Ondo State govt mulls economic ties with China

• Seeks partnership in technology, agric, construction
• Ojogo rallies support for Aiyedatiwa, APC
• Ese-Odo leaders, others assure party 80% of votes
• Vow to embark on aggressive mobilisation for gov

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reiterated his commitment to further enhance the existing relationship between the state and the People’s Republic of China to boost the economic fortunes of the state.

Aiyedatiwa, who spoke on the mutual benefits for Nigeria and China, emphasised that the state is rich in natural and human resources.

The governor advocated for an increased exchange of business ideas, particularly in technology, education, and agriculture, to help Nigeria overcome current challenges.

The governor, who disclosed this, yesterday, while receiving the Deputy Mayor of the Linyi Municipal People’s Government of Shandong City, China, Sun Deshi, and his team at the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital, assured the delegation of maximum support.

He affirmed the continuity of the working agreement signed by the late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu with the Chinese city for the operation of Ondo-Linyi Industry Park in Ore, Odigbo Local Council of the state.

Aiyedatiwa also stressed that his administration would make the state more attractive and conducive for investors to do business.

On his part, Deputy Mayor Sun Deshi of Linyi Municipal People’s Government expressed China’s interest in collaborating with the state to expand the already established companies, emphasising China’s expertise in technology, agriculture, and construction.

MEANWHILE, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, the member representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Donald Ojogo, yesterday, led leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ese-Odo Local Council of the state to endorse the election bid of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The party’s faithful, during a meeting held at the residence of Ojogo, vowed that all would be done for the ruling party to secure massive votes for Aiyedatiwa on November 16 to ensure his victory.

According to Ojogo, an emphatic statement will be made ahead of the election to serve as a signal to opposition parties that the APC will retain the state.

He said: “What we will need to do is to embark on a very vigorous mobilisation and campaign for the governor and for the party because it is clear that this election is not an election that is solely that of Aiyedatiwa. We are going into this election with the aim of establishing a point and making a point ahead of 2027.

“This is the President’s geopolitical zone, and it is going to be the first election that will take place. So, it is a litmus test. If we fail, it will appear that APC national has also failed, and we cannot afford to fail APC national. We will not fail.

“I am not saying the President is running for a second term; I do not have the mandate to speak on his behalf, but it is most likely he runs for a second term. And if he considers it, then it means that we must ensure we replant APC in Ondo State ahead of 2023.

“A victory is a must for us in APC. It is our work that will reflect the victory “I didn’t support the governor before the primaries. I supported another candidate, but once the party has said that this is the candidate we want, we must all fall in line and support the candidate of the party. The candidate of the party is my candidate, their candidate, and our candidate, so we can’t do otherwise.”

Also, the state’s Commissioner for Lands, Akin Sowore, said that Ese-Odo would lead the chart of the council with the most votes for Aiyedatiwa.

The Woman Leader of the party in the council, Elizabeth Douye, said: “We have agreed that all of us are going to work for the governor.”