THE Ondo state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has  affirmed his belief in the economic integration of the South-west geo-political zone of the country, noting however that political affiliation should  not be a condition for the practice of  such a vital policy.

Speaking at the state capital, Akure, during a courtesy call on him yesterday, by the immediate past caretaker committee chairmen of the 18 council areas of the state and their supervisors, Mimiko expressed his belief in the economic integration and transformation of the zone, adding that such development should not be tied to any political party.

Particularly, Dr Mimiko maintained that the people of Ondo State are intelligent and wise enough to choose their leader, stating that the people are ready and determined to take their destiny in their hands.

According to him, “We are of the opinion that there must be economic integration of the Southwest but the issue of one political party dominating the zone, I believe, is a fallacy. It is a fallacy saying that economic integration of the South-west must be based on political party. Similarity in our value system is of paramount importance to us.  I want to tell you that today, Labour Party is redefining progressivism.”

“What we are doing in this state is an empirical evidence of what progressivism is all about. We are the economic and intellectual power house of the South-west. Our cocoa had done the wonders of the South-west. The people of the state will determine who will lead them.”

He also commended the former council bosses for raising the benchmark in local government administration in the state.

He noted that most of the projects executed at the grassroots level during their tenure were world-class and unique, calling on the present council bosses to build on the legacy of their predecessors.

He thanked them for their vision to constitute a grassroots network aimed at propagating the laudable programmes of his administration.

Earlier in his address, the co-ordinator of the former council bosses, Hon Kennedy Peretei, pledged their unalloyed support for the administration of Dr Olusegun Mimiko, adding that the administration had prioritised progressive politics in the country.

He noted that their 26-month tenure in office vividly brought succour to the lives of their people and added value to governance at the grassroots.

The former council boss explained that they floated Grassroots Network to help in sensitisation and mobilisation of the people for the second term bid of the governor.