Ondo guber poll: I’m most qualified to succeed Akeredolu, says Gbenga Edema

Gbenga Edema, former chairman of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), says he is the best person to build on the legacies of Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor of the state.

The governorship election in Ondo is scheduled to hold in October 2024.

Speaking to journalists in Akure on Tuesday, Edema, said he is well prepared to provide effective solutions to improve the living standards of citizens in the state. 

The representative of Ondo on the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said if elected, his administration would create more jobs and promote foreign and local investment in Ondo.

“I know that I have informed him (Akeredolu) of my desire to run, and he has not opposed it. I consider myself the best man who will carry on Akeredolu’s legacy to the next level because we have shared all these legacies together before,” he said.

“When the deep sea port comes on stream directly, it should be able to attract about 10,000 people directly. By the time you start to talk about the multiplier effect, it can hire about 30,000 people.

“If, for instance, we are able to open up Ondo state through the Lekki peninsula to the Dangote refinery, that road will also expand opportunities for us.

“Some people think that Nigerians are lazy or don’t know what to do. There are things you do to make the citizens active. You can do this by putting structures in place to attract investors to the state. What investment needs is an enabling environment.

“When you talk about visionary leadership, it is not rocket science. In our own clime here, for those of us that are not too old, we have heard of Obafemi Awolowo. In 1955, he said that the only way the West can improve is through free and compulsory education. In 1966, the West became the most advanced region in terms of intellectualism in Nigeria. So the only way to develop other people is only through education, especially through vocation and skill education.”

Edema said his administration will redesign the education curriculum of the state to meet up with current demands, with more focus on vocational and technical skills acquisition 

“When I was at the assembly, I got some people trained at Don Bosco for skill acquisition. Likewise, when I was at OSOPADEC, I encouraged many to go to school and train in technical skills,” he said.

“We will tinker with our curriculum to align with our current needs and demands and to the advantage of our state. So, our children should be trained in entrepreneurship right from an early age so they know how to make and use money.”