By Ayodele Oni
Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP) in Ondo State, in the 2020 election, Eyitayo Jegede said the State would thrive better, if other candidate, aside All Progressive Congress, APC) flag bearer, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had won the last election
Jegede was of the view that Ondo state is getting worse under the administration of Governor Akeredolu in the last six years.
Speaking during a radio programme in Akure, the PDP candidate pointed out that residents of the State could no longer enjoy those amenities they experienced before the emergence of Akeredolu as the governor of ondo state.
Jegede, in the result of the election, announced by Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) came second and could not secure victory at the tribunal up to Supreme court.
He had contested against Akeredolu in 2016 and 2020 governorship elections and lost in the two elections.
Asked to assess the APC controlled administration in the state, the PDP chieftain said, “Every resident in Ondo state understands because we are all living in this state.
“Are we satisfied with the current situation under the (current administration) ? Do we have the kind of roads that Akure deserves? I am not saying everyone is not trying, but is it enough ?
If others are allowed to do it,( rule the state) won’t they do better ?
“Look at everything we did when labour party (LP) and PDP were in power, look at the shuttle buses for students, look at the schools then, and free medical services that people enjoyed in government hospitals. Are they still existing now?
“Look at the very little fees being paid by students of state owned tertiary institution, it is now outrageous.
“The people have experienced the two governments and can say that they are not satisfied with the current situation. Private driven jobs that Akeredolu promised, has he provided them ?
“The hospitals we have in Akure and Ondo, are they running very well. Go and look at it. I leave it for now.
“On the road construction that everyone is talking about, when labour Party was in government, ( Jegede served as Attorney General) Arakale road was turned to double carriage way, we rehabilitated Oba Adesida road.
“When PDP was in power, street lights were installed everywhere. Now compared the two governments in that aspect.
“See, to construct roads is not difficult at all. The local government also rehabilitates, even individual construct roads. So all these roads they claim they construct is the normal thing a responsible government should do.
“How are they spending public funds? It is out of place celebrating government for doing normal thing it should do.”
Reacting, a member of the APC in Ondo state, who also featured on the radio programme, Prince Dapo Adepoju said, “ it will be wrong to say that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu does not try to develop the state capital.
“Go to the general hospital in Akure, what he is doing at the hospital at the moment is world class. It is now teaching hospital of international standard.
“Before now, we all knew how Oda road was before. Go to Abusoro, go to Gaga, you will see that they were not motorable until governor Akeredolu came on board and rehabilitated them.
“But when the time of election came, natives of Akure voted massively for their son, ( Jegede)
“And when we asked them why didn’t they vote for Akeredolu despite his achievements in Akure, they would say that they preferred their son than others from outside. Yet, some of us from Akure still supported Akeredolu.”
