Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has warned against any form of violence as the State prepares for the 2024 Governorship election.
The election as scheduled by INEC will hold in November, 2024.
Aiyedatiwa who stressed this in his new year broadcast monitored by Precision Online Newspaper on Monday, warned politicians against heating up the polity.
Aiyedatiwa said;
“As we are all aware, this is also the year for our governorship election. Expectedly, political activities will gain prominence as we march towards the election.
“However, let me implore all political parties, aspirants and their followers to eschew violent conducts that can threaten the peace and tranquility of our State and ensure that they follow strictly the guidelines issued by the electoral umpire.
“The election should be a contest of ideas and choices and not an opportunity to settle political scores or an excuse for calumny,” he noted.
The Governor also used the opportunity of the broadcast to eulogize the former Governor of the State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who passed on few days to the new year.
“It was a year that ended with the unfortunate loss of our dear former Governor and Leader, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON. Arakunrin left an indelible mark on the annals of time and his contributions to the development of our State, and indeed Nigeria, are etched in history.
“As we have promised, we will not only give our late former Governor a befitting State burial but will also immortalize his name, just as we will strive to complete all the developmental projects he embarked upon as Governor of Ondo State.
“His death was preceded by events that tested us in diverse ways but those challenges have shaped our resolve to, more than ever before, bring our people together and pursue the attainment of a peaceful and prosperous Ondo State. It is time to put the past behind us and focus all our human and material resources into building on the foundation that this administration has so far laid,” Aiyedatiwa admonished.
He added that his administration is more than prepare to ensure the development of the State.
“It is in the light of this that I signed the 2024 appropriation bill into law on the last working day of 2023. This was done in order to allow us hit the ground running on the first working day of the new year to deliver results that will restore the faith of our people in this administration.
“The budget, which we christened ‘Budget of Economic Resilience’, will instigate development while we will critically prioritize the present needs of the people and create the conditions for a desirable future with prudent use of our collective resources.
“This budget underscores our determination to put workers’ welfare as top priority. We will also focus on human capital development, environmental sustainability, rural development, and completing ongoing infrastructural projects,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa in the broadcast again appreciated the contributions of President Bola Tinubu, National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje and elders statesmen who intervened in the political crisis in the State towards the last part of 2023.
“May I on this note express our deep appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the National Chairman of our Party APC, His Excellency, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, our elder statesmen in Ondo State and other stakeholders for the roles they played in dousing tension during our critical time of need.
“Let me acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice of our civil and public servants who, despite the challenges created by uncertainties for the most part of the year, remained resolute in keeping the government and our State running.
“I must also thank all our traditional rulers, religious leaders, labour leaders, security agencies and the media for their support for government in the year past and urge them to build on such support for us in this new year,” Aiyedatiwa appealed.
The Governor expressed optimism that the State will witness growth as the year 2024 begins.
“As we celebrate the opportunities before us in this New Year, I wish to also use this occasion to affirm my commitment to the people of Ondo State. I am persuaded that He who has brought us this far will faithfully help us throughout this new year.
“I am more optimistic about our future than I’ve ever been. I therefore call on you all to intensify prayers for the peace and prosperity of our dear State.
“It is my prayer that the first dawn of the New Year brings with it unsparing blessings for us as individuals, communities and as a State.
“I wish you all a Happy New Year, and a safe and prosperous 2024,” he concluded.
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