Ondo2020: We cannot continue like this, Kekemeke tells APC
Kekemeke
Hon. Isaac Kekemeke has expressed his disapproval of the apparent shoddiness that chaterized the arrangement for the gubernatorial primary election of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. The election was scheduled for today 20th July, 2020. He is the leading gubernatorial aspirant and hence a participant in the election.
Reacting to the handling of the process by the election committee under the chairmanship of Governor Yaya Bello of Kogi State, Kekemeke who was the pioneer Ondo State chairman of the party said the committee had given the impression that the party had no respect for its members. According to him, it was unfair for the committee to be informing the aspirants of the plans for the election just hours before it was scheduled to commence.
The committee had invited the aspirants for briefing at about 9 pm on Sunday 19th July, 2020 on an election scheduled to commence in the morning of Monday, the following day. Kekemeke observed that, “Prior to the meeting, the aspirants were not informed of the venue of the election, neither were they given the list of delegates. At first we heard that voting would take place at each ward with ward executive committee members as voters. Even then, some said the voters would comprise all the 26 members of the committee while others said only the 12 principal officers would vote. As to the venue, rumours had it that voting would be at the ward level with all the 203 ward centres as venues Later on, we heard that voting will be at the 18 local government headquarters. Towards yesterday evening, the rumour was that the whole thing would take place in Akure at the Dome, the government-owned international conference centre, beginning at 8 am. That was the situation when we honoured the invitation of the committee for a meeting for the first time last night.
“Worse still, we did not know the composition of the delegates. Aspirants were expected to be given the list of delegates well in advance of the election to enable them scrutinize it for authenticity and use it to identify and reach out to the delegates. The conduct of election for school prefects could not have been handled with so much levity and disdain for aspirants.
“The whole thing started with the screening of aspirants. The committee refused to release its report and thus allowed the whole place to be filled with rumours as to who eas disqualified. And it took almost two weeks before we heard anything again when the appeal committee was reported to have approved all the twelve aspirants. Then we had to wait and wait before being informed of the mode of election whether direct or indirect. How do you prepare for an election under such uncertainties?”
Continuing, Kekemeke said, “We certainly need to reform this party. As founding members, we must work within it to make it better, to make it respect its members, to make it know that it needs its members more than its members need it. Certainly, things cannot continue like this.”
Ondo2020: Akeredolu foretells Kekemeke’s greatest asset in the guber elections
Kekemeke
As if by divine inspiration, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State once identified what has become the greatest asset of Chief D. I. Kekemeke in his quest to become the successor of the Governor through the forthcoming gubernatorual elections in the State. It is now well-known that of all the gubernatorial aspirants, Kekemeke is the most experienced. Governor Akeredolu identified this and pointed it out as far back as 2017 in the days of Kekemeke as the State chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Akure on 23rd February, 2017, the Governor said, “”Apart from Governor Mimiko, my Chairnan D. I. Kekemeke, is the most experienced politician in Ondo State.”
ConcreteNews Online sought out Hon. Demola Ijabiyi the Chairman Strategic Mobilization and Communication Committee of Lekeleke Movement to react to this. He responded that he was not surprised. Mimiking the Biblical response when Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah, Ijabiyi said, “This truth did not come to him from any human being, but it was given to him directly by God.”.. Explaining further,, he pointed out that Kekemeke was once a member of the house of assembly, he was the pioneer chairman of National Examination Council (NECO) which he led to national and international recognition. He was attorney general and commissioner for justice in the State. He moved from the Justice Ministry to become the commissioner for works, lands, housing and transport. Then he rose further to become the secretary to the state government. Besides, he was the pioneer state secretary of the People’s Democratic Party and later the pioneer state chairman of the APC. Ijabiyi then asked, “Which of the aspirants can boast of this kind of intimidating credentials?” Continuing he said, “You can see that he has brought this experience to bear on his campaign method and style. Among the aspirants, his campaign is the most mature and focused with emphais on his objective and agenda for the prosperity and peace of the State.”
Ijabiyi recalled the acknowledgment of this by a top official of the party in the State. According to him, the State publicity secretary, Mr. Alex Kalejaiye recently said in a programme on the African Independent Television that, “Chief Kekemeke, in the last few weeks, has ran a very decent campaign across the State, and I just wish and hope that other aspirants will copy a lot from him . . .”
