Barely one week after the demise of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and the consequent inauguration of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as Ondo state governor, a former deputy speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mayowa Akinfolarin, has announced his interest to be the state governor in 2024.
Akinfolarin, who served in the House of Representatives for eight years, said Ondo state needed reconfiguration, assuring that he would focus on the state’s informal sector if elected.
He also promised to ensure policies targeted at bridging the gap between the government and the people.
The governorship aspirant further said his planned focus on the informal sector was because of its huge potential to get majority of the people in the state, particularly the teeming youth, employed.
The former lawmaker who is seeking to realise his aspiration on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, prided himself as the best for the job.
He said: “I am the bridge between successive governments, having been a key part of the late Dr Olusegun Agagu’s government and that of Dr Olusegun Mimiko. I know where the gaps are and I know how to feel it in.
“I’m properly rooted in this state, so I know what it takes to govern the Ondo state and with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some of us think that we need to come together to move this state forward.
“Based on my experience and antecedent, I have really navigated both the economic and political terrain of Ondo State, I know what governance is, I know what can be done to give succour and hope to our people.
“People are no longer have confidence in what the government is doing, we need someone to energize the system, we need someone to give assurance, we need someone to let us know that this government is our government.”
On the passing of Akeredolu, he said: “We will be very unkind to Aketi if nothing is done to immortalize him. This was a man that came with good intentions, he did his best, he was not a pretender, he was a practical person and ensured not only the state but the entire southwest region was safe through the Amotekun Corps.”
…LGs, LCDAs dissolved
Meanwhile, Governor Aiyedatiwa has suspended caretaker chairmen of the 18 local government areas and 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
They are to remain suspended until the case is determined by the court.
An Akure High Court presided over by Justice Yemi Fasanmi, had granted an interim injunction filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to restrain the late governor from inaugurating any person or persons not democratically elected as member(s) of caretaker committees to administer the affairs of the local councils and the LCDAs pending the determination of the interlocutory Injunction in this suit.
In line with this, Justice Fasanmi barred the caretaker chairmen from operating after they resumed office on the excuse that they had been sworn in before the order was granted.
However, the suspension order was contained in a letter by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and signed by Alonge Adewale.
“It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that despite the suspension of all recently appointed Caretaker Committee members for Local Government (LGAS) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State by a Court of competent jurisdiction, some individuals in these former positions are still parading themselves in that posts.
“Consequently, I have been directed to request the Heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGAs) in all the LGAs/LCDAs to immediately assume responsibility as head of their respective Local Government Areas/ LCDAs in acting capacity pending the resolution of all Legal matters relating to this subject,” the letter reads.
It further asked the suspended chairs to submit, without delay, all assets and properties of the LGAs/LCDAs.
However, a caretaker chairman who spoke under anonymity, said they had earlier secured a stay of execution against the court order, and were therefore shocked by their suspension, threatening to fight the matter up to the Supreme Court.
