Adeyeye: Ondo needs a youthful governor

Michael Adeyeye is one of those aspiring to fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the forthcoming governorship poll in Ondo State. He told Gbenga Salau, that the state needs a youthful leader to achieve the dreams of its founding fathers.

To be governor of Ondo State, do you have the reach and financial clout for such a campaign?

Being governor of Ondo state is an ambition I have nursed very quietly and prayerfully for a very long time. I believe very strongly that the time is now, because I looked around and I can see that there is a gap that needs to be filled. There is a need for an energetic leader for Ondo State, a young visionary leader. A leader with a modern outlook that can marry modern technology with traditional governance system and achieve great results for the people. A leader who understands the dynamics of governance in the 21st century and is not bogged down by the politics of sentiments and subjectivism.

I realised that there is that gap and I have spoken to my people and they have said the only leader that they want to see now is a youthful, visionary leader. I believe by the grace of God I meet those specifications. I was born a month after the state was created. Within the first six months of my life my family moved to Ondo State. So I grew up in Ondo State. I went to primary school in Ondo State, had my secondary school there and l was privileged to have gone to the Obafemi Awolowo University straight out of Ondo State. I enjoyed good public education in Ondo State at some point in time. So, I am not a stranger to Ondo State.

Would you say Ondo has met the expectations of its founding fathers?

Unfortunately, it’s a sorry sight. The state, which is called the Sunshine state, unfortunately the sun is really not shining there. Looking at it sector by sector, take the education sector for instance; it is declining. Right now from being one of the top educationally sound states in the nation we’ve now been relegated to the background.

Should the blame be solely on the current government?

The Olusegun Mimiko administration is fortunately a two term government, which is a rare phenomenon, for a governor to have eight full years to implement an agenda of change and improve lives. And to have failed to utilise such a golden opportunity is really unfortunate for Ondo State, hence my focus on the immediate past government.

The government of the late Governor Olusegun Agagu was particularly more focused. They left money in the coffers of the state. That government built good quality roads, bridges in this state that we still point to. That government had a long-term development plan for this state. Every government have had their time. The outgoing government has done a few good things like the Mother and Child Hospital, a very good development. But it’s not enough.