The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Campaign Council for Ondo Governorship election has disclosed that all critical indices point to the fact that its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, will defeat his APC counterpart, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Saturday.
The Chairman of the PDP Campaign’s Publicity Sub-Committee, Kola Ologbondiyan, in an interview on AIT programme, “Kakaki,” on Thursday morning, said that Governor Akeredolu’s poor governance as well as anti-people policies of denying them the rights to health, education and economic benefits, had irredeemably pitched him against voters.
This is coming on the heels of Governor Akeredolu’s open declaration that the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, “is fit, capable and trusted hand to manage the affairs of the state as governor.”
Akeredolu, in a recent interview on Arise TV agreedthat Eyitayo Jegede is a competent hand to lead the state.
In endorsing Jegede, Governor Akeredolu, described the PDP candidate as “worthy of the office”; a statement that conveys Governor Akeredolu’s readiness to concede defeat after being voted out on Saturday.
However, appearing on “Kakaki,” Ologbondiyan stressed that the overwhelming demography of voters, had rejected Akeredolu’s self-serving administration for its anti-people policies, including the increase in school fees by over 100 percent and stopping of the “Mother and Child” health programme, established by previous administration to bring succor to the poor, even in the face of prevailing harsh economic situation in the country.
According to Ologbondiyan, “This is in addition to the entrenching of a corrupt system through which resources meant for the ordinary citizens are allegedly being frittered by his cronies and relations, the latest being the failure of the administration to account for the COVID-19 intervention fund released to the state.”
Ologbondiyan stated further: “Governor Akeredolu went against the heart of the expectation and values of the Ondo people. Education, welfarism for the poor, particularly their health and economic empowerment are at the core expectation of the people but Governor Akeredolu’s administration went against all of them.”
He recalled that the low-fee education system as well as the “mother and child” programme were parts of the welfarist policies of the past administration in which Eyitayo Jegede served as the Attorney General.
He said the PDP candidate was set to restore all welfarist programs in addition to entrenching other people-oriented policies in an all-inclusive government, “immediately he is elected into office as governor.”
The PDP campaign stressed that the Eyitayo Jegede’s practical and people-driven manifesto had led the majority of Ondo people to reach a consensus to vote him in as their new governor.
The campaign therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to succumb to pressure by the APC to interfere in the election but ensure a reinforcement of his stance of non-interference in elections, as witnessed in the Edo governorship election, which brought him applause across board.
He also urged INEC and security agencies to respect the wishes of the people by ensuring the sanctity of the ballot box in addition to transmitting of results directly from the polling unit.
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