Ondo poll:Minister assures of violence-free exercise ahead of November 16 Election
The Minister for Youths Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, on Monday, expressed optimism that the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State would be violence-free.
The minister also commended the youth in the state for being peaceful during the ongoing electioneering campaigns, describing the development as an indication that the election would be peaceful.
Olawande stated this in Akure, the state capital, on Monday, when he led youths of the All Progressives Congress on a solidarity trek, in Akure, in support of the candidate of the party and governor of the state, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
He said, “Do you see violence? Have you ever experienced violence since when the campaign commenced? We are a peaceful state and you can see that during the Sunday debate.
“Even the PDP governorship candidate is my brother and we talk. He will join the APC after the election, so no violence. The election won’t bring violence, I’m very sure.”
According to the minister, youths in the state were in support of Aiyedatiwa to win the poll.
He said the solidarity walk was to show that the youth would vote massively for Aiyedatiwa.
He said, “We are just happy, we have an election in some days to come in Ondo State. As you know APC is our party. I’m a member of the APC and I’m also a youth.
“We just say let’s come together, let’s have a solidarity walk for Aiyedatiwa and give our voice, as the capital city of the state, that we are intact and we’ve made up our mind to vote for the governor.
“I’m a politician, but I’m not going to play politics. We are going to give him (Aiyedatiwa) our support and we are going to give him a huge vote, and you can see that we are everywhere, and everybody is happy that we have a governor that is ready to listen and also has the interest of youth at heart.
“Age aside, he is also a youthful governor, so be rest assured that we are giving him our full support as the governor of Ondo State and he will return as the governor.”
He called on the people to bear with the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying the policy of the government might be harsh but the people would enjoy it in the long run.
“A lot of people will say there is hardship, yes, there is hardship really, things are hard but it’s a decision that the President must make so that Nigeria can be better,” Olawande stated.
