As part of his local government area tour ahead of the PDP gubernatorial primaries, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye (OBA) brought his campaign train to Ode Irele in Irele Local Government Area yesterday, promising a new dawn for the region and the exploration of its vast bitumen reserves.
The meeting, held at the party’s LGA house, saw a large turnout of prominent party leaders and stakeholders. Akingboye expressed dismay at the prolonged darkness across Ikale land and Ondo South, blaming the insensitive APC government for the plight of the people.
“Irele is a blessed land sitting on multi-billion dollar human and natural resources,” Akingboye stated. “Nigeria has the second largest bitumen deposit in the world after Canada, and this bitumen is what Irele LGA is sitting on. If these resources are tapped, Irele could change the economic landscape of Ondo State, Nigeria, and even the whole of West Africa.”
Akingboye highlighted the potential of bitumen exploration, which could create thousands of millionaires among Irele’s residents and transform the land forever.
He also mentioned the area’s abundance of other resources, including natural gas, petroleum products, and agricultural products like stockfish.”Irele has timbers, cassava, and palm trees suitable for planting rice,” he said. “Yet the APC has sold your land to strangers, making landlords tenants on their own land. Your crops are being destroyed daily, and the government pretends all is well.
Akingboye vowed that if elected governor, the narratives would change, ushering in a new dawn for Irele people and Ondo State. “I have been coming for the past 21 years, leaving all my businesses behind,” he said.
“Please give me the PDP platform this time. I am pregnant with loads of ideas, and God may not forgive me if I don’t give birth to them to transform Ondo State and Nigeria.
“Emphasizing his loyalty and dedication to the party, Akingboye said, “I am here to beg for your vote. I have never left the party once. Think well before voting.”
Party leaders like Sir Mayegun and Mr. Omoyansan expressed their support for Akingboye, citing the area’s suffering from a lack of electricity for 20 years. They urged him to remember Irele and work for the state if elected governor.
The party chairman, High Chief Oyenusi Ajigbore, remarked that he knew Akingboye well and prayed for his success, promising to consider his candidacy for the PDP gubernatorial ticket.
