Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the governor of Ondo State has expressed sincere regrets that only very important personalities attached with security men are safe on roads in Nigeria.
Akeredolu decried the spate of kidnapping on highways, assuring his people that the menace would soon become a thing of the past.
He spoke Sunday evening during the maiden participatory Radio/Television programme tagged: “An evening with Mr. Governor” in Akure, the state capital.
Akeredolu said the Akure-Ibadan road is notorious for kidnapping, stressing that his convoy ran into suspected kidnappers on the road recently.
Akeredolu said the assailants ran into the bush when his security men opened fire.
According to him, his convoy was almost attacked, but the security details shot into the air to scare the kidnappers, who ran into the bush.
“It is a serious problem on Akure-Ibadan road. We as governors will do something about the issue with the Federal Government,” the governor said.
The governor said the situation was affecting only the masses as the big men enjoy themselves when they drive in convoys.
He admitted that travelers are not safe on the road, but jokingly said: “I have passed the level where somebody can kidnap me again.”
On the increase in the state’s Internal Generated Revenue (IGR), Akeredolu said: “It has not placed undue burden on the good people of Ondo State. We have not increased tax.
“The only difference is that we have trained personnel, who have ensured accountability and proper collection of these funds in all local governments across the state.
“When we came on board, Ondo State generated N700 million as IGR and with this, it can’t get us to anywhere and that is why we have to put all hands on the deck to generate N1.5 billion. We are still working hard on how to generate more.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