Ijabiyi who was obviously excited by this recommendation recalled that Kalejaiye was not the only notable figure to have acknowledged the effect of the political experience of Kekemeke on his campaign method. A top official of the State Government and loyalist of Governor Akeredolu, Barrister Sola Ajisafe aka Templars, recently wrote in a WhatsApp post that, “D. I. Kekemeke. . . . has conducted a most robust issue based and reasonable campaign to earn my respect and that of the party. We note it as he remains a strong pillar of our party. …”
“Instructively,” continued Ijabiyi, “no other aspirant has better recommendations, specific objectives or defined agenda for the peace and prosperity of Ondo State than those of Kekemeke. He is definitely different and has stood out from the crowd. The APC can’t give the State a better candidate. When you are the best, you are simply the best. In this election, Kekemeke is it.”
Ondo2020: Kekemeke writes delegates, says no use-and-dump of members
Kekemeke
Chief D. I. Kekemeke, the leading gubernatorial aspirant under the APC in Ondo State has written letters to all the delegates of the party. This was in anticipation of the possible adoption of the indirect mode of primaries by the party. Each letter was personally signed by him and addressed personally to each delegate. About three thousands have been distributed all over the State
In the letter, Kekemeke assured the delegates that he would treat them as an important part of his government. “I will not use you for Party Primary election and then dump you,” he declared.
The letter reads as follows:
Dear Party Leader,
I am D.I. Kekemeke, your Pioneer Party Chairman running to be Governor of Ondo State. I will put the people first through the creation of a prosperous and peaceful state.
I will deliver free and compulsory primary and secondary education and quality and affordable health care.
Our concept of civil farmers will guarantee food sufficiency and also service our cottage and agro-allied industries.
Ondo’s tourism potentials will be fully explored while Entrepreneurship promotion and skill development will be pursued.
It is time for jobs creation. I am ready to deploy my competence, commitment, character and experience of many years at your service.
Having served as Pioneer Secretary of the PDP in 1998 and Pioneer Chairman of APC in 2014, I fully understand the importance of Party structures and how to take care of party officers and members. So I assure you that I will treat you as an important part of our government. I will not use you for Party Primary election and then dump you.
I, therefore appeal to you to vote for me to make prosperity and peace happen to Ondo state and to make you an important part of the Government.
God bless you.
Yours faithfully.
Hon. D.I. Kekemeke
Ondo election: Kekemeke is the only aspirant that can unite the party – Chief Erastus Akeju
Kekemeke
A top elder of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Chief Erastus Akeju, has declared that of all the gubernatorial aspirants in the party, only Chief Isaacs Kekemeke is best positioned to unite the party on being elected the Governor of the State. He therefore appealed to party members to vote massively for him during the forthcoming primary elections. He spoke during an interaction with reporters after a stakeholders meeting of the party in Akure on Friday.
82-year old Chief Akeju has been a frontline leader of the party since the days of Alliance for Democracy. He served as the State commissioner for works during the administration of Governor Adebayo Adefarati. He has since then remained a highly respected and revered leader of the progressives within and outside Ondo State.
Chief Akeju recalled that what later became known as the Unity Forum started in his Akure home with Kekemeke as a prime mover and facilitator. According to him, “The group was then known as Concerned Elders Forum. Our objective was to provide an informal forum for those of us who were not in the government to interact and continue to remind ourselves that we are still of the same family.”
“What really happened at that time,” he continued, “was that the Governor was dealing exclusively with those who supported him at the primary election, those who became known as members of Aketi Team. Remember that the Governor won with less than twenty-four percent of the delegates at the primary election. By implication, over seventy-five percent of the party membership did not support him. But instead of bringing everyone on board, he concentrated on his Team. Ironically, he marginalized some members of the Team also. By that time he had stage-managed the removal of Kekemeke as the State chairman of the party. That increased the number of disaffected members so that by the time we started the Forum, the marginalized and hence the aggrieved members of the party could not have been less than eighty per cent. It was this large majority of party members that the Concerned Elders decided to mobilize and give a sense of belonging.”
