NB247
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has formally commenced his tenure of four years, as he took his oath of office at a ceremony held at the Akure Stadium on Monday.
While accepting the mandate, the Governor promised to accelerate economic and infrastructural development in the state in the next four years.
The Governor completed the tenure he started with late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in 2021 and consequently succeeding him after he won the November 16, 2024 governorship election.
Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olaiyide Adelami, were administered with the oath of office by the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Segun Odusola in the presence of their wives and children.
The ceremony was spiced with a colorful parade by the Nigeria Police Force, as well as cultural displays by an Ilaje cultural troupe.
Speaking after his swearing in, Governor Aiyedatiwa said he was on a hurry to justify his fresh mandate, saying he would engage himself in the next four years attesting investors to the state.
“We will work with interested investors and our development partners in ensuring that our Port Ondo becomes a reality,” he said.
“We will also facilitate investors to explore our large deposits of bitumen for local use and export purposes, thereby generating huge revenue to the State. This has been the vision and goals of our founding fathers.
There is no doubt that this would not be an easy task but we are prepared to frontally confront these challenges and succeed.”
He also used the ceremony to espouse development slogan, “Our Ease”, which described as embracing all the facets of development anticipated by his administration.
He said the various components of OUR EASE are Order, security and the rule of law; Urban and Rural Development through Agriculture and Blue Economy; Revolutionary Technological Advancement and Industrialisation; Efficient Healthcare and Socio-economic Welfare; and Adequate Power and Affordable Energy.
He also said the slogan also embodies Sustainable Infrastructural Development and Tourism; and Education, Human Capital Development and Entrepreneurship.
Governor Aiyedatiwa also used the opportunity to pay glowing tribute to his predecessor, the late Governor Akeredolu, who he described as a visionary leader.
“We must not forget this courageous and personable leader who literally emptied himself in the service of Ondo State and Nigeria as his legacy continues to inspire us to continue to build upon the foundations he laid,” he said.
“I am particularly indebted to him for choosing me as his Deputy and for his public and undisguised prophetic declaration at about this time, on this same podium, four years ago, when he was being sworn-in for his second term as Governor and my humble self then as Deputy Governor.”
The Governor promised provide a level playing ground for all to maximise their God-given potential, while creating an enabling environment for all to optimise the opportunities that abound in the State.
” Let me assure you that nobody will be discriminated against on account of political, cultural, religious, gender or ethnic propensities,” he said.
“By the same token, I like to appeal to our friends in the opposition parties to join hands with our administration to develop the Sunshine State.
“We have no need for unnecessary political distractions which are costing us time, resources and energies that could be redirected and gainfully utilised for accelerated development of the State. There is room enough for all.”
The opposition parties are however tackling him at the Ondo State Governorship Election Tribunal seeking to upturn his election.
The Peoples Democratic Party and others have faulted the election saying it was fraught with malpractices and would need to be declared a nullity.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who ran as incumbent, as candidate of the All Progressives Congress won by polling 366,781 votes, defeating former deputy governor Agboola Ajayi of the PDP who came second with 117,845 votes.
Besides winning the election, he also defeated his rivals in all the local government areas of the state.