By Banji Ayoola
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the October 10 governorship election, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, has promised to liberate Ondo State from alleged shackles of the suffocating Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led government of All Progressives Congress, APC.
Besides, he pledged accelerated progress in human development and socioeconomic uplift.
He made these promises among others, on Thursday in Akure, the state capital, in his victory speech following his declaration as the the winner of the PDP governorship primary.
He had defeated seven other aspirants including the state’s deputy governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi; Senator BOluwaji Kunlere; Ambassador Olusola Iji; Chief Sola Ebiseni; Dr Eddy Olafeso; Hon Banji Okunomo and Mr Godday Erewa in the keenly contested exercise.
According to him: “Without doubt, Ondo, our dear state, is in dire strait. It is a state in need of a surgical operation, as it were; when it eventually finds itself in the theater of PDP’s political medicament.”
His words: “A PDP administration made life comfortable for our children in school by providing free buses daily to cater to their transportation. But today, where are the buses?
“A PDP government provided free health services for the less-privileged, who include pregnant women, nursing mothers, senior citizens and the enfeebled; but today, events in Ondo’s health sector has left many shedding tears.
“Patients have had to pay through the nose for no hospitality.
“In the education sector, it is the same litany of woes. Those in charge in our dear state may have indicated that they do not have any milk of human kindness in the abrasive hiking of school fees in tertiary institutions.
“While the PDP was in charge, tuition fees were in the neighborhood of N35,000 per session. But today, it is all a drama of absurdity, laced with wicked intention, as the average student nowadays pay not less than N250, 000 as tuition fees, in a year.
“The story of rot in Ondo State is virtually endless. So, where do we go from here? A golden opportunity has, at the moment, arisen; giving us the unique space of privilege in this chequered human history, to bring about a turnaround.
“We must ensure that we come together as one family, and harmonise ideas, resources and come together in love, to rescue Ondo State from its haitus.
“I, Eyitayo Olayinka Jegede, solemnly assure you that, with your collaboration-which will, by the special grace of God resonate in overwhelming victory for us in the governorship election coming up in October, that there will be accelerated progress in human development and socioeconomic uplift.”
Describing his victory as a collective one for all the eight aspirants who contested the primary and the entire PDP family, he appealed for support of leaders and members of the party.
He said: “I cannot do it alone. I will be drawing from the supports of my brothers (that is, co-contestants) in the task of liberating Ondo state from the shackles of the suffocating government of the Akeredolu-led APC government in Ondo State. ”
In Jegede’s words: “Standing ramrod straight, I’m patently dumbfounded on how best to express my sincere appreciation to you all, our noble delegates.
I am greatly overwhelmed with joy, this day, beholding my people, as in a sea of heads, largely exultant in partial fulfilment of their common dream.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has once more demonstrated its panache in party unity, personal freedom and political advancement.
All these qualities are made possible by the level of sophistry and love, obtainable in the PDP family.
One thing must be taken into consideration: in any contest, somebody must be declared the winner. But in the real sense of the word, all contestants for the trophy at stake are winners. They are winners in the sense that, while a poster boy hoists the shield, that same shield is eventually shared in unison, by the club members.
For this reason, I cannot but appreciate the conviction of purpose with which my co- contestants pursued the dream of becoming the candidate of our great party in Ondo State.
Which is why I’m commending the participation of other aspirants and compatriots. Indubitably, this victory at the primary election is a collective one and the choice is of the family.
I cannot do it alone. I will be drawing from the supports of my brothers (that is, co-contestants) in the task of liberating Ondo state from the shackles of the suffocating government of the Akeredolu-led APC government in Ondo State.
We all chose to join the PDP because we believe in its manifestoes and programmes of action and we are bound, as loyal party members, to become crusaders toward the fulfilment of those lofty projects to better the lot of Nigerians.
Without doubt, Ondo, our dear state, is in dire strait. It is a state in need of a surgical operation, as it were; when it eventually finds itself in the theater of PDP’s political medicament.
You may say that the PDP had been in the saddle of government in Ondo State in the past. Yes, you are right. But a dispassionate comparism of the PDP period with this moment that is no more than the daze of the locust, will forever remain instructive in the history of our dear state.
A PDP administration made life comfortable for our children in school by providing free buses daily to cater to their transportation. But today, where are the buses? A PDP government provided free health services for the less-privileged, who include pregnant women, nursing mothers, senior citizens and the enfeebled; but today, events in Ondo’s health sector has left many shedding tears.
Patients have had to pay through the nose for no hospitality.
In the education sector, it is the same litany of woes. Those in charge in our dear state may have indicated that they do not have any milk of human kindness in the abrasive hiking of school fees in tertiary institutions.
While the PDP was in charge, tuition fees were in the neighborhood of N35,000 per session. But today, it is all a drama of absurdity, laced with wicked intention, as the average student nowadays pay not less than N250, 000 as tuition fees, in a year.
The story of rot in Ondo State is virtually endless. So, where do we go from here? A golden opportunity has, at the moment, arisen; giving us the unique space of privilege in this chequered human history, to bring about a turnaround.
We must ensure that we come together as one family, and harmonise ideas, resources and come together in love, to rescue Ondo State from its haitus.
I, Eyitayo Olayinka Jegede, solemnly assure you that, with your collaboration-which will, by the special grace of God resonate in overwhelming victory for us in the governorship election coming up in October, that there will be accelerated progress in human development and socioeconomic uplift.
My action plan, which is encapsulated in the overall PDP agenda for the development of our dear country, is a public document.
I welcome your inputs, which do not, in any way exclude criticisms, as we all forge ahead to rescue our dear state from this unworthy pass.
I, once again, thank our abiding, loyal party members, and pray that our labour of love shall never be in vain.”