According to him, when the former deputy governor Alhaji Alli Olanusi joined the group, the meeting was shifted to his house in Akure to honour him as the highest political office holder and also as a member of our party’s board of trustees. He became the chairman while Kekemeke was made the co-chairman by reason of his position as former chairman of the party.
Continuing, Chief Akeju narrated that, “With time, some of the members began to manifest their gubernatorial ambition. They, of course, saw the group as a platform that they could use. Their idea was that the group would eventually choose one among them as its concensus candidate. Kekemeke was one of the aspirants but he did not believe in that idea. He preferred that the aspirants should pursue their ambitions outside the platform. What he did next was to opt out of the group to start work on his ambition. As a matter of fact, that was a fateful decision as it later put him far ahead of the others in the field. It was not until a few weeks ago when the concensus arrangement crumbled that they started rushing out to set up their structures, and that was over one year of Kekemeke’s establishment of his own structure.
“One thing that is unique about Kekemeke Is that all that time, he was not hostile to the group , neither was he unfriendly with the Governor. For example, when our leaders led by Tinubu came to broker peace in the State, and a decision was taken to set up a leaders council to implement the decisions of the meeting, Akeredolu who was to be the chairman of the council personally nominated Kekemeke to servee as his secretary. Today, both sides, the Governors side and the Unity Forum, respect him very much, first as a former chairman of the party and second as a moderate who has continued to relate very well with everybody. If we want somebody, a governor, who can unite the party then, Kekemeke is it.
“Remember that he was at the forefront in forming the party in the State. You also remember that he emerged as the pioneer state chairman. It was under his leadership that the APC won the elections during Buhari’s first coming. So, you are talking of someone that has worked closely and successfully with party members. In fact, many still see him as their chairman as they were not happy at the way he was removed. To them, his removal was like changing a winning horse. If he speaks today, therefore, they will listen to him. No other aspirant has that kind of leverage. No other aspirant can unite the party except him. That is one reason why most of us who are elders of the party are behind him.”
Ondo 2020: Why we are solidly behind you, Ilaje-Ijaw group tells Kekemeke
Kekemeke
The Ilaje-Ijaw United Front (IIUF) has assured Chief D. I. Kekemeke of its solid support and promised to contribute its quota to his success at the forthcoming elections in Ondo State. It gave the assurances during a solidarity visit to the frontline gubernatorial aspirant in Akure on Friday. The group was led by its president Otunba Sylvester Ikuejamoye and its secretary Hon. Jemi Samuel.
Speaking for the group, Otunba Ikuejamoye reminded Kekemeke of the role he played in settling the war-like hostilities between the Ilaje and the Ijaw when he was the secretary to the State Government under Governor Olusegun Agagu. According to him, “The two ethnic groups had been engaged in an ethnic war leading to the loss of lives and properties. We are aware that you brokered peace by inviting the Agadagba and the Olugbo to Akure and made them to embrace and restore peace. That is leadership par excellence, and we owe you our gratitude for that feat.
“We also recall the unique cooperative loans scheme that you introduced to our womenfolk and mobilized them to partake in. We understand that the scheme has grown from the initial capital base of N2.5 million that you funded free of charge to over N18 million now. The scheme has released our women from the hands of burdensome loans schemes with their exhorbitant interest rates to yours of relatively small interest rate. We note your plan to broaden this within our area and beyond it to the State level when you are privileged to assume office as our governor.
“We have made reference to these cases out of several just to let you know that you have legacies among us that refresh our memories, all the time, of your elegant and beneficial interventions in the lives of our people.”
Otunba Ikuejamoye gave a brief background and history of the IIUF and went on to speak on the plans of the former attorney general and commissioner for justice, recalling that his group was represented at his meeting with the people in Igbokoda a few weeks earlier during which he spoke of his plans for the area. “Looking ahead,,” he explained, “We are here also because of your innovative plans for our area in particular and the State in general. Specifically, we are excited by your plan to establish a factory for the processing of our fish and turn them into a foreign exchange earner through exportation. We also note your plan to make our coastline a tourist destination by introducing recreational boats and attractions together with appropriate hospitality facilities that will become irresistible to tourists. So also are we impressed by your plan to commercialize and export our local cassava product, pupuru and our unique tasty fish soup xxx. Of course we have no doubts that our people will benefit tremendously from your special farming-with-salary programme, entrepreneurship development agenda, as well as your plans to establish cottage industries and basic health centres all over the State. Needless to add that your plan for free and compulsory education from primary to the end of secondary school and your promise to cause moderate and affordable fees to be charged in our universities are very pleasing and hence highly attractive to us.”
