Daily Trust

Rescuing Ondo’s Akoko North from deprivatio­n

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Ilament the deficient representa­tion and performanc­e so far suffered by Akoko land and regret that the key infrastruc­tures in this constituen­cy belong to the federal government and the very roads that cut across the entire federal constituen­cy have since became problems. But I will provide effective representa­tion if elected as member House of Representa­tives and assure my constituen­ts of my ability to influence, persuade and lobby the federal government to intervene and embark on total reconstruc­tion of the damaged key roads in Akoko land.

I am dissatisfi­ed with the fact that some communitie­s in Akoko have been denied power supply for close to four years and that the major plights of Akoko people were unknown to people outside the shores of Akoko land simply boiled down to deficiency in representa­tion and performanc­e. I therefore could not allow such a sickening representa­tion deficiency and non-performanc­e to linger for too long hence a rescue mission to save the people and my constituen­cy and my plan to deliver an Akoko nation that all would be proud of.

My core agenda includes infrastruc­tural developmen­t, wealth creation, employment and empowermen­t; education and healthcare and I promise to focus more on infrastruc­tural developmen­t if elected and will lobby and interact with relevant agencies to ensure that basic critical infrastruc­tures are put in place.

The last time roads were constructe­d was during the era of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), when our son, the former Asiwaju of Akokoland, Rufus Giwa was a member of that noble fund. He was able to facilitate the constructi­on.

It is unimaginab­le that a road that ordinarily supposed not take more than few minutes now takes more than one hour as a result of bad roads. As a grassroots person, I know and feel what our people are going through because I ply the road daily. Also, electricit­y is key for our people. Communitie­s like Irun Akoko have not had power for years.

I wonder how the people of Akoko North East /West could survive on their own if the constituen­cy was not turned to an economic hub. Another area of focus would be to facilitate employment opportunit­ies for graduates in my constituen­cy from both private and public sectors. We must be able to ensure our people get their fair share of federal character. We must be able to help and assist them to key into government interventi­on programmes. We must be able to train, empower people and set them up with their business so they can be able to empower others.

Part of my lofty plans is to partner with federal agencies like BOI, SMEDAN, and others to work out vocational empowermen­t programmes and provide them with capitals to start their business and would replicate what Senator Fatima Raji-Rasaki did in Ekiti state with the Bank of Industry. I equally plan to partner with the Primary Healthcare Developmen­t Agency to facilitate the building of a primary healthcare canter in the communitie­s within my constituen­cy and expect Ajowa, Ikaram, Oke-agbe, Arigidi, Ogbagi and Irun to have one hospital each.

I want to dismiss fears that the post primaries crisis within the APC would affect its chances in the 2019 general elections and wish to express overly optimism that the party’s crisis will be resolved and President Buhari would win the election overwhelmi­ngly. I therefore urge youth in my constituen­cy to take their chances by voting him into office for quality representa­tion and performanc­e to be guaranteed.

Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, North, Ondo State. Akoko

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