By Seyifunmi Odunuga
Yes101.7 Fm went to another dimension introducing its maiden edition of the Deputy Governorship Debate on Tuesday, 21 February 2023.
The office of the deputy governor is the second most important office after that of the governor at the state level in Nigeria.
Indeed, no governorship candidature is valid without a running mate, who automatically becomes a deputy in the event of victory at the polls.
The Deputy Governorship debate is intended to enlighten, inform and educate the public on the importance of the deputy governors in serving as a reservoir of both administrative and supportive energies to the governors in the day-to-day administration of the state government. This becomes imperative given the widely believed notion that deputy governors are mere spare tires, and to also guide the electorate in making informed voting decisions in the general elections coming up on February 25 and March 11, 2023, respectively.
The moderator of the debate who is also the Group Managing Director of Yes 101.7 Fm, Yemi Sonde said that four political parties were invited to the debate but only the deputy candidates of All Progressive Party(APC) and Accord, Dr. David Femi Okunola and Prof Abiodun Ayandele were present at the scheduled time. The PDP deputy gubernatorial candidate was said to be unavailable because of an incident of bereavement.
The moderator grilled the two deputy governorship candidates on education, Women Empowerment, Electricity, cashless policy, Environment, Healthcare, agriculture, security, and insecurity.
The Accord Deputy Candidate, Professor Abiodun Ayandele while responding to the questions, said her Party will
Improve the computer skills of both teachers and students,
Provide Loans to teachers, and give preference to Fee meals for the students,
declaration of emergency on education, provision of Loans without interest to market women, traders, and artisans, while also embarking on
entrepreneurship skills for women who are not employed in collaboration with NGOs on economic empowerment.
On his part, the APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Dr. David Femi Okunola promised the Public the Adoption of Rwandan’s Educational System,
Encouraging homestead farming for women, and providing farm input and equipment for both arable and large-scale farming.
He also promised the implementation of 35% women’s participation in governance and enabling people with special needs.
The debate was well attended by the party faithful and a cross-sectional debate panel, media representatives, and invited community stakeholders.
News Packaged by Apreel1 Events Tv.
