Agboola Ajayi’s defection will indicate collapse of APC in Ondo –Jegede

The PDP candidate in the 2016 governorship election in Ondo state ,Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) on Sunday led some other party bigwigs across the state to the state secretariat of the PDP.

Jegede who is also contesting in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state in this interview speaks on issues around his aspiration, governance and Ondo politics.

Excerpts:

WHY ARE YOU AT THE PARTY SECRETARIAT TODAY ?

I am here today to demonstrate our commitment to the PDP as a party. To demonstrate our commitment to the PDP as a platform and to demonstrate our commitment to the service of Ondo state.To also show my face as a new face of the PDP and the new face of government come 2021 by the grace of God.

I am here to tell our people in the PDP that we have a new struggle ahead and because we have a clear mission and vision to change things positively and that the opportunity is there waiting for us and the people of the state are also waiting for us ,even APC people are waiting for us.

So there is a need now to galvanize each and everyone of us and it shows clearly that this time around again, we are ready for a contest ,we are ready for the primary and we are ready for the election by the grace of God and God will help us.

It is a family meeting and like I said inside ,each and everyone aspirant that has shown interests on the PDP platform is competent and capable to offer good governance in this state far far more than what the APC has done in the last three and half years and by the grace of God, PDP will produce a candidate that Ondo state people would be very proud of. The entire 18 local governments will be proud of the face that will emerge to represent the PDP in the forthcoming election.

WHICH AREA ARE YOU NOT SATISFIED WITH HOW THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT IS RUNNING THE STATE ?

I will give two examples. A five year old girl was sick because she had appendicitis and she was taken to hospital for treatment. The parents were asked to pay an enormous amount of money before having the benefit of consultation. Her parents didn’t have the money but after looking around for help, they paid the money. The girl was to go to surgery and again was made to pay another amount of money for surgery, they have to scamper and look for the money. After the treatment,they were made to pay for pharmacy and laboratory. After that ,they were made to return back pant of blood given to the girl.That should stop. I am not pleased with that and no sensible Ondo state native is be pleased with that.

Secondly, a lot of our students are now being denied education because their parents are poor and those who are imposing this high fees are those who are rich and that too must stop. It is not only me ,it is the entire people of the state. We can spend our money in a way that will bring a lot to take care of the welfare of the people and our tertiary institutions.

A good number of our education institutions are almost collapsed. Lecturers are not being paid, the schools are not functioning ,many youths can not go to school because of the high in school fees. It must stop.

ARE YOU NOT THREATENED WITH THE NEWS GOING ROUND THAT THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR ,AGBOOLA AJAYI WILL SOON BE DEFECTING TO THE PDP ?

If APC was and is good,Agboola Ajayi would not leave APC. If PDP is bad, he would not say he is coming to PDP. So the fact that he is leaving and he is interested in coming to the PDP has demonstrated again that the APC is collapsed and he needs to look for a good house. He has found that PDP is a good house. So he is welcome because we are looking for people. The party constitution is very clear. He would go to his ward and register. He will go to the national working committee and seek for waiver , when he finishes that, he would come here and pay administrative charges . when he us done with that ,he would pay for nomination form if he wants to contest. When he is done with that ,he would now go and campaign and explain to people what is he bringing afresh to the PDP and electoral delegate would decide who will fly the flag of the party.

Now coming to your question , am I threatened or afraid ? My name is Eyitayo Jegede. I am a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I want to contest for the governorship position.