Continuing, Ikuejamoye said, “Sir, you are just one of several aspirants in our federal constituency. But you have stood out taller than the others. You were not only a legislator representing our area, you have served the State meritoriously as attorney general and commissioner for justice, as commissioner for works, lands, housing and transport, as secretary to the State government, and as pioneer State chairnan.of the APC. None of your co-contestants possesses this type of intimidating credentials. Certainly you have been an outstanding ambassador of our area and a great son that has made us proud.”
“As you can see from the firehoing,” continued the Otunba, “we have more than enough reasons to throw our weight behind you. Ours is not a light weight as we are well rooted in Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government areas where we have been promoting youth development through academic and sports competitions coupled with scholarship and trophy awards.”
Responding, Chief Kekemeke thanked the group for volunteering its support for him. He expressed his delight that his past contributions to the area were not lost on the people. According to him, “Mine were humble contributions and I am glad to be reminded of their values to the people.
Of all the aspirants, I am not aware of any that has clearly defined their programmes for the people as we have done. And quite obviously, you have captured the programmes very well indicating that yours is a highly articulate and intellectual group. In canvassing them, our objective is to fight hunger, poverty, unemployment, insecurity and decayed infrastructure. I dare say that you should hold me accountable for this when I get into office. But for me to get there, you must work and work among our people to encourage them to deliver their votes to us, first at the primary elections and then at the general elections.”
He reminded them that in addition to the programmes that they had mentioned, he planned to internationalize fishing and swimming competitions in the area.
Don’t write off Owo, we’ll work for your victory, group tells Kekemeke
Kekemeke
A group of APC members from Owo local government area has pledged its support for Chief D. I. Kekemeke the leading gubernatorial aspirant under the APC in Ondo State. Led by Mr.Bashiru Obanigba, the group assured the former State Chaírman of the Party of their determination to work for his victory at the forthcoming primary election of the party. This was during their visit to the campaign office of Kekemeke in Akure on Tuesday. The group was received by Chief Bode Sunmonu and Hon. Demola Ijabiyi the Chairmen of Special contact Committre and the Strategic Mobílization and communication Committee of Lekeleke Movement respectively in the absence of Kekemeke who had left for Abuja for the screening of aspirants.
Welcoming the group, Chief Sunmonu stated the objective of the Lekeleke Movement which, according to him, was to wage war against hunger, poverty, unemployment, insecurity and decayed basic infrastructure. He then appealed to the group to go back home and work untiringly for the success of Kekemeke.
On the programnes of the Lekeleke Movement, Hon Ijabiyi explained the six cardinal programmes by means of which the objective will be realized. According to him, the six programmes comprise education, health, agriculture, industrialization, tourism and entrepreneurship development. He then explained why Kekemeke should be trusted with the ability to implement the programmes. According to him, the former Secretary to the State Government possesses competence, character and commitment acquired from long years of public service in the government and in political parties.
Several members of the group spoke on the occasion expressing the group’s determination to deliver a respectable proportion of Owo votes to the former party Chaírman. According to Mr. Obanigba the leader of the group, “We know that Owo is a volatile area, but we also know our people. Don’t be deceived that because one of us is there now, all of us are behind him. No, we are there but we are not there. If you want to know what I mean, go there and see the language being spoken there. We are there but as strangers. Be rest assured that we know what to do to deliver the votes. Don’t write off our local government. We are many behind you.”
From the archives……
2019 Polls: Why Buhari lost in Ondo – Kekemeke, ex-APC Chairman
Kekemeke
VANGUARD ON MAY 19, 2019 1:16 AM IN NEWS, POLITICS
By Dayo Johnson, Akure
Hon Isaac Kekemeke is a former Minority Leader of Ondo State House of Assembly, the pioneer Chairman of National Examination Council, NECO, Secretary to the State Government and, until recently, the Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo. In this interview, Kekemeke speaks on contemporary issues.
