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| - AT a debate organised by Channels TV on Sunday, November 3, 2024, the two leading Ondo State gubernatorial candidates spoke about their plans for the state if elected in the off-season November 16 governorship poll.
The debate, moderated by Seun Okinbaloye, a broadcast journalist and Politics Today’s anchor on Channels TV, include discussions on the state of economy, security, education, infrastructure, health and poverty eradication etc in the state.
The gubernatorial candidates present at the debate are Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is the sitting Ondo governor and Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
READ: Fact-checking three Lagos gubernatorial candidates at ‘The Platform’ debate
The FactCheckHub verify the accuracy of the claims made by the PDP candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who was a former deputy governor of the state.
CLAIM 1
Ajayi said more than 27 per cent of Ondo state residents are poor.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MOSTLY TRUE!
The 2022 Multi dimension poverty index released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Ondo was the least state with poverty at 27 percent followed closely by Lagos and Abia states.
Nairametrics also reported that Ondo state recorded the lowest MPI at 0.095 with only 1.3 million multi-dimensionally poor people in the state.
THE VERDICT
The claim that more than 27 per cent of Ondo state residents are poor is MOSTLY TRUE; the NBS 2022 multidimensional poverty index revealed that 27 per cent of the state residents are poor.
CLAIM 2
Ajayi claimed that there are no industries in Ondo state.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE!
This list by Nigeria Directory shows some of the industries/manufacturing companies in the state.
A keyword search on the words “Industries in Ondo state” provided search results on some industries such as OmoadeCeil Industry, Johnvents Industries limited and Emmver Industries, amongst others.
THE VERDICT
The claim that there are no industries in Ondo state is FALSE; data show that there are multiple industries operating in the state.
CLAIM 3
Ajayi said that Ondo state ministry of agriculture has no tractor.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MOSTLY TRUE!
In September 2024, multiple media platforms such as The Guardian, Punch, and Tribune reported that the Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Olayato Aribo explained that during the late Governor Akeredolu’s administration, 30 tractors were purchased and subsequently sold to companies and individuals at subsidized rates to boost farming in the state.
He further stated that most of these tractors are now outside the state and no longer government-owned, with some sold outrightly and others under installment payment plans while noting that the state retained only one tractor.
ALSO READ: How true are Sanwo-Olu’s claims on Lagos budget performance, education?
He added that, despite this, they still plan to purchase more tractors but will, for now, expedite food production by engaging a tractor hiring company.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the Ondo state ministry of agriculture has no tractor is MOSTLY TRUE; all of the tractors were sold at subsidised rates leaving only one of the tractors in the ministry’s custody.
EDITOR’S NOTE
*This report has been updated to reflect new verdict on Claim 1 which was changed to MOSTLY TRUE, as the primary element of the claim is accurate as the NBS data show.
Seasoned fact-checker and researcher Fatimah Quadri has written numerous fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy pieces for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or [email protected].
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