10 Reasons To Vote Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa In The Coming Ondo Gubernatorial Election 

COMR. OMOBONI OLUSOLA JOSEPH 

Continuity is the key to good governance because it ensures stability and consistency in policy implementation and administration.

His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is a visionary leader, Articulate, Magnanimous and Quintessential candidate that has the potential to keep the wheel rolling in handling the machinery of Government in Ondo State.

In a nutshell; These are the following reasons why you should vote His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to continue as our Governor in Ondo State beyond 2025.

1. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: Women empowerment is a vital aspect of societal development that focuses on enhancing the status and rights of women in various spheres of life. Hon. Lucky is a gender sensitive governor who has made women empowerment one of his major priorities, I’m not surprised that his been named (Gomina awon Obirin). As the Chief of Staff to Dr. Seun Bosede Osamaye, I toured round the 18LG of the state with my boss Dr. Seun Bosede Osamaye, Special Adviser on women affairs to the Governor where she engaged with all categories of women ranging from Market women, Elderly women, women in Agriculture, pregnant women, women with disability, professional women e.t.c to know their challenges, Intimate them about the Governor’s programs for them and to meet their needs as instructed by His Excellency Lucky Ayedatiwa who said in his own time women will be taking care of and encouraged. I could remember in all the 18 local government Mr Governor made available all the needs of the women and even fertilizers were made available for women in Agriculture to encourage them and enhance production of foods. Market women were not left out as Mr governor made available financial resources to assist the market women accross the state. A lot more programs that Mr Governor is still having for all categories of women accross the state. Am sure Ondo state women can not afford to miss this golden opportunity and life changing programs in store for them as they will come out on Saturday to vote massively for the peoples Governor.

2. WORKERS WELFARE: His priority is the welfare of the workers in Ondo state. Governor Ayedatiwa has earned himself the title of a workers-friendly governor due to the premium he has placed on the welfare of civil and public servants in the State. The Ayedatiwa administration in January paid the January 2017 salary arrears owed to the Civil Servants and in March he paid three months’ salary arrears of the staff of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo. This came just two months after he approved the release of N850million to the institution to shore up its subvention. The administration has also emplaced a culture of prompt payment of salaries as and when due.The monthly N35, 000 wage award to public servants to cushion economic hardship is one of the highest in the country, while civil servants also enjoy free shuttle buses to relief them of the cost of transportation to and from work every day. Aside regular payment of pension, the government also pays N10, 000 wage award to all categories of pensioners in the State. In the same vein, over N1.5billion has been disbursed for the payment of gratuity in the last three months. He demonstrates that he is worker-friendly through meeting their welfare and sundry needs including promotion and clearing of their backlog of unpaid salaries and pension arrears.To lessen the impact of fuel subsidy removal on workers, the governor approved monthly palliative allowance for all public workers. He approved N73,000 as the new minimum wage for workers at a time many states are still dilly dallying. He spared thoughts for those in the informal sector, including struggling entrepreneurs, petty traders, artisans, and peasant farmers, by approving over N2 billion as soft loans, which they can assess to grow their ventures.

3. EDUCATION: Education is the key to achieve success. Hon. Lucky Orimisan is a selfless leader that knows the rudiment and importance of Education for it’s citizens. The education sector is set to witness a rejuvenation with the ongoing recruitment of about two thousand teachers into public schools to rescue the sector from acute shortage of teachers. Also, the State Government released the sum of five hundred and fifty million (N550,000,000) for the payment of 2024 WAEC fees for students in the public secondary schools to alleviate the financial burden of parents and guardians. The free shuttle school buses and boats for school pupils are also running across the State, in addition to the ongoing process of rehabilitating hundreds of public primary schools in the State. Tertiary institutions are not left out too as the Governor recently approved N1billion for the construction of a new Senate Building for the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo and another N1.2billion for the completion of abandoned projects at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa.

4. HEALTH: Health sector is a crucial aspect of governance that significantly impacts the well-being of the population. Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa has brought so many developments in the health sector which has a positive impact in the life and well-being of Ondo state people. Recently, capable Nurses and Doctors were employed into our hospitals across the state which enhance accessible and quality healthcare for the people and drastically reduced mortality rate in the state. he also sent his women representatives under the platform of O’Datiwa Women initiative to engage the pregnant woman across all hospitals in the state to let them know the programs he has for them. his currently ensuring that hospitals and clinics are well-equipped and staffed with qualified professionals to promote public health campaigns that educate citizens about healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.

