Wale Akinterinwa, a governorship hopeful on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), says he will turn Ondo into another Lagos, the country’s commercial capital, if elected governor.
The Ondo APC governorship primary election is scheduled for April 20 while the state-wide election will be held on November 16.
Speaking during his official declaration at the ruling party’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, Akinterinwa said he will make Ondo an industrialised state.
The governorship hopeful, who had worked in the Lagos civil service, said he would utilise the natural resources in the state to attract investments.
“We will turn Ondo into another Lagos state in terms of development because we have what it takes, in terms of the coast. We must ensure that the port comes alive, and that will be a game changer,” Akinterinwa said.
“But, beyond that, we also have the landmass and ought to be an agrarian state. So, we are going to take agriculture to the next level while encouraging and supporting the local farmers.
“We will also attract investors who will invest in agriculture so that we will be exporting finished products. We will not just be producing for the table, but we will be producing for export.”
On security, Akinterinwa said his economic initiatives would get most youth employed and lead to a reduction in the rate of insecurity in the state.
“For security, part of our challenges today is because we have many unemployed youths. So, Amotekun founded by our late governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and other South West governors, will be strengthened so that with appropriate security in place, we can have development,” he said.