The Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the Ondo state scheduled gubernatorial election, HE, Agboola Ajayi, on Sunday out performed his All Progressive Congress ( APC) counterpart, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at a debate between the two,at the instance of channels Television, ahead of the November 16 gubernatorial election in the state, even as the PDP candidate pledged a minimum wage of N76,000 to Civil servants with free primary and secondary education, if elected governor.
During the excercise, the PDP candidate left Aiyedatiwa ruffled as he punctured and exposed many of the governors claims as half truth.
Ajayi, who many believe put up a better showing than his APC counterpart, condemned Ayiedatiwa led government for it’s lack of focus which has made insecurity and economic hardship more pronounced in the state.
Promising to make the state financially independent by exploring its economic potentials, Ajayi mentioned that his major panacea for insecurity in the state, would be the provision of employment for the teeming youths, adding that, his government will ensure that people are gainfully employed, which will drastically lower cases of insecurity in the state.
He encouraged his APC counterpart to feel free and seek from him, the template to secure the state, instead of attempting to bastardize the local Security outfit in the state, the Amotekun, which Ajayi mentioned he was part of its formation when he was Deputy Governor under Late Governor Akeredolu
Condemning the idea of the APC candidate to add Forest Rangers to Amotekun, Ajayi said Aiyedatiwa plagiarized his idea of a planned Forest Guard ,meant to beef up Security in the forests and secure farmers who have practically been unable to go to their farms.
Governor Aiyedatiwa lost composure and was visibly rattled, when his PDP counterpart challenged him, to disclose how much he gets from the Federation Account as monthly Security Vote after he denied Ajayi’s claim that the governor receives N1.2b as security vote every month with nothing to show for it.
The APC candidate could not convincingly mention major achievements of his government after more than ten months in office, while the few he mentioned were disputed by Ajayi, who mentioned that aside the fact that there is no functioning factory, there is also no single tractor available for farmers to use in Ondo state, as farmers usually hire same from neighbouring Kogi and Edo states.
Ajayi who promised a better life for civil servants in the state, promised to pay a minimum wage of N76,000 against the N73,000 Ayiedatiwa promised to pay which has not been paid about three months after he promised to commence payment following agreement with Labour leaders on the minimum wage.
The PDP candidate also promised primary and secondary education will be at no cost in the state,while all the Universities in Ondo State tuition fees would be reduced by 30 percent if elected as governor.
