Youth groups from across the 18 local govt areas in Ondo State today converged on Akure to beg the Immediate Past Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa to join the 2024 governorship race in the state.
During the solidarity rally that kicked from Adegbemile cultural centre through Oba Adesida- Oyemekun road to Ilesa garage, the youths said they embarked on the exercise to ask Akinterinwa to officially join the governorship race this year.
Handing over the letter to the Former Commissioner through his Barrister Sola Ajisafe, the leader of the youth mobilisation and former Ondo State Governor’s Aide, Prince Dapo Adepoju said
Dapo Adepoju, SA mobilization youths in Ondo State
“We have looked around, we are making our choice because we are getting closer to the electioneering period in Ondo State and we as progressives, we as members of APC particularly the youths wing, because we believe that the youths are the pillars in any state, anywhere across the world, that is why when you build the youth, you built the nation, we have consulted across the 18 Local Government of the state within the progressives and we look at it that Mr Wale Akinterinwa is the best man for the job.
“We have a reason for all these decisions, we did not just conclude on his person, the reason being that Wale Akinterinwa has served as the Commissioner for finance during the administration of during the tenure of Dr Olusegun mimiko and honourably, he resigned his appointment, we saw that as a man of courage, for you to leave top government position voluntarily.
“Again, he was appointed by the late governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, after he became the Commissioner for finance in Ondo State, he was the Chairman of the Conference of Commissioners for finance in Nigeria until recently, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came on board, he chose him from one of the few individual across the 774 local government that make up this country as one of the people that would rejig the economy as a member of the Nation Tax reform committee. These are the things we know and we believe he has the pedigree to lead this state.
“There was a time we have a deficit of 6months salary owed by civil servants, under his watch as Commissioner for Finance, he settled everything. He ensured Ondo State revenue (IGR) increased, we feel he is the best person, we are appealing that he accepts our offer, we are begging him, we are appealing to our leaders of party in South West region to help us appeal to Mr Akinterinwa to accept our offer, we are appealing to our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to help us appeal to his political son, Wale Akinterinwa to accept to become the governor of our state,” Adepoju said.
A female Youth leader, Leah Akinferesoye said, “Wale Akinterinwa has been a Commissioner for three terms, that shows he is experienced, he is familiar with governance and so we are here to call him today to appeal that he should contest, because we believe he has the capability and capacity to lead Ondo State, we believe that as a financial expert he knows what to do to drive the economy of Ondo State and to move Ondo State forward, we want him to know that we are solidly behind him.”
The Chairman of Ondo State Park Management, Comrade Jacob Adebo aka Idajo, declared that “the youths has tried we believe he would be voted in the primary, the youths have chosen the person they would vote for during the primary.
“We are here for Wale Akinterinwa, the people should vote for Wale Akinterinwa, after the burial of Arakunrin Akeredolu, he should declare, I will appeal to the people not to collect money from anyone to vote any candidate, we only want Wale Akinterinwa,” Adebo said.
Responding, Barr. Sola Ajisafe said, “I am here in representative capacity representing Mr Wale Akinterinwa to listen to the voice of the youths who are appealing to him to come and lead the state in the executive Arm as the next governor of the state, they have their reasons and their reasons are not far-fetch, competency, ability, capability, efficiency and honesty.
“Wale is a modern financial expert, he has provided solution to very technical financial problem and that is exactly what Ondo State need at this time, my responsibility with the rest of the people here who are not youth, but we have a youthful mind, we have come to represent Hon. Wale Akinterinwa who is unavoidable absent because he is out of the state.
“We would take the message back to him that the Ondo State youths in the progressives end to choose him as the person that would flag the flag of APC in Ondo State.
“I want to thank the leadership of the youths in Ondo State for what they have done, posterity would judge them.
“We are expecting that he make his intention known immediately after the burial of his late boss, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the document (letter) here would be handed over to his representative, we did this without his knowledge, he is not aware of this movement, we want him to contest.
“This is like ten thousand youths, the street of Akure was on a stand still for Akinterinwa today, we can even assist him in purchasing the nomination form, because we know that with him on that post, the youths are fortunate,” Ajisafe said.
