Aiyedatiwa Must Prioritise Health, Power Sectors In Ondo – Ikubese

Former President aspirant and convener of the #YesWeFit revolutionary movement, Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese has advised the newly sworn-in governor of Ondo state, Honourable Lucky Aiyedatiwa to place priorities on both the health and power sector of the state in his governance policies.

He gave this advice while speaking on ‘Political Standpoint’, a TVC news current affairs program on saturday.

Ikubese, who appeared alongside the national vice chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) lamented how the popular Oba Adesida axis at the heart of Akure, the state’s capital city, has been in darkness for a long time. He urged the governor to take advantage of the newly signed power act and engage more private entities to develop the power sector of the state.

“As I speak to you today, the entire Oba Adesida axis of Akure, the state capital is in darkness. And it has been like that for a long time. I will advise the governor to take advantage of the power act newly signed by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and engage more private entities to develop the power sector of the state.” He said.

Ikubese equally called the governor’s attention to the dilapidated state of the health care centres in the state, while also lamenting the exit of medical practitioners from the state health facilities, as a result of poor welfare conditions.

He urged the Governor to give incentives to health workers in the state and invest massively in the various health facilities in the state in order to curb the mass exodus currently being experienced in the health sector, which is threatening to run the sector aground.

When asked his perception about the power tussle amongst the various political camps in the state in the latter days of former governor Akeredolu, which precipitated the attempted impeachment of Mr Aiyedatiwa then as deputy governor, Ikubese stated that until political offices are made less attractive, politicians will continue to go to extra miles just to occupy political offices.

According to him, all of the dramas that played out was because of the various machinations of political gladiators who are eyeing the seat of the governor in the 2024 gubernatorial elections.

He submitted, as was his manifesto in the 2019 Presidential Election, that State Governors should earn a little above the salary of Permanent Secretaries and publish monthly income and expenditure of government in the spirit of transparency.

He also called for the establishment of special Anti Corruption courts, where judgement is passed within six months of sitting, with a penalty of life imprisonment without an option of fine for public office holders who are found guilty of financial misappropriation.

According to Ikubese, until these steps are boldly taken, political offices will continue to be attractive and actors will act in desperation to occupy these offices as was seen in the last days of Akeredolu

On the choice of where the new governor should choose his deputy from, Ikubese stated that competence should override any other consideration. He however conceded that since the governor is from the Southern senatorial zone, political reality dictates that he picks his deputy from the northern or central senatorial zone.

However, he said he looked forward to a time in Nigeria when competence and integrity will be placed above one’s geographical ancestry.

He urged the new Governor not to play politics at the expense of governance, for what becomes of his future political destiny will be determined by how he handles the seat he currently occupies.