Ondo has no business being poor – APC chief

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Mr. Odunayo Akinrinsola, says the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led government has no excuse for failing to transform the state.

Akinrinsola, who is an accountant, said running a business was far harder than running a state government because while states receive money from the Federal Government, private business ventures were made to source for funds by themselves.

Akinrinsola, while speaking with our correspondent during an interview, said the Peoples Democratic Party-led state government had failed to come up with brilliant ideas on how to deal with the decreasing resources in the state in the light of dwindling oil prices.

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He, therefore, stated that the people of Ondo would do well to ensure that the PDP is kicked out in next year’s governorship election.

He said, “My experience in the business world has given me enough experience to understand that governing a state is easier than managing a business because in the business world, you don’t receive any allocation. But most times, you source for funds and make profits.

“For private business ventures, you go out there, you fight and source for contracts to make a living but in Ondo, we receive allocation that is not well managed and does not even benefit the common man. So, a businessman will be able to manage the finances of the state better and investors will come in and the Internally Generated Revenue will go up. Ultimately, the standard of living will improve.

“Mimiko has tried but has not done enough. It is only in Akure where he is being praised but if you visit any suburb, you will know whether he is working or not. All we do is wait for money from the Federal Government every month. That is not governance. Ondo has no good working system.

Akinrinsola, who is aspiring to be governor, said many of Mimiko’s initiatives were not sustainable.

He said for instance, the residency card, known as Kaadi Igbeayo, was cosmetic.

He added, “It is a cosmetic programme that cannot stand the test of time. He has good intentions but the problem with the present government is that it has lost focus. Mimiko was part of the PDP, then he went to Labour Party. He then went back to the PDP and derailed.

“How many people have used the cards to access the facilities? Do people in the villages use it? For you to access the card, even if you are living in Igbokoda, you must travel to Akure. How far has this card touched the lives of the common people? We need a departure from the governance by the PDP.”