5. INFRASTRUCTURE: The importance of infrastructure, Food and Security can never be underated for the betterment of Ondo State. The Ayedatiwa administration has made the provision of infrastructure and social amenities a priority. When he came on board, the Governor ordered all contractors back to sites while also ensuring that they are paid according to the stages of work done. This injected life into all abandoned projects in the State. Those road projects now getting attention include Oda road dualisation, Ijoka road dualization and the Irese/Shagari Flyover in Akure, Owo dualization, Igoba road construction. In addition, the Governor, in February, flagged off construction of rural roads across the State to help farmers with easy transportation of their farm produce to towns and cities. The first phase of the project cuts across the three senatorial districts of the State at Oda-Cocoa Board-Langbodo in Akure South LG in the Central; Ode-Omi-Ebute Iyara in Irele LGA for the South and Ifira Akoko-Afo in Akoko South East LG for the North. This is just as the Ministry of Infrastructure last week flagged off filling of potholes on major roads in the State. Also, there is ongoing rehabilitation of 60km selected roads with asphalt-overlay across the State while potholes on all major roads are now being filled.

6. ELECTRICITY & WATER SUPPLY: The first phase of the Light Up Akure project has already taken off with major roads in the State capital now illuminated at night also the commissioning of The Ode-Erinje Power Substation which draws its electricity source from Omotosho Power Plant which was designed to illuminate over 2,000 Community in the south Senatorial of the state. The Governor is also working hard to restore Akure, the State capital, to its old status as one of the cleanest state capitals in Nigeria. Towards this end, the newly launched Operation Keep Ondo Clean initiative has recorded significant improvement in the waste management in the State in general and the State capital in particular. The Operation Flush initiative is also being rebranded to ensure that channelization is carried out well ahead of raining season to prevent incessant flooding. The Aiyedatiwa government is prioritising the needs of the rural areas. He has commissioned the sinking of 54 boreholes in rural communities for potable water and as well approved installation of 1600 solar-powered streetlight for illumination and security.

7. FOOD: When the recent food inflation reared its head as a challenge across the country, he rose to the occasion in Ondo State with immediate palliative measures as well as lasting solutions through taking steps to ensure food sufficiency in the state. As part of efforts to make food available to the people at affordable prices, the Aiyedatiwa government came up with the Thursday Market at the Ministry of Agriculture where affordable foodstuffs are available and the ongoing test-running of purchase of grains like rice, beans, garri to sell directly to the masses ahead of full-time commencement are part of his efforts.

8. AGRICULTURE: The government is also supporting farmers in the areas of land cultivation and distribution of farm tools/equipment and inputs to boost food production and as well serve as attraction to others including youths to farming.

9. SECURITY: The Governor is not leaving any stone unturned in the bid to ensure security of lives and property. He is giving needed logistic support to the security agencies to be more effective in the discharge of their duties. He has also strengthened the Amotekun Security Network so that the communities, roads and farms can be secured.

10. EMPLOYMENT: Employment opportunities is cardinal point of a good government. While the Governor is promoting the welfare of workers, he is also focusing his attention on providing employment opportunities for the teeming young people in the State. In February, the Governor approved the release of employment letters to 165 newly recruited staff of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS). About 100 health workers were also recruited by the Civil Service Commission while the process is currently ongoing to recruit additional 600 health workers. In the face of challenging economy, the administration continues to increase human capital of its citizens, steadfastly running the race to make Akure the tech capital of Nigeria. The government this year began equipping its youth with the necessary skills to thrive in evolving landscape. 618 participants were trained and empowered in February. Also, 10 most innovative young entrepreneurs are being empowered to the tune of N3m each while the Governor also approved an Entrepreneur Summit for young people to hold recently.

In addition; Governor Aiyedatiwa runs an inclusive government style. People are carried along in the administration. He has appointed so many aides. He recently appointed about 344 Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants in one day in fulfillment of his promise of involving everybody in government. These people are from different homes and communities where their impacts are being felt. These will make communities to naturally identify with such a governor to continue to administered the affairs of Ondo State.

In conclusion: The difference is clear with many projects and infrastructure that has been embarked on by His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa within the 10 months in His administration. He has performed excellently for the betterment of Ondo State.

Yea! What are you still waiting for? Come out En Masse and cast your vote for continuity of Good Governance on Saturday November 16, 2024 for His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa under the platform of (APC).

– *Comr. Omoboni Olusola Joseph (The Chief of Staff to Dr. Seun Bosede Osamaye), The Special Adviser On Women Affairs to Ondo State Governor*