2024: l’ll reposition Ondo, leave legacies of development – Arebuwa

Arebuwa, who said this in Akure, the state capital, lamented that ” the APC government in Ondo State has taken Ondo State to the lowest low in the socio-economic ladder.

According to the chartered accountant and chartered tax practitioner, ” They have almost destroyed our health infrastructure, disincentived education through unaccountable actions and decisions, personalised government and government institutions and generally demoralised the populace.”

He however assured that if given the party’s ticket, he would” leave behind a legacy of excellent developments in education, health, youth empowerment, agribusiness, industrial growth and security among others.”

 ” The PDP, which l hopes to be its flagbearer, will be coming with policies, strategies and actions that will make government more open, more accountable and less expensive to run.

 “We shall be working to entrench a new paradigm of functional and effective education through a combination of modern and nimbler school infrastructural reengineering on the basis of contemporary skill and professional needs.

The Ode- Aye born politician, conceded that each individual who had ruled the state played their parts and had distinguishing features, said that the APC era has been the worst in terms of the high hopes, ethical standards and moral values they threw to the dustbin.

According to him “Every government has played its part according to the capacity of the governor and team. For instance, Late Chief Adefarati was of the old school; punctual, modest and unassuming.

“The late Dr Olusegun Agagu who succeeded him displayed remarkable intellect in policy formulation and brilliance, Dr Olusegun Mimiko was pragmatic, people-oriented and showed clear disposition to socio-democratic ethos and ways and the just departed Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was bold and fearless in matters concerning the Yoruba people when occasion demanded.

” The truth however is that of all, the era that will be ending with the next election has been the worst in policy erudition, social transformation and prudency in the management of resources.”

 “In all of the past 7 years, there has been no clear policy on infant and maternal health let alone general health. It has been a sleuth of disjointed actions that have taken us back.

” The APC government in Ondo state has treated health workers with disdain and total disregard hence the mass movement of doctors and nurses out of the employ of our state.

” The argument that this is a national reality falls flat when viewed against the fact that our own health workers are moving from our health institutions to neighbouring states where they are treated with more dignity and where facilities are more functional.

“At the apex health institution in Ondo State, diagnostic facilities have all but collapsed. While people were being referred from OAUTH, EKSUTH and the rest to UNIMED and the Trauma Centre before, the opposite is now the case!

“In education, our students are being made to pay more in our tertiary institutions with near zero improvement in infrastructure. At the secondary school level, no tangible improvements and or innovations have been recorded.

 “Our primary schools have been returned to the analog era from the progressive era of Mega schools with functional learning tools. And little or nothing is being done to have well trained and certificated artisans as obtainable in neighbouring states.

 This drift must stop and that is why we are here.”

Speaking on his experience, Arebuwa, said that “what experience in politics can be more than being a knowledgeable victim and observer of a failing system?.

” What experience do you need to manage man and resources that I do not have? What experience in appropriately allocating scarce resources to fruitful ends do I not have and if what you mean is the involvement in political thinking and actions, I have also not been found wanting.

“What I do not have is the experience of being in the open and visible political office as an aspirant, a candidate or an appointee but even at that, I have been a participant in the political evolution of our state, albeit from a private and professional distance.

“I have however been a member of the PDP from inception.”

He added that as a trained accountant, a product of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University in Management and Accounting, he has practiced his trade in the public and private sectors and made a success of his personal business as an independent chartered accountant.

“I have reached the peak of that profession as a fellow (FCA) for close to 20 years. I have consulted for local and international business concerns and have a real estate concern that is thriving here and abro

” I am licensed to practice as a chartered accountant and have been doing that successfully for almost 30years.

He also added that he has been a successful private farmer, an idea incubator and actualizer and have invested hugely into charitable causes in the area of health, youth empowerment, education and skill acquisition to the glory of God.”

The governorship hopeful said that ” All a governor needs is to formulate and articulate, with the support of his party, clear and unambiguous policies, assemble a team of informed, competent, capable and clearheaded professionals to run the vision, motivate and incentice the worker force to deliver on the goals and targets set.

“He’s also to mobilise, inspire and fire the imagination of the populace to work hard for self and society and generally resonate with the masses for regular feedback on successes and weaknesses

“That kind of governor and governance have been missing particularly in the last seven years in Ondo State.

Arebuwa said that ” In fact, there seems to have been a pall of darkness under the APC government over our state. We bring light and with light comes freedom, growth and opportunities for personal and collective development