What is your assessment of the just concluded general elections at the federal and state levels?
Well, I believe that Nigerians deserve to be congratulated for this unbroken 20 years of democratic experience. Generally, the elections were fair and the outcomes, in my view, represent the general will of the people. The increase in the violence leading to deaths, ballot snatching, collation centre destruction and the militarization of the exercise are, however, worrisome. Though it does appear that these developments are a reaction to the foreclosure of some other vices like ballot-stuffing, vote-buying that plagued the electoral process, by and large, the important thing is that the outcomes represe the general will of the people.
In Ondo, APC lost the presidential election. What do you think is responsible for this?
If the truth must be said as I think we should, we lost in that election because we were firing the cylinder from too many directions. All of us wanted President Buhari to win but we were disunited. There was no central command and rallying point as was the case in 2015. As for the National Assembly elections, it was clear that some highly placed people in the party engaged in anti-party activities by raising and supporting candidates in another party (AA). So while we were united about President Buhari winning the election, we disagreed and were not united on the various Senate or House of Representative seats in a number of constituencies particularly in about six of the constituencies and we lost.
If you were to be the governor, what would you have done differently?
The biggest challenge was created by the governor himself. I have respect for his person but my view has always been that when you win an election, you don’t begin to revenge. You take no revenge once you have won. What to do is to bring everybody together; you no longer have a team of your own and everybody in the party becomes yours. Even beyond that, everybody in the state should be yours. I believe the governor was not and is still not magnanimous in victory. If I were to be the governor, that’s what I would have done. This is exactly what I did when I became the Chairman of the party. I brought everybody together as it didn’t matter whether you liked me or not. For example, when I won the chairmanship seat in the 2014 state congress, the governor didn’t support me but I went to Ibadan twice to see him and to solicit his support for my administration. That is the way to go.
Let’s talk about the party in Ondo. There seems not to be concord among chieftains and a lot of people have fingered that as one of the reasons the party is not really moving forward in the state.
You are right. There are too many tendencies within the party in the state and it was partly responsible for the reversal of our electoral gains of 2015.
Now that we all have seen what exclusion and disunity can fetch us, we should all put the past behind us and embrace peace. The election is a periodic thing and you will always need a party. The more united a party is, the easier it is for it to win elections. So the ball is still in the governor’s court.
Governorship election is coming up next year, what should the governor do to retain the state? Do you still see the party retaining Ondo with this rancour? I am very optimistic that our party will still win the next gubernatorial election in Ondo but not without hard work. What happened in Oyo, Adamawa and Imo states is instructive. We need to start putting the party together. More so that I foresee an election before the election, there is the need to stabilize the party now to avert disaster. The earlier our party is put together, the better for us.
There are rumours that you want to contest to be governor in the state. Is it true?
Of course, in advanced democracies, this is the time a lot of things happen. Every citizen of this state who has the requisite qualifications stipulated in our constitution has a right to aspire and I think I am qualified. I am looking at the availability of the opportunity and also looking at whether it is explorable and then take a decision after due consultations.
If eventually, you decide to run, what are some of the things you plan to do?
Looking at my involvement in the politics of this state in the last 27years and having moved through the legislature, the executive and with some insight into the judiciary; and having worked in the PDP as pioneer Secretary and APC as pioneer Chairman, I will ensure that our party is one irrespective of individuals inclination in the primary election. I will primarily focus on education, access to health, employment generation, agriculture and industries.
What about the health sector where nothing seems to be happening now?
The present government is doing its best but much more can still be done. We ought to focus more attention on primary health care and make sure that the programme that the Agagu administration instituted is reinvigorated by ensuring that all the political wards have functional basic health centres and also that the 26 hospitals across the state function properly with qualified medical personnel.
Of course, there is a need for active and sustained partnership and collaboration with all governmental and non- governmental actors in the health sector.
Take a peep into the next four years of President Buhari and tell us what you think Nigerians should expect?
