The standard bearer of Accord Party in the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State, Ola Amuda has promised to diversify the economy of the state by focusing on agriculture if elected as governor.
Specifically, he promised to scale up interventions in the agricultural sector within three months of his election to get the state’s economy out of recession.
He spoke to journalists at the party’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday after picking his nomination form.
On how he will make the state self-sufficient and independent of Federal Allocation, he said: “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.
“We will put in efforts on corn production, plantain production that can yield result almost immediately”.
The Ogbagi-Akoko born administrator and former Special Assistant to the late Olusegun Agagu, former governor of the state, said his decision to contest the poll was borne of his desire to serve the people.
This, he said, informed his decision to voluntarily resign his appointment from the Ondo State Civil Service to concentrate on his gubernatorial ambition.
Amuda described the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Eyitayo Jegede and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rotimi Akeredolu as ‘foreigners’, saying he had worked in the state public service for about 28 years.
He said his wealth of experience as an administrator makes him the best candidate to occupy Alagbaka House.
He said he would set up an economic team that will help him turn around the fortunes of the state, if elected.
His words: “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”.
