prepared to go through the primary to emerge as the state’s next governor.
“I will fortify Amotekun and use apps to dislodge insecurity, there are apps that can detect insecurity and crimes, these are what I will employ.
“Modern security require artificial intelligence to combat insecurity,” he said.
Also, Akinteriwa, a former Finance Commissioner in the state, while speaking with newsmen, said it was time to take Ondo State to the next level.
He said that the state could not afford to continue as a civil service state, stressing that the narrative must change.
“I will be the chief marketing officer of Ondo State if elected as its next governor.
“Ease of doing business in the state will be at its best under my watch.
“I come with a strong understanding of what government is all about, having served in advantaged positions in government and in the banking sector.
“The era of dependence on federation account allocation will not lead to the advancement of the state, this narrative must change,” Akinteriwa said.
The former commissioner added that if elected as governor, he would make the state self sufficient without depending on federal allocation by working to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Akinteriwa said that his government would use the state’s coastal fronts to boost its tourism and marine economy.
“Our large land mass would be utilised to boost agriculture to make the state food sufficient.
“Within the first four years in office, we will work to ensure that the state is able to feed the entire South-West, we will get our youths engaged.
“We will birth a new Ondo State that will birth prosperity where our youths will be engaged and women enabled to flourish.
“We will engage our women and will tap from their experiences to make sure they contribute to government. Infrastructure, and entrepreneurship,” the governorship aspirant said.
Healthcare and education, Akinteriwa said, would also be given priority by his government if elected as governor. (NAN)
