Ola Amuda is the governorship candidate of Accord Party in the
November 26 governorship election in Ondo State. the Ogbagi-Akoko born
administrator speaks on his blueprint for the state if elected.
Why do you think you’re the best to lead Ondo State at this time?
I have worked as a technocrat for about 28 years and I have worked with
several governors at key positions. The last administration of Olusegun
Agagu, I was his SA on Administration. All the policies and programmes
that we put together, I was very key to them.
With the service throughout my career, I have developed the skills of
honesty, integrity and hard work. I am quite espoused to governance
even at that particular level.
Again, when you consider the aspirants that we have today, some of
them are foreigners in Ondo State. I have lived virtually a greater
percentage of my life in Ondo State. I know over 200 towns and villages
in Ondo State, I know roads linking towns and villages. I know the roads
that are good, the roads that are bad, I know the economic inclination
of various sectors in our society. So, with the background knowledge
that I have, I can deliver more for the people.
My life has also been
propelled by visions. I have had five of such visions and as of today,
four had been fulfilled, remaining the one relating to governorship. And
I know that God who has been helping me to fulfil the other visions can
also do this. Academically, I have about four different degrees.
Age-wise, I am qualified and competent. And I know that with the
experience that I have had before, that will propel me. Governance is
not politics. When you bring politics to governance, it will destroy the
entire system. So, we are talking about propelling the state government
through administrative structure. And if I am elected as governor; it
is not that I am saying that I have the monopoly of knowledge but I will
gather people together. For instance, we are trying to gather economic
team together. Even before we start, there will be a blueprint on the
economy, especially in Ondo State.
There is economic recession in the country. And states like Ondo – an
oil producing state – is among those worse affected. What will you do
for the state in the immediate term to get the state out of recession?
In our manifesto, we have two solutions: immediate and long term. The
immediate term solution is that we will look at agriculture and see
those products that can easily generate returns within three months, six
months and one year. Yoruba people say that when you dry the meat of a
dog, it is very sweet. But what are you going to eat before that dog
gets dried? So, what we are going to do is that there are some projects
that you need to do, especially relating to agriculture that can
generate production within three months and one year. For example, we
will put in effort on corn production, plantain production that can
yield result immediately. Once we have food in our society, a lot of
problems will be solved.
Secondly, we also look at area of wastages. Sometimes, government may
have resources but once these resources are being wasted, you find out
that they can’t make ends meet. Our own government shall not be a
ceremonial government. Because when you use government resources to do
ceremonies, there is no economic feedback that you will get from that
place.
Thirdly, we are going to look at the economic aspect of budget,
especially capital projects. I am going to divide my capital projects
into two: we will have the social and economic aspect. If I put in
N5billion into a capital project, what economic return will it bring?
There are other social areas you don’t expect any return. But you cannot
use all your budgets on social areas of budgeting but also the economic
aspect.
What edge do you have over the two governorship candidates of APC and PDP?
The two candidates, Rotimi Akeredolu and Eyitayo Jegede, are
foreigners in Ondo State. They came by virtue of the fact that they
wanted to contest or this administration brought one of them to become a
Commissioner. So, they don’t know the nitty-gritty of the state. I have
the privilege and I have worked in the public service for 28 years. My
name is a household name in the public service. So, I have the privilege
of carrying the public servants along. I was a Protocol Officer and
officer in charge of village meetings during Bode George. So, we
travelled from one village to another.
I know virtually all ministries,
departments and agencies of government, I know their operations and what
they do. And sometimes all these MDAs, there may be one or two that may
be performing the same function, we will try to annex them and put an
effective government in position. This is the edge that I have over the
other candidates. So, you will find out within three months, what I am
going to do will surprise you.
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