Security, economy, education, energy, and workers? welfare topped the agenda when two focal candidates for the November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State on Sunday locked horns at the governorship debate in Akure, the state capital, on Sunday.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Agboola Ajayi sweated it out during the two-hour intense debate, marshalling out policies and programmes they would implement if elected the governor of the Sunshine State.

Beyond sharing their plans for the state, the debate also saw the two panellists throw mild to acerbic jabs, as well as occasional accusations and counter-accusations at each other. Sardonic laughter common among opponents during political talks was also a prominent feature of the debate.

The debate which started at 7 pm and ended at 9 pm, was organised by Channels Television in partnership with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and the UK International Development. The debate was moderated by Channels Television?s Seun Okinbaloye.

Though the electoral umpire published the names of 17 parties to produce candidates for the poll, analysts have narrowed the battle royale to a two-horse race.

Interestingly, Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the incumbent Governor Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ? both have a common history as deputies to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

While Ajayi deputised the late Akeredolu during his first term from February 2017 to February 2021, Aiyedatiwa was the late governor?s righthand man during his aborted second term. Aiyedatiwa, who was sworn in as governor following Akeredolu?s death in December 2023, is seeking election into office after the expiration of the late governor?s tenure come February 2025.

The two candidates are In a battle royale to be the darling of 2.053 million registered voters in the state come November 16, 2024.

The conversation on Sunday started with the security challenges confronting the state which ranged from kidnapping to vicious killings.

Ajayi said Ondo is not safe under Aiyedatiwa, with recurring killings of traditional rulers, and some citizens of the state by blood-thirsty marauders.

He also said the state-owned security outfit Amotekun Corp was created when he was Akeredolu?s deputy and Aiyedatiwa should not take credit for the security agency. The PDP candidate said the spate of insecurity happened ?when my brother is collecting N1.2bn as security votes with nothing to show for it?.

Aiyedatiwa, however, said the kidnapping and killings happened when Ajayi was deputy governor and not at the moment. He said the attacks cited by Ajayi are ?attacks you cannot run away from which also happened in the United States?.

Aiyedatiwa said the amount mentioned by Ajayi for security votes is all ?political lies from the pit of hell?. The governor denied getting N1.2bn as monthly security allocation but failed to name the amount he gets ?because it is a security matter?.

?I support state police establishment in Ondo State and the Amotekun we are running is a prototype of it,? Aiyedatiwa said, while he mapped out strategies on how he would reinforce Amotekun Corp for greater efficiency.

The Incumbent further said forest rangers were being deployed to curb ?period incursions? at border communities while Ajayi insisted that killings and kidnappings still occurred in the state as recent as ?last week?.

The PDP candidate said unemployment must be tackled with job creation to stem the tide of insecurity. ?Keep everyone busy and they will allow you to do your jobs,? Ajayi told his opponent. ?As governor of Ondo State, I will get all criminals arrested,? said Ajayi.

Like Aiyedatiwa, Ajayi also said he would strengthen the Amotekun Corp with modern equipment to compete with contemporary outfits. He demanded that the outfit shouldn?t be used to conduct elections, says Agboola, adding that

Harnessing Ondo Cash Crops, Minerals

The second segment of the debate examined both candidates? plans to harness the economy of the Southwest state, especially value addition to cash crops in the state like Cocoa and palm, amongst others.

Ajayi threw the first punch when he accused the governor of not encouraging economic growth in the state. ?No single oil factory in Ondo, they are dead,? the PDP candidate said, adding that he would establish cocoa processing factories, and activate the export of cash crops should he become governor of the state rich with mineral deposits and agricultural produce.

Ajayi promised to establish a regulatory agency to work with the Federal Government to protect nature against artisanal mining.

Aiyedatiwa, however, dispelled the claims of this opponent. The governor said economic investments ?are happening, it?s because he?s not in tune that is why he is talking that way. Politicians will come to make promises but we are already fulfilling?.

On farming, Aiyedatiwa said some agriculture businesses are left in the hands of the private sector and not undertaken by the state government.

The Incumbent boasted about his grasp of the state?s economic management. ?Since I came onboard, we have not borrowed and we don?t have the need to borrow,? he said, attributing this to his managerial efficiency of the state?s coffers.

Aiyedatiwa said with the removal of subsidy, state governors are getting more allocation and the money is being used to alleviate hardship.

Ajayi said there was nothing bad with borrowing for improvement but said the governor has not commissioned any project with all the monies he?s received. The PDP candidate said he would give civil servants N76,000 wage as against the N73,000 minimum wage offered by the governor.

After two hours, the two candidates locked in an embrace in the spirit of sportsmanship, adjourning the real battle to November 16, 2024, when the people of the state would decide their next governor. (Channels TV)

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