I will make Olokola free trade zone a reality – Dapo Abiodun

Ogun State All Progressives Congress governorship candidate Prince Dapo Abiodun, has pledged to rejig the Olokola Free Trade Zone(OKFZ) in Ode Omi in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area and make it one of the economic hubs, if elected.

The multi-billion dollar OKFZ and Olokola Liquified Natural Gas (OKLNG) projects were started during the administration of Governor Gbenga Daniel but abandoned by the Senator Ibikunle Amosun – led administration soon as it came on board in 2011.

However, Abiodun promised to revisit the projects, saying  the  Olokola deep sea port would be given a special priority, because of its strategic  importance in jobs and income creation for the teeming unemployed youths as well as boosting the revenue base of the state and socioeconomic life of the indigenes and residents of Ogun Waterside.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the State made this known  while addressing party faithful, supporters and people of Ijebuland during his campaign tour of Ijebu Ode Local government and Yemoji Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on Tuesday.

The governorship hopeful assured that his administration would be business friendly and creates an enabling environment for potential investors so that Ogun state and her citizens could benefit from the economic advantage

Abiodun said: “The economic importance of all projects is our priority. This project(OKFZ) is our priority. And if I become the state governor, I will bring investors to partner with the Ogun state government. And that will add multiplier effects on the state economy. And we will make it easy for an investors to come and invest in Ogun state.

“The place has the deepest sea port, but unfortunately that opportunity has not been exploited.

“I will bring investors to Ogun state, both local and private investors. I know how to do it  because I came from the private sector. And as a private person, I will develop Ogun state to attract investors.

“We are commercially well and strategically located. What we intend to do is to endear investors to come to our dear state.”

He said since Ogun state shares boundary with neighboring Lagos state which is commercially located,  all hands should be on deck to ensure that the state becomes the economic capital of the country.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party (LP) the governorship ambition of Dapo Abiodun received yet another boost on Tuesday as the Assembly candidate of the Labour Party from Ijebu North East State Constituency in the forthcoming general election; Mrs Adesanya Bukola Elizabeth dumps her party and decamp to APC.

She decamped alongside hundreds of her fellow party members from Ogun East Senatorial District at the grand finale rally of the ward to ward campaign tour of Ijebu Ode Local Government held at Oyingbo, Ijebu Ode.

She said, “We have come here today to join the progressive party, APC to give our maximum support to our kinsman, Prince Dapo Abiodun in order to ensure his victory at the poll.

“The Awujale of Ijebuland has spoken and directed all the sons and daughters of Ijebuland to support the candidacy of the APC governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun. It is based on this that we concluded within ourselves to heed to the advice of the highly respected paramount ruler.

The ex -deputy governor of Ogun State who also doubled as the Director-General of Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organization, Prince Segun Adesegun, who received the defectors lauded their decision to be part of the progressive and assured them of adequate integration.

Earlier, the former governor of the State and one of the National leaders of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba assured the party faithful of better days ahead.