Jegede: Why I Want to Be Ondo Governor

A frontline Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), has said he wants to be the next governor of the state because the current challenging times in Nigeria require people with extraordinary ideas, adding that he is in a better position to transform the state’s economy.

Jegede who is the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, stated this in Lagos yesterday during an interaction with journalists.

“I came into the Mimiko government from the inception in 2009 up till when I resigned in July and with all sense of decency, I was actively involved in the achievements of the government. As a result, I am in a better position to continue with our attainments in the health sector, education, agriculture, social services and many more, and even raise the bar if I’m eventually elected the governor of the sunshine state,” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria stated.

He assured that his focus if elected would be raving up the economy of the state.
“My priority if elected will be the economy. Mimiko has done so well in the areas of healthcare delivery, urban renewal and education. So, I will sustain that momentum and at the same time concentrate on revamping the economy of the state, without necessarily overburdening the people,” he added.

While dismissing insinuations that he is Mimiko’s stooge, the aspirant said such is the handiwork of his opponents who are already scared of his acceptability across the state. Reacting to claims that his ambition will disrupt the zoning arrangement among the three zones; North, Central and South in the state since he is from the same Central senatorial zone as the incumbent, he also said zoning has never been a consideration for electing governors in the state.

According to him, “Election in Ondo State is never won on the basis on zoning but on merit. Argument about zoning is being planted and spread by small people who don’t believe in merit, it is an argument that is deceptive and should be discountenanced by those who want the best for the state. Competence, efficiency and integrity should be the requirements and those are what I am offering.”

Jegede who hails from Akure, the state capital, said: “My governorship ambition is not an ethnic agenda, it is Ondo State agenda. The real voters don’t know zoning, it is a contraption of some politicians who are afraid of merit. I see myself basically as somebody from Ondo State, somebody interested in service. The argument against me is that I come from the central zone and that I am not a politician. But rather than being a minus, those are my strengths because integrity and merit are going to count. I have these and I am bringing them on board in the interest of the generality of the entire people of Ondo State.”