President Muhammadu Buhari is very easy to read. He is not a man of too many words. During the 2015 and 2019 elections, he didn’t speak too elaborately, so it is easy to read him and know what he is going to do. He will reinvigorate the fight against corruption. In the next four years, the defeat of Boko Haram will be a priority and not just technical. I mean Boko Haram will be physically defeated. I join other Nigerians to wish for a better standard of living. I foresee a consolidation of the efforts in agriculture so that, in a short while, Nigeria will be able to feed herself. On the fight against corruption, some people have labelled it as selective but for me, a selective fight against corruption is still better than no fight at all. The President should, however, make sure that members of his administration who have committed breaches to be prosecuted without delay. Luckily, the President has indicated his resolve to do so. I will also want the President to conclude the reformation of the electoral system before the next round of elections. As much as possible, our elections process should employ more technology. Between now and 2023, everything should be done to allow for electronic voting and electronic computation of result.
Q-What do you think of the suspension of Governor Akeredolu from APC? Do you think the party has handled it well?
A- Everyone in Ondo APC believes the governor has issues with the national leadership of our party on allegation of anti-party activities. Even though the state is rife with rumours of the governor’s suspension from the party, there is neither confirmation nor rebuttal from the party national leadership. It is only a matter of time before we know the truth.
Q-There is a clamour for the dissolution of the Ondo executive of the party. Do you share the view?
A- I do not want to sound vindictive but the bitter truth known to many a party man is that Ondo APC deserves better leadership than it currently has.
VANGUARD NEWS.
Ondo Election 2020: Why I am sure to win – Kekemeke speaks on AIT
Kekemeke
Chief D. I. Kekemeke, the leading gubernatorial aspirant under the APC in Ondo State was on the Democracy Today programme of African Independent Television (AIT) on Friday. He spoke on a variety of issues partaining to the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the State.
On the issue of zoning, he said, “I am not a fan of zoning. I believe that at all times the best person should be allowed to serve.” He recalled that, “Since 1979 when we were still in the old Ondo State, all the zones have contested in
every election. At election time, the people would make political calculations and say this zone has had it, let this other zone have it.” According to him, the correct situation is that, “Since 1979 Ondo State has had six governors. Three have come from the north and they have done twelve years and three months. One has come from the South and he did five years and nine monthes and one from the central and he did eight years. For me, whoever is the best should be allowed to serve.”
Asked if he would have supported the concensus candidate if the attempt to choose one by the Unity Forum had been successful, he said, “I was never a member of the Unity Forum I have a vision, a dream, a programme. While they were getting together as members of the Unity Forum, I kept selling my programmes. I didn’t belong to them. I didn’t attend their screening. I never submitted myself to it. I went straight to the party people and leaders and kept talking about my programme.”
On whether he could step down for another candidate or accept to be a running mate should the situation arise, he said, “I will not step down for anybody or be a deputy governor. I have a vision, a mission, aims and objectives, a programme which we want to use to set up government. I have sold my programmes for the last nineteen months to the people and there is overwhelming support for those programmes. Stepping down is not an option, being somebody’s deputy is not an option. The serious issues at stake are the issues of poverty, the issue of hunger, the issue of unemployment, the issue of insecurity and the issue of decaying infrastructure and I have been on this for thirty years. I am the first chairman of the party. I am not doing this for fun.”
On whether he was sure of winning, he declared that he was sure to win. In support of this, he said that as the pioneer chairman of the party, “The people know me and I know the people.”
On the issue of an incumbent being allowed a second term considering his incumbency power, he said that although the Constitution allowed two terms, an incumbent must work for and earn a second term. According to him, the power of incumbency was a double-edged sword, which could be an asset or a liability.
On the mode of election, he said he had given seven reasons to the party’s leadership at the national headquarters in support of direct elections, and hoped that they would accept them.
Ondo Election 2020: Students group endorses Kekemeke
Kekemeke
A students body, Ondo State Progressive Students Leaders (OSPSL), has volunteered to work for the success of Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke at the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State. Led by Mr. Omojuwa Banjo, the group spoke when it paid a courtesy call on Kekemeke in his office in Akure on Friday. The group lauded the track record of Kekemeke as a successful public administrator and expressed its excitement at his blueprint for the development of the State. According to its spokesman, it was particularly impressed by the education agenda of the former attorney general and commissioner for justice. The group conveyed its feelings in the address presented by it on the occasion. Other members of the group’s delegation were Messrs Temitope Joseph,
Kayode O. Julius,
Aletogun Oluwatoyin, and Julius King,.
