By: Oluwatosin Adesola
Ahead of the 2024 governorship primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, the immediate past commissioner for finance in the state, Mr Wale Akinterinwa, has declared that if he becomes the governor of the state, there will be economic prosperity, vowing to be the Chief Marketing officer of the state.
He stated this while speaking at the APC secretariat, Oyemekun road in Akure, the state capital on Tuesday to notify the State Executives of the party on his intention to run.
Akinterinwa said his administration will find a means to remove unemployed youths from the street and give them employment.
Akinterinwa who said the state has the potential to become another Lagos in terms of economic development, noted that with the state’s longest coastline and deep sea port coupled with a very large land mass, the state will be able to feed the entire Southwest.
He said, “We must find a solution to how to move these boys from the streets and give them good employment. We must now think outside the box. We must think in a manner that there are no limitations. “
While promising to become Chief Marketing Officer of the state if allowed to serve, Akinterinwa stressed that his administration would encourage investors to the state.
According to him, “We will make our lands available at a cost. Ondo must be the next Lagos State. We have a coastline and a deep seaport. We must bring all these to life and it will be the game changer.”
He said, “I must say that with farming, some of our parents were millionaires in those days. We have the opportunity of land mass which Lagos did not have. We will bank on these so that the state will be able to feed the entire Southwest.
“We will ensure that our farmers are given the right support. We will encourage investors to come to the state to invest. We will make our lands available at a cost. I will become the Chief Marketing Officer of the state. I will take Ondo to the world. Ondo State should be ready to witness a new era of prosperity. With me, we are the best Ondo State needs to offer.”
Akinterinwa further stated that with his experience as the longest-serving commissioner in the state,”It is not unexpected to say that I am more qualified to pilot this state. I said before I make any declaration, it is important to take permission expressly to inform the party.
“Ondo State needs to move to the next level. The previous governments have made their bid. We need to move to the level of industrialisation.”
In his reaction, the State Chairman of the party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, decried the high rate of unemployment in the state, adding that something urgent must be done to reduce the ugly trend.
Adetimehin who urged the aspirants of the party to allow the party to be in charge of the appointment when they eventually become the governor, noted that that is the only way the party faithful at the grassroots could benefit from the party.
His words:’ It is important to allow the party from the local level to be in charge of appointment. That is the only way people can benefit. When people are looking to vote, they move close to the party. But immediately they get the power, they leave the party behind.
“Don’t let us allow thuggery in the state. Wale grows through the ranks. He is one of the responsible stakeholders of the party. He is not new into the system. The words of violence and thuggery should not be heard from every one of us.”
