Ikandu Kennedy Peretei is the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State. In this interview with AKINRINLOLA OLUMIDE, he speaks on state and national politics and the 2024 Ondo Gubernatorial Election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Saturday, November 16, 2024, for the conduct of Ondo State Election, How prepared is your party, the PDP?
The PDP is prepared for the November 16 Gubernatorial election this year. In line with the INEC timelines, we are awaiting guidelines from the National Secretariat of our party to kickstart the entire process.
Late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu stated on several occasions before his demise that power must return to Ondo South in 2024 under the umbrella of APC, do you also believe in turn by turn leadership i.e (power sharing formula among the three senatorial districts in the state)?
Our party believes in equity, justice and fairness. However, the mood of the state is a Southern Governor come 2024, a reality the ruling APC has come to long before even Akeredolu’s demise. As much as our party has not come out with a definite position on zoning, l have no doubt that, at the appropriate time, the party will take a decision in line with wishes of Ondo State people across party divide.
Let’s come back to National politics, is it true that APC is the best thing that has ever happened to Nigeria?
Anybody who says APC is the best thing to have happened to Nigeria is not sincere and should not be taken seriously. In what ways have the party impacted positively on the lives of the people? Is it security, economy, infrastructure or education? What 5,000 could buy in 2015 can no longer be purchased with 50,000, that is how badly the economy has been damaged. Inflation and u 0-employment rates are galloping by the day. Companies are shutting down and moving to neighbouring countries because of the inclement conditions here.
After 63 years of independence, we still not get it right in Nigeria, what do you think is the problem of this country?
The problem with our country has simply been leadership failure. With a leadership committed and sincere with plans to take Nigeria out of the woods, our country shall be great again. God gave us everything what we need is the right leadership to take us to the promised land.
What can you say of Tinubu’s present government?
Seven years of APC leadership in Ondo State have been calamitous. It has been a total disaster. All the things that we used to take for granted have become unattainable. So many students dropped out of tertiary institutions because their parents could not pay fees increment that came with APC regime. People lost loved ones because they could not meet medical expenditure that were free under PDP administration. What of artisans and market women who had access to loans. Everybody is weeping and wailing now.
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