By: Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye
"I will open up the State to the International World through the Atlantic Coastal line that passes through the Southern Part of the State
This assertion was made by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu while addressing a mammoth crowd of party supporters and well-wishers, in his visit to Ilaje Local Government Area of the state in continuation of his second term campaign.
Akeredolu, said, "it is a must, and as a matter of importance for the occupant in Ilaje to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) so that the ongoing Deep Sea Port Project being pursued by his administration can be actualized.
The Governor, warned the people who gathered at the playing field of Ilaje High School, Igbokoda, the headquarters of the Local Government, that if he loose, his defeat would spell doom for the people of the Local Government economically because there's no assurance that whosoever that takes over from him will share his vision on the Deep Sea Port Project.
He accused his predecessor, Olusegun Mimiko, of abandoning the Olokola Free Trade Zone Project conceived by the Olusegun Agagu led-adminitration which first conceptualized the Ondo Sea Port project.
Akeredolu said the about-to- be completed multi-billion dollar Dangote Refinery in Epe, Lagos State, was part of the design of Olokola Free Trade Zone but the Dangote Group took their investment to Lagos State because the Mimiko led administration did not show seriousness.
The Atlantic Coastal Line that passes through Ilaje Local Government Area, according to the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Abuja, is the deepest in West Africa sub-region.
"I have chosen your Son whose name is Lucky as my running mate to put me on pressure on the Ondo Port. It is your project. If I lose this election, i won't be happy, but the truth is that Ilaje and the EseOdo people are the major losers, not me. If I lose, the unemployed youths of Ondo State are the losers, not me.
"You should vote for the APC to win so that we can actualize the Ondo Port dream. I really want to achieve this legacy project for the generation yet unborn but only your Votes can make it happen.
"The Agagu government started Olokola Free Trade Zone that encompasses the Ore Industrial Park, Bitumen Exploration, Ondo Port, Dangote Refinery, among others, but you people voted for Mimiko who abandoned everything.
"The refinery in Epe being built by my Billionaire friend, Aliko Dangote, was to be sited in Ilaje here but when Mimiko didn't show seriousness, Dangote took it away.
"Please, let's not be beaten twice. Use your vote to secure your destiny. We have started already. Help us to complete this dream. I mean eveything I am saying here.
"Also, do note that, if I win, a Southern Person is taking over from me. I will personally lead the struggle. It is for fairness and equity. More also, to show my seriousness, I picked an Ilaje son as my running mate. He will be giving you update of the Sea Port project because I am going to carry him along on eveything" Akeredolu said.
In a related development, the traditional rulers in Ilaje Local Government Area, have said they are more interested in the second term ambition of Akeredolu than the Governor.
Speaking on behalf of the Traditional Rulers when they played host to Akeredolu on Friday, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom and the Chairman, Ondo State Traditional Council of Obas, Oba Federick Akinruntan, said the decision of the Governor to pick his running mate from Ilaje gives his people a sense of belonging.
Flanked by the Amapetu of Mahin, Oba Williams Oluwasegun Akinyomi, Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, Molokun of Atijere Kingdom, Oba Samuel Adeoye Edema, and other prominent monarchs, Oba Akinruntan said history will forever be kind to Akeredolu for solving the age-long controversy on the Alaboto of Aboto.
"We are interested in your reelection bid even than you because we want the Sea Port project to come into fruition. Every Ilaje Son and Daughter is interested in the project. We are also happy over your choice of running mate" Olugbo said.
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