APC logo designer Oyedele joins Ondo guber race, says he’s most competent

APC logo designer Oyedele joins Ondo guber race, says he’s most competent

The designer of All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) logo, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, has joined 15 other aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket ahead of the April 20 governorship primary election.

Addressing Newsmen on Friday afternoon submitting his Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, Oyedele said he’s the most qualified amongst all the aspirants.

He emphasized vision and capacity as two major things electorates must consider before voting anyone, adding that, it’s a known fact that only him has such.

He said he has sacrificed a lot for the party, one of which was stepping down for the immediate past governor of the state, late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, thus it’s his turn to be rewarded.

“In the year 2022, I was in Costa Rica when party leaders called me that I should return home to Nigeria immediately to contest for the office of the National Secretary of the party. And of course, following the intervention of party leaders again I was persuaded to step down and I did unconstitutionally to ensure that the party hegemony is retained.

“Now, I have done these sacrifices to the party because I can say with all due respect and humility that I am one of the founding fathers of this party having participated actively in the APC merger Committee and therefore I was also fortunate to be the one who designed the logo of the party which is today the identity of the Africa’s largest political party. 

“There are a few things that we must consider for somebody who should run for the office of a governor of a state. One is the fact that the person must have a vision for the state. Two, the person must have capacity. There is no doubt and I said this with all sense of responsibility and respect that of all the aspirants that have so far signified their intentions, even in their minds they know that I am the most competent, the most experienced.

“Using the foremost words of the President and Commander – in – Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I can say in Ondo state: “Emi Lo Kan”, I think it is my turn. 

“Therefore, I am offering myself to serve as the next Governor of Ondo State. And I use this opportunity to call on all the citizens of Ondo state who are eagerly celebrating my signifying the intention — there have been a bedlam of voices thanking God that I have offered myself to serve as the Governor of Ondo state,” he said

Reacting to the question on darkness that has lingered for over a decade in Ondo South senatorial district where he hailed from, Oyedele said he has made several efforts to proffer solution, citing privatization of the power sector as a limiting factor.

“I am happy that you asked that question because even before I came into the power sector I had made efforts to ensure that power is restored to Ondo South. I think I was one of those who started to write petitions to the government. 

“It was as a result of one of my letters to the then President, Muhammadu Buhari before I was appointed in August 2016. And I remember that when the then Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbjao led the APC team to campaign, one of the things I told him was that the Southern senatorial district will only vote for a candidate who promises to restore power to the place. “And after all of the efforts and going at my own expense with the then governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, his deputy Ajayi visited, we moved around I took him to the Head of Service, we agreed that we are going to intervene as Niger Delta Power Holding Company in Ondo state. I have done everything possible, I have reticulated virtually all of the network in the place starting from repairing the 2×30 megawatts substation in Ondo from which supply came to Ore.

“We have built new 33kv, 11kv stations, including in the university (etc). To restore power in Ondo state though it is the responsibility of the DisCo I can assure you that the networks are ready to receive power and once that substation in Ode-Erinje is commissioned light will be restored,” Oyedele stated.