AKURE – President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has described Ondo State as a poor state in the midst of plenty.

He stated this on Tuesday via a virtual lecture he delivered at the inauguration lecture preceding the second term swearing-in ceremony of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu coming up on Wednesday.

Adesina, who was a former Minister of Agriculture in the country, tasked Governor Akeredolu to look beyond stipends accruing to the state from the Federation Account and see to exploration of solid minerals and bitumen in the state.


He declared that Ondo State state could generate over $1 billion per annum, saying “The state has one of the largest gas deposits in the world. It could also become a leading exporter and processor of cocoa and earn at least $1billion per year.

The second term AfDB president lamented that Ondo State ranked number 13 of the top 20 states in Nigeria because the government did not maximally explore and leverage what the state has in abundance.


He therefore advised that for the state to survive and thrive, Governor Akeredolu must see to how the state could become financially independent of the Federal Government.

Describing Nigeria’s federalism as the type that does not grow its constituent entities, Adesina declared that “political autonomy is meaningless unless it is backed by greater fiscal self-reliance at the state level.

He, therefore, emphasised that “To extricate ourselves from this quagmire, Nigeria must seriously tackle problems of extreme rural poverty, hopelessness, and this unemployment and under-employment of its largely youthful population.”

The AfDB president advised politicians and those at the helm of affairs of the nation that “Restructuring should not be driven by political expediency, but by economic and financial viability. Economic and financial viability are the necessary and sufficient conditions for political viability.”

https://www.independent.ng/ondo-state-poor-in-midst-of-plenty-afdb-president/

Aketi has looted Ondo dry without anything to show for it. my state Ondo is the poverty capital of Nigeria. almost all the beggars in the streets of Lagos are from Ondo state. I regret coming from there

He is right though

Not only Ondo state but all the 36 States. Governors wait for quarterly allocation from Federation account and do little about boosting IGR except through taxation and all kinds of levies.

Sadly, 60% of these income from issuance of tickets and receipts are diverted into private accounts with the governors the ultimate beneficiaries.

However, truth be told, the constitutional EXCLUSIVE LIST vs CONCURRENT LIST lockjam is also a stumbling block to governors capacity to boost IGR.

Intelligent Nigerians are not at helm of affairs. What we have are half baked quack leaders. However, the need for restructuring cannot be overemphasized.

It is same story for all states, just in varying extent.

Lol

Propaganda now backfiring.

CodeTemplar:
It is same story for all states, just in varying extent.

He said ondo state...

Fahdiga:
Aketi has looted Ondo dry without anything to show for it. my state Ondo is the poverty capital of Nigeria. almost all the beggars in the streets of Lagos are from Ondo state. I regret coming from there

I really don't know why you people can't mind your business...

Abia state governor is currently begging the teachers to resume to class instead of paying their salaries.. You people are less concerned about that but much interested in happening of other region.

Chai, Acclaimed developers that can't develop their region

Osagyefo98:


He said ondo state...

You dey mind the guy.. Other states in Nigeria are doing far more better than Ondo state especially Abia state...

Fahdiga:
Aketi has looted Ondo dry without anything to show for it. my state Ondo is the poverty capital of Nigeria. almost all the beggars in the streets of Lagos are from Ondo state. I regret coming from there

Tomorrow you this Igbo boy will still have the nerve to call someone else a tribal bigot and some of your people will still like the comment.

Osagyefo98:


He said ondo state...

Exactly because every other state in Nigeria have 99% employment rate.

Monogamy:


You dey mind the guy.. Other states in Nigeria are doing far more better than Ondo state especially Abia state...

Abia state I agree is doing much better that's why Adesina concentrated on the poverty ridden nature of ondo...state.

Abia is way ahead of ondo....Kudos to Adeshina for be blunt.

Iamgrey5:
Exactly because every other state in Nigeria have 99% employment rate.

Adeshina said Ondo state.

Iamgrey5:
Tomorrow you this Igbo boy will still have the nerve to call someone else a tribal bigot and some of your people will still like the comment.

All I know is that I'm not a bigot and will never be one. I hate bigotry

Harmless statement, turned into tribal War.. And to think most of the people that frequent this section are over 20.

Fahdiga:
All I know is that I'm not a bigot and will never be one. I hate bigotry

No you are only a tribal supremacist, you are hardly ever a bigot

418eighteen:
[s][/s]

Keep up the good work. reasonable Nigerians are solidly behind you

Osagyefo98:


Adeshina said Ondo state.

And i said you are right, the statement can never apply to other states in Nigeria

Abi! Since other states are little paradise on earth.

Iamgrey5:
And i said you are right, the statement can never apply to other states in Nigeria

Abi! Since other states are little paradise on earth.

Adeshina said Ondo state.

Osagyefo98:


Abia state I agree is doing much better that's why Adesina concentrated on the poverty ridden nature of ondo...state.

Abia is way ahead of ondo....Kudos to Adeshina for be blunt.

You don't have to repeat yourself as we are saying the same thing

Iamgrey5:
No you are only a tribal supremacist, you are hardly ever a bigot

Heaven will bear me witness that I've never used bigoted words when commenting here. most of those tribalistic comments attributed to me are not from my moniker. some one is using my parody account to tarnish my good reputation

niyisky:
Intelligent Nigerians are not at helm of affairs. What we have are half baked quack leaders. However, the need for restructuring cannot be overemphasized.

Would u vote them ?

Osagyefo98:


Adeshina said Ondo state.

I am not arguing with you bruv.
Since every other state is much better.

Iamgrey5:
I am not arguing with you bruv.
Since every other state is much better.

Adeshina said Ondo state.

Monogamy:


You don't have to repeat yourself as we are saying the same thing

Abia state I agree is doing much better that's why Adesina concentrated on the poverty ridden nature of ondo...state.
Abia is way ahead of ondo....Kudos to Adeshina for be blunt.

Fahdiga:
Keep up the good work. reasonable Nigerians are solidly behind you

Something you can never do with your precious time yet praising someone wasting life and time away cancelling comments on NL....

Don't be this wicked guy

Anyways, mods will soon take care of the Angry bird guy

Modified: Oya see below of the effort of the guy cancelling comments....