The Immediate past Deputy Governor of Ondo State and a governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Hon Alfred Agboola Ajayi, has promised to link the state with other neighboring states by railway lines to ease transportation and fast track development.
Ajayi who stated this while rolling out his plans for the state said apart from boosting the economy of the state, the rail lines will help to ease transportation from the state to other states surrounding it
He disclosed that his government will lay a solid foundation for the physical and infrastructure development of the state if given the mandate to govern the state, saying the planned railway to link Kogi State would reduce the number of heavy duty trucks on the highway.
Ajayi, a former member of House of Representatives, expressed optimism that he would win the party primary if the election is free, fair and transparent, assuring that he would not defect from the PDP if the primary were conducted in a transparent manner.
He said he has the capacity and experience to keep ‘everybody busy’ especially unemployed youths, saying he understood how to run the state without relying on monthly allocation from the federation account.
According to him, building and developing infrastructure in the riverine communities will attract investors to the area as well as decongest Lagos State port
According to him, “I understand how Ondo State can be govern and everybody will be happy. I understand what we need to revive the economy of this state.
“I understand how to run the state without relying on federal government allocation. I can prove it to anybody. I understand where there is money in Ondo State. I understand how our elderly people can get what they are due for after retirement.
“I know how to engage the youths. I know how to secure the society and I know that the economy activity of Ondo is best in the construction of road to link the riverine areas. If we do that, we will decongest Lagos State. What they have in Lagos is a small portion of what we have in Ondo State.
“We have the longest coastline in the West Africa. We don’t need port Ondo for now. Private investors will come and do build the port if necessaryinfrastructure were put in place.
What we need to do is to construct road to the sea. Agagu started it and the road terminated at Ugbonla. By now that road would have been taken to Ayetoro. If that road has been constructed you will see more development and investors will invade Ondo State.
Lagos State will be decongested. Somebody will come and build the Port. What is the business of Ondo to build seaport. We need the enabling environment for private investors to take over. We will continue to enjoy a safe economy”
Lamenting that the state has not witness any development under the ruling APC said PDP is better than the APC in terms of administration and said “We cannot at this time fail our people.
“We knew how much was a bag rice before and we know how much they are selling it now. We are tired. We need to change the system. We need to try another government.
Speaking on what he can do differently,
Agboola said, “I have the capacity, I have the experience, I have what it takes to govern and transform this state. I understand what we need to revive the economy of this state, I understand how to run this state without even relying on FG allocation and I can prove it anywhere.
” I understand where there is money in Ondo State, I understand the plight of all the residents, including the elderly. I know how to engage the youths, I know how to secure the state and protect lives and properties and above all, I know that the economic activities of the state rely on construction of roads to link the riverine areas. If this is done, Lagos State will be decongested.
“What Lagos has is a very small portion of what we have in Ondo. We have the longest coastline in the entire West Africa. So, if we can develop access road to that area, the problem of the state has been half solved.
“I hear people say, ‘Port Ondo’, we don’t even need that for now. All we just need is to construct roads and investors we invade the area to construct port, tourist centres amongst others”
and then