The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for November 26th governorship election in Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu has promised to dualize Ikare-Akoko township roads within three years if elected.
Ikare-Akoko is the traditional and administrative headquarters of Akoko ethnic nationality in Ondo State comprising of four local government areas and over 50 towns and villages.
Speaking on Friday when the APC governorship campaign team visited the palace of the Olukare of Ikare land, Oba Akadiri Saliu Momoh, CON, Akeredolu lamented that despite her cosmopolitan nature, Ikare-Akoko was abandoned by the outgoing Mimiko led administration in the state to wallow in the euphoria of under-development.
“I have visited virtually all the towns and villages in Akoko land and my judgement today is that Akoko has been erased from the map of development by Mimiko. However, let me assure you that i will restore Akoko back to where it deserves if you elect me as the next governor”.
“I‘ll declare a state of emergency on all the major roads in Ikare-Akoko. God willing, we will extend the main township road from the present embarrassing one lane to a dual carriage way within three years of my government.
“We will industrialize Ikare. Just imagine there’s no light, no water, no good roads in Akoko; we‘ll assist our unemployed youths to be self sufficient through agriculture.” Akeredolu promised.
Akeredolu whose promise to dualize Ikare main road commencing from Akungba to Arigidi boundary was trailed by a wild jubilation from the supporters of APC and market men and women at the Ikare central market adjacent the Olukare palace urged the people of the community not to be deceived by the antics of the candidate of Alliance for Democracy, Olusola Oke.
Akeredolu stressed that allowing a political party without structure anywhere in the federation to govern Ondo State will be counter-productive for the people of the State economically and developmentally.
The former President of the Nigeria Bar Association also appealed to the people of Ikare-Akoko to accept his victory over an indigene of the town, Dr. Olusegun Abraham at the primaries of the APC on September 3rd as the wish of God.
Recalling his earlier promise to establish Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko’s College of Medicine, Akeredolu averred that having a university without schools of engineering and medical sciences is as good as not having a university in Akoko.
Responding on behalf of Ikare Traditional Council, the Ofua of Ikare land, High Chief Rufus Omotola urged Akeredolu to appoint Oba Momoh as a University chancellor if he’s granted the sovereignty of Ondo people come November 26th.
The most senior high chief in Ikare Akoko also urged Akeredolu not to renege on his promises to industrialize and fast track the development of the town.