Ondo State Progressives have suffered victimization for too long – Dayo Faduyile
All Progressives Congress, (APC) Governorship aspirant, Prof . Adedayo Francis Faduyile has rued the lot of the members of APC in Ondo state who had all along remained with the Progressives since the beginning of the fourth republic. Faduyile who visited leaders and members of APC at Oke Igbo and Irele respectively on Wednesday, June 10th on a familiarization and consultation talk, said he has painstakingly observed the trend of politics in Ondo state and his conclusion is that the genuine members of the Progressive arm of APC who never jumped ship, whose body and soul have been intact within the fold of the Progressives from the days of AC to ACN and finally to APC have been constantly short changed and made to hold the short end of the stick in the polity.
While thanking Elder Fapohunda, the indisputable strong man of Ile Oluji/ Oke Igbo politics for giving them a warm reception and acceptance at his Oduduwa street residence, Oke Igbo, Dayo Faduyile said the time for APC Progressives to look at one another eye ball to eye ball for a sincere assessment of their lot so far in Ondo state is now. ” There is no better time than now sirs and mas to consider our lot. When Gov. Agagu was in government we were in opposition, where we suffered, lagged behind, yet we endured it as our lot.
“When Gov. Mimiko came to power we patiently bore the burden of being in the opposition; we didn’t jump ship, though jumping ship looked tantalising. Quite unfortunately now, when we thought we had an APC government, it is still our ‘tormentor- in – chiefs ‘ that have enjoyed the benefits and perks of office.”
Faduyile said while those who had stayed on in the progressive camp owned the house, they have been pushed to the boys quatters and relegated to the background.
Earlier in his welcome speech, Elder Fapohunda had said he had been in Politics since 1954 and his tutelage under the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo has been his guiding principle, noting that a lot of Ondo politicians who had been Governor of the state in the time past had been to this his humble abode to seek prayers and support, but when they win election they turn out a bunch of disappointment, overbearing and uncontrollable!
Advising Prof. Faduyile, Elder Fapohunda said if the party picks him at the Primaries and he wins the Governorship election, he should not fence the footsoldiers , the grassrooters and vote mobilisers who make his victory possible, stressing that such gesture is a hard, unfeeling way of playing politics.
Elder Fapohunda said Oke Igbo has poor road network and the youths of the community whom politicians always count on for votes are jobless. Elder Fapohunda , matter of factly, added that any aspirant that promises to mitigate these major challenge has won his heart.
Also speaking at the parley, Hon. Shina Fadaitan charged Prof. Faduyile to reach out to the other aspirants , noting that the number is uncomfortably unwieldy and there is no strength of purpose if all of them go to the field for the Primaries. He charged Faduyile to be a man of his words because the campaign time really brings aspirants closer to the people, stressing that while he flags very admirable leadership credentials, he will be held to every word of his campaign promises at the appropriate time.
Responding, Prof. Faduyile said he has been in Politics of Ondo state for quite some time now and knows what the people want. He said his administration will embark on massive recruitment of man power in the educational and health sector, noting that Ondo state workforce is lacking in man power . He said he will ensure that Ondo state regains her choice of place both in WAEC and JAMB rating as he noted that the standard of education has nosedived.
Faduyile appealed to the APC leaders at Oke Igbo to buy into the PDF dream so that “we can collectively take our sunshine state to the zenith of socio economic development.
The PDF team was given a rousing welcome at Irele, the headquarters of Irele Local Government council where party leaders pledged their support for Dayo Faduyile’s Governorship ambition.
