As preparations for the 2024 governorship election in Ondo State are underway, a former Vice-chancellor, Oduduwa University, ile-ife, Professor Williams Olu-Aderounmu has warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, might be on the verge of losing the position to the opposition party if they fail to pick a candidate of proven integrity as the party flagbearer.
Professor Olu-Aderounmu gave the warning in Akure last week Thursday while delivering a public lecture with the theme, ‘Ondo State and the dynamics of party politics’ organised by the Progressive stakeholders of APC.
He pointed out that the party needed to put in place definite-orientation Programmes to correct the value system that has been battered in recent times in the State.
Olu-Aderounmu said “Unless good materials are identified, selected and identified, whether they have money or not, APC will lose elections at all levels in the future. APC must as a matter of policy in picking Candidates for future elections look for people with integrity, community or local acceptability, education, good past records, popularity of candidates with the NLC, Teachers, Civil servants, Students and Market women. Relying only on naira or dollar would no longer in the long run, be acceptable to voters.
“It is no longer news that the National economy is in shambles in spite of the country being blessed with one of the largest daily output of crude petroleum in the world: I am even told now that the Country had collected revenues for crude oil not yet supplied.
“It is that bad. To Compound the problems, our National infrastructure of transportation energy communication, water and power is in ruins Our health and educational facilities have decayed and even the administration bureaucracy has become non-functional.”
Olu-Aderounmu also accused the executive arm of government in ondo state of not encouraging full separation of powers.
He said, “Lack of true separation of powers is the issue of non-existence of autonomy for both the legislature and the judiciary, which without doubt, required. a serious attention of all stakeholders.
“It can also be said that our legislators are not forceful enough in competing aggressively with other legislators in the Country, Ekiti State has performed better undoubtedly.
“I hope we have not been sending our tenth eleven to represent us at local, state and National levels.”
In a remark, the chairman of the Progressive stakeholders and former member House of Representatives, Hon. Afe Olowookere said the theme of the lecture was carefully chosen to “provide compendious ground through which issues pertaining to Governance and good governance, Democracy and democratic values, stewardship and accountability, Leadership and leadership responsibilities, Administration and management of political parties, rewards systems and due patronage in democracy shall be critically examined and exhaustively discussed with the aim of effecting a paradigm shift in all of the topical areas identified above for a better Ondo State.
“Politics and Party Politics are no doubt dynamic because it has a milieu; Socio-Economic, Technological and Cultural etc. The understanding of the dynamism of these concepts and the ability to manage them well will in no small measure bring about a convivial atmosphere where good governance thrives, Leadership Potentials Identified, Democracy and democratic values are deeply entrenched, stewardship accountability is made a culture and promoted, impartial rewards system and due patronage are well established, healthy administration and purposeful management of Political Party is encouraged and sustained.”