Chief Kekemeke, a former Secretary to the State Government, is the leading gubernatorial aspirant under the All Progressives Congress, APC. As the pioneer state chairman of the party, he is believed to be the man to beat at the election. A Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the last assembly, Yele Omogunwa, who was the screening committee chairman of the Unity Forum, a formidable group within the APC in Ondo State, has rated Kekemeke as one of the three aspirants to watch in the gubernatorial race even though Kekemeke was not a member of the Forum. Analysts believe that of the three, Kekemeke was the most favoured.
The OSPSL is a very influential students body with members in all the universities in the country. In the address it delivered on the occasion, it said, “Having considered, cross examined, observed and gone through the manifestoes, agenda and plans of actions of our intending governor, we have identified the components of the education agenda.” According to them, these components included “free and compulsory Primary and Secondary Education in the State. Our Technical Schools will be refocused and re-organised to produce ‘Asian – type Engineers’ and technicians in the true sense of the word; a highly subsidized tertiary education will be introduced in the State’s tertiary institutions, and scholarships will be introduced for excelling and high performing students in the Federal and State owned universities and polytechnics. The Government will reintroduce the students’ loan scheme to support serious minded but indigent children of the State to undertake tertiary education. The physical and human infrastructure in our schools will be radically transformed/improved.”
Impressed by these, the students declared that, “We hereby throw our weight behind him in making sure the good plans he has for the state see the light of the day by contributing our quota to making him emerge as the next governor of the Sunshine state.”
According to them, Kekemeke “has been a good ambassador of the youth ever since he has been occupying public offices, he has equally served in different offices meritoriously with their purposes been fulfilled. We believe in his numerous wealth of experience in public offices. These numerous experiences will be deployed in making Ondo State an enviable state among others.”
Chief D. I. Kekemeke welcomed the group, thanked them for volunteering their support and assured them of his determination to implement his education programme to the last letter on getting to office.
Adegbenro was diabetic
Wahab Adegbenro
Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, the late Ondo State health commisdioner contracted the coronavirus disease while managing diabetes. This is believed to have complicated the virus infection. As a medical doctor, he was in self-isolation at home treating the infection. But as things began to get worse, he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo where he later died, according to very reliable sources.
As the news of his death spread, there was mourning everywhere. The social media was awash with expressions of sorrow, sadness and shock, for he was adjudged to be a very good man, competent, hardworking, easy-going, humble and an icon of integrity.
Dr. Adegbenro was born on 5th June, 1955, in Ilara-mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State. He attended Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure; and the University of Benin, Benin City. He holds the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B; B.S) degree and.was a member of the Nigeria Medical Association, member of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria; Associate member, Royal College of General Practitioners of London; and member, Nigeria Guild of Medical Directors.
He was the Chief Medical Director of Crown Hospital, Akure, a hospital he founded.
Dr. Adegbenro was the Vice Chairman, Ondo State Committee on Sports for the Disabled from 1997 to 1999; and later chairman of the Committee from 1999 to 2002. He was at same time a Director at the Ondo State Waste Management Board before he was appointed a commissioner for culture and tourism and later commissioner for health.
The State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu has, in a recorded video address to mourn his departed commissioner, declared a seven-day mourning period with flags flying at half mast and with Friday as work-free.day in honour of the departed
The Governor himself had informed the people of the State three days earlier that he had tested positive for the coronavirus disease and hence had retired into self-isolation. He had, in the meantime, directed his cabinet members, members of the house of assembly and his close aides with whom he had interacted to undergo the test for Covid-19. Unconfirmed reports says that his wife, Betty, had also tested positive for the disease.
It was further revealed that Dr. Adegbenro died on Thursday after he was rushed to hospital in Owo after contracting coronavirus.
“The Commissioner died at the Federal Medical Centre in Owo and this has just thrown the entire cabinet into chaos,” a top civil servant in the state said.
“He died of COVID-19 because he had contracted the virus earlier and was taking drugs at the comfort of his home, being a medical doctor.”
By the time he was taken to hospital, it was already too late, too little.
The late Commissioner
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