Ahead of the APC primary election fixed for April 2024 and the Governorship election scheduled for November 2024 by INEC, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, the incumbent State Commissioner for Finance, has emerged as the most preferred person to become the next Governor of Ondo State.
According to a report released today in Akure, the Ondo State capital, by Research Frontiers, a Political and Socio-Economic Research Bureau. an opinion poll conducted among critical political stakeholders in the State placed Mr. Akinterinwa ahead of the pack with 55% while the incumbent Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, trails with 25%, Chief Oluwole Oke with 5%, Princess Oladunni Odu with 5%, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim with 5% while the other contestants like Odimayo, Lebi and Akinfolarin have little or no significant impact, and collectively polled 5%.
Research Frontiers said it polled a sample population of 1000 people drawn from the 18 Local Government Areas of the State. The sample population was drawn among influencers, state and ward party party leaders, media, party elders, senior citizens of the state, and other political actors in the State. The poll was done online and also physically. The respondents were asked to appraise the leading aspirants on 10 parameters with weighted ratings, as follows:
- Vision for Ondo State (10%)
- Governance Experience (15%)
- Education and academic qualifications (5%)
- Knowledge of Ondo State (15%)
- Mastery of Development Economics (10%)
- Integrity (10%)
- Political Awareness (10%)
- Leadership Orientation (10%)
- Empathy and social capital (5%)
- Pedigree/Achievements (10%)
Mr. Akinterinwa was ahead of other contestants in all the 10 parameters, according to the report of the opinion poll. His rating was justified with the explanation of the feedback from the poll respondents who said that based on his extensive working knowledge of the process of governance in Ondo State, his pedigree, mastery of development economics, integrity, reputation, leadership orientation, high level of political sophistication and willingness to lift the underprivileged, he is ahead of other aspirants.
“He has been a pivotal member of the Aketi administration since its inception, making him very experienced in his knowledge of the development needs of Ondo State and the process of contemporary governance. Mr Akinterinwa is a two-term commissioner under the Akeredolu administration, and he previously served as Commissioner under the Mimiko administration, making him the only Commissioner for Finance who has been sworn in thrice to occupy the position.
Despite the death of Akeredolu, Mr. Akinterinwa has been retained under the Aiyedatiwa administration. The respondents said this experience is invaluable and is needed at this crucial time in Ondo State”, according to the opinion poll report signed by Mr. Lawrence Oriakhi, the CEO of Research Frontiers.
On education and academic qualifications, Mastery of Development Economics, Integrity, leadership orientation, and pedigree, Mr Akinterinwa was said to have outscored the other contestants. In addition to being the State Commissioner for Finance, he is the Chairman of the Forum of Commissioners for Finance in Nigeria. He is on the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, while also serving on the Governing Council of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, and the Governing Council of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State.
Pedigree
Having made his mark in Lagos State as an investment banker, economic analyst, policy strategist, and administrator, his emergence as the Commissioner for Finance in Ondo State, first under the administration of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and under the Akeredolu administration, is a testimony of his deep knowledge of, and immense experience in finance and economic matters. He is one of the Commissioners regarded as square pegs in square holes, having proved his mettle over and over again.
Education
He attended K. Kotun Nursery and Primary School, Surulere, Lagos. He later proceeded to Government College, Ibadan (GCI) where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1979. He obtained B.Sc. in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1987. He also obtained an MBA from the same institution in 1999. He has attended various courses both at home and abroad in Banking, Finance, Leadership, Management, and Strategic Planning
Career history
Since 1989, he has worked and distinguished himself in various reputable establishments such as Afro-continental Nigeria, Triumph Merchant Bank (Head of Treasury & Financial Services); Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (Special Assistant on Finance, Investment & Strategy); Gideon Trust Investment Limited (Executive Vice Chairman/CEO); Gideon Trust Micro-finance Bank (Chairman); Emergent Power & Energy Dev. Company (Non-Executive Director/Board Member); Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Ondo State (Mar-Nov 2009); Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Ondo State (2017 till date)
Strong financial and business management pedigree
Mr. Akinterinwa is a corporate finance professional, with a strong accounting and management background. He has nearly three decades of hands-on professional engagement spanning diverse areas of investment banking, project finance, real estate development, consulting, and public sector engagement.
He has successfully pioneered and managed several corporate restructuring and business repositioning projects that have delivered reasonable returns to investors. His astute management of Ondo State’s finances has led to more prudent utilization of resources with wastages being eliminated and new revenue streams being opened up as the state forges ahead in its drive to increase Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) and diversify its economy.
Highlights of his career milestone
He played a pivotal role in the restructuring and reorganisation of the Lagos State Property Development Corporation for improved performance, and this birthed most of the Government housing estates that ameliorated the housing shortage in Lagos State during the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and till today. His mastery of financial planning and economic management has helped Ondo State to develop a structured and focused approach to the management of its economy.
Political and social activities
He contested for a seat in the House of Representatives (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency) on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy in 2003. He was also a governorship aspirant in 2012 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria. He is a member of many clubs and societies including the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938. A golfer, Wale loves football, reading, listening to music, and engaging in community development activities.
Mr Akinterinwa’s governorship ambition is well-known to the people of Ondo State, and it has been applauded across the length and breadth of the State. Sources close to him divulged that Mr. Wale Akinterinwa is expected to formally declare his ambition any time soon.
