One of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Abayomi Sheba has withdrawn from the 2024 governorship race ahead of his party primary slated to hold in April 25, this year.
The former Chairman of Federal Character disclosed this in an open statement signed by him and circulated on social media on Wednesday.
He wrote: “Few months ago, I took a decision to contest for the governorship election of Ondo State, which will be coming up later in the year. This I did after a wide consultation with my family, political leaders, associates, supporters and sympathisers.
“Part of my agenda is to harness the huge potentials; in agriculture, education, tourism, among others, that God has blessed Ondo State with, to take the state to greater heights. Today it is sad to note that the great efforts made in the area of industrialisation of the state have been abandoned. The Oluwa Glass Industry, the OOPC, the Ceramic Factory in Ifon, the Supare Marble in Akoko, the Tomato Paste Factory, etc , are all lying fallow and in comatose.
“Unemployment has reach an unprecedented and an embarrassing height among our people especially the youths.
“My decision to contest the governorship election stemmed out of my passion for the emancipation of the state from this stagnation.
“48 years after the creation of the state in 1976, Ondo State is still a far cry from the dreams of its founding fathers in terms of growth and infrastructural development. These are my challenges for the state and the reason for my decision to contest the election.
“For this year’s election, the governorship slot has been zoned to Ondo South. I had thought that our great party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) being in opposition in the state would be able to put its house in order, so that we could rally behind one of us without the rigour of a primary election. But as I put this statement together today, seven aspirants have already purchased the governorship form. My believe is that we cannot go into the primary election with this huge number of aspirants and still come out as one big family again.
“This position is predicated on my past experiences.
In line with this and after extensive consultation with my immediate and extended family, my political associates, supporters and sympathisers, I have decided to withdraw my participation from the race.
“I therefore appeal to my political associates and supporters to accept my decision. I wish everyone the best in the struggle to create a better and more functional Ondo State.
“Finally, I hereby pledge the loyalty and faithfulness of myself and my teeming supporters to any candidate that emerge from the primary election,” he said.
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