Ekiti 2022: I won’t take residents for granted as governor, says Oni

Former governor of Ekiti state and candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the June 18 governorship election, Chief Segun Oni has said he won’t take the voters for granted when elected as governor despite his popularity.

The SDP candidate who took a swipe at the governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi for allegedly abandoning the people and the state in the last three and half years noted that his administration when elected would place more priority on the people of the state.

Oni spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital when addressing a crowd of supporters and party members alongside his running mate, Ladi Owolabi who welcomed him to the capital in continuation of his campaign consultation ahead of the election.

The former governor exuded confidence that Ekiti people would stand by him through the rigours of the election, saying no amount of intimidation can cow him in his resolve to free Ekiti from slavery brought by the present APC government.

According to him, ” We are not going to take voters for granted like the present government is doing. We will visit all the farmsteads in Ado Ekiti capital city and other towns. We have to work hard, but we are sure that victory is certain.

“If there are people that are threatening you, let us know. But let me beg you, if APC or PDP is campaigning anywhere, don’t go there and disturb them.

“But if any of them should come for thuggery where we campaign, they will be dealt with accordingly. Whoever provokes us would get a reaction, so they should be careful. Why could they be stoning us? What are they afraid of?”

He disclosed that he would upgrade the newly founded Ekiti State Polytechnic, Isan-Ekiti to university status if elected governor.

Speaking in Ikere-Ekiti, Oni promised to provide more facilities and competent personnel at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Ikere Ekiti, rather than scrapping it, as being wrongly insinuated.

The former governor described as unfounded and baseless, the rumour being spread by his adversaries that he had the intention of scrapping the BOUESTI, saying he would rather strengthen the institution than do such.

“If I am re-elected, my intention is to dialogue with the people of Isan Ekiti where our Polytechnic is and ask whether they want it upgraded or not. If they want it upgraded, we will make it a full-fledged university.

“This goes to tell you that I will never scrap BOUESTI. It is only a wicked governor that will destroy any programme meant to bring development. I don’t belong to that class of destroyers, I will rather be a builder,” he said.

During his visit to Ilawe-Ekiti, Oni said his government would tap the axis’ potential in banana plantations, by attracting a cottage industry to the area for more incomes for the farmers and employment opportunities for the locals.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…I won’t take residents  I won’t take residents

Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train

The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…I won’t take residents  I won’t take residents