Joy As Akeredolu Promises To Relocate OSOPADEC Headquarters From Akure To Igbokoda
There was a wild jubilation in igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje local government area of Ondo state on Monday as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for November 26th governorship election in the State, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, promised the people of the area that if elected as governor, he would relocate the headquarters of the Ondo State Oil Producing Development Area Commission(OSOPADEC) from Akure, the state capital to Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje local government area with an Area Office at Igbekebo, the headquarters of Ese-Odo Local Government Area.
The APC governorship candidate gave the assurance when his campaign train visited the palace of the Olugbo of Ugbo land, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan ahead of the Saturday’s election.
He said the headquarters of the commission would be closer to the people and more effective and useful at Igbokoda than in Akure where it is presently sited.
In his words, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said: “The administrative headquarters of Niger/Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is situated in Portharcourt, Rivers State, not in Abuja, the federal capital city of Nigeria.
“Therefore, I want to say expressly that the headquarters of the Ondo State Oil Producing Development Area Commission (OSOPADEC) will be relocated from Akure to Igbokoda with an area office at Igbekebo so that the commission could serve the purpose which it was established for” Akeredolu said amidst thunderous jubilations from party members and supporters.
Akeredolu also promised to, in conjunction with the APC led Federal Government establish a coastal line in the area.
“The deepest sea in West Africa passed through this local government area. The Atlantic Ocean here is deeper than what we have in Lagos. By God grace, we will turn it to the advantage of the Ondo State.
“Lagos Port is today congested likewise that of Portharcourt so what we are going to do is to establish one here to decongest Lagos port. Ships coming from the North and Central Africa and Europe will prefer to offload their products here than wasting their time going to Lagos.
“This we can do and we are going to do it for the development of our people and our state. The economy of Ilaje, under my administration will burble than that of Akure. We are going to industrialize this state.
“Omotoso power plants shall be redeveloped. The Olokola Free Trade Zone shall be revisited. The University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa will fly again by God grace”, Akeredolu vowed.
Oba Akinruntan while responding preached for peace and tranquillity before, during and after the election. He urged Akeredolu to be a father to all and as well serve with diligence and commitment to the state.
Aside Ugbo, the campaign train also visited communities such as Mahin, Etikan, Aheri and Igbotu.