YES 101.7 FM went to another dimension, introducing its maiden edition of the Deputy Governorship Debate on Tuesday, 21 February 2023.
The deputy governor’s office is the second most crucial office after the governor’s 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 deputy governors serving as a reservoir of administrative and supportive energies for 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 tyres. The debate also aims to guide the electorate in making informed voting decisions in the February 25 and March 11, 2023 general elections, respectively.
The moderator of the debate, Yemi Sonde, the group managing director of Yes 101.7 FM, said four political parties were invited to the discussion. Still, 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 free meals for students; declare an emergency on education; and provide loans without interest to market women, traders, and artisans. In collaboration with NGOs on economic empowerment, entrepreneurship skills for women who are not employed should also be embarked on.
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 agriculture.
He also promised to implement 35% women’s participation in governance and enable 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.
