The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, at the weekend promised to reinstate all the sacked workers of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA)Â if elected as the state governor.
Akeredolu who stated this during his campaign in Akungba in Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state also promised to pay all the entitlements of the sacked workers from the date of their disengagement.
Akeredolu recalled that the over 60 workers were relieved of their duties for showing preference to vote for him during the October 2012 governorship election in the state.
Speaking with the people of Akungba at the palace of the regent of Akungba, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, Akeredolu said the state owned university will be developed to accommodate some crucial courses, saying that it was unfortunate that the institution does not offer medical science after many years of establishment.
“There are so many things that are supposed to be in the university that are not there. There is no school of medical science. Ondo State is the only state without a teaching hospital.
“We will take back all those who were sacked in 2012. It is bad that they sacked people because of their perceived preference for a political party. But those who supported their party they didn’t sack them. My administration will not sack any worker in the state.”
Responding, the regent of Akungba, Princess Omosowon described the town as purely progressives and urged Akeredolu not to sack workers of the institution if elected to power.
The regent called on the APC candidate to ensure that the former governor of the state, late Adebayo Adefarati was immortalised saying this would be one of the best to have happened to the people of Akungba Akoko.
Meanwhile, no fewer than a thousand members of the Alliance for Democracy and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and in Akoko NorthWest and Ose local governments of the state defected to APC.
The leaders of the decampees, the Secretary of the AD in Akoko North West, Mr. Olusola Adebayo, said he dumped the AD because the party has no root and relevance in the state.
He said his decision to dump the party for the APC was based on the need to have a trustworthy and focus leader who will be able to turn around the state.
Adebayo said the AD was a party hurriedly put together in the state to achieve the inordinate ambition of few who are not prepare for governance.
He said, “I have left the AD, the party has no root anywhere, it has no affiliate anywhere, it is meant to promote the selfish interest of a few.
“The people of Ondo State must look closely and see the agenda behind the AD, it is purely for personal interest. AD is not a party that can serve the interest of the good people of Ondo State; it is not a party that will change anything in the state.
“With AD, the state will be worse than the present condition; don’t let us put our state into the hands of political scavengers.”
Also speaking, Fasemo said the PDP has come to end in Ose local government, adding that the reign of PDP in the local government is gone.
Speaking while receiving the defectors, the Deputy Chairman of APC in the state, Mr Ade Adetimehin urged the new party members to be steadfast and ensure victory for the party in the forthcoming governorship election.
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