A State House of Assembly aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ondo State, Tayo Marcus, has said that his aspiration to represent the good people of Ondo West Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly come 2023, is not borne out of frivolities, crass opportunism, sheer lust for power, or political exuberance but out of sheer patriotism and altruism matched with experience to showcase leadership, responsive and responsible representation to the admiration and satisfaction of people at home and in the Diaspora.
The House of Assembly aspirant, stated this while speaking with newsmen at his unveiling of action Plans for a seat in Ondo State House of Assembly to represent Ondo West Constituency 1 on Saturday in Ondo City.
Marcus disclosed his aspiration to become a lawmaker was hinged on his desire to propel development of his constituency as well as the people.
His focus is to collaborate, synergies, and mobilize all principal stakeholders and relevant institutions both governmental and non- governmental towards finding lasting solution to some of the challenges facing Ondo West constituency one.
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Marcus, who is contesting to represent Ondo West Constituency 1, also emphasized on the need to find lasting solution to youth joblessness in the state.
He, however, bemoaned the current political situation in the country whereby personal gains have been placed above desire to move the country forward in terms of soico-economic development.
He promised not to be a redundant or absentee lawmaker, he vowed to stand to speak for his people.
"As a true son of the soil who has lived over forty years of his life among his people, and without sounding immodest too, I am sufficiently aware of the socio-economic challenges facing our people and our community.
"My focus, therefore, is to collaborate, synergize and mobilize all critical stakeholders and relevant institutions, both governmental and nongovernmental towards finding lasting solutions to some of these challenges especially, youth restiveness and joblessness, a time bomb waiting to explode anytime.
"Without any equivocation, needless distractions, or pedestrian politicking in the garb of political activism, my mission is to make Ondo West Constituency 1 a cynosure of all eyes. A Constituency that can compete favourably with other Constituencies by making legislation that will improve the socio-economic life of our people in the next four years and beyond.
"I won't be a "Siddon look Honourable", "I support the motion Honourable" or "an absentee lawmaker". At all times and in all seasons, I will stand up to speak for my people. I will sponsor bills that will stimulate, promote and protect investments in critical areas of our economy. I will lobby and woo honorable colleagues to support motions that will promote entrepreneurship, youth engagement, and wealth creation. I am resolute and determined in this regard,"he said.
Comrade Tayo Marcus shared his action plans as Entrepreneurship, Youth Engagement, and Wealth Creation through Sport Development, ICT and Digital Economy, Tourism, Culture, and Hospitality, Agriculture and Value Chain, Arts and Entertainment, Job Placement and Career Development For Young Graduates, Safety Net/ Relevant Social Policy For the Vulnerable Weaker Members of the Society. The Physically Challenged. Old Citizens. Widows and Widowers. Orphans and Abandoned Kids. Single Parents. Sexually Abused and Victims of Domestic Violence.
Others are, Inclusive and Participatory Representation through regular Townhall Meetings and Consultation with the traditional institution and other critical stakeholders, Promotion of Peaceful Coexistence through healthy community base activities, activations, and initiatives., Security of life and property by strengthening the existing laws on community policing and Infrastructural Development and Strategic Interventions through Lobbying and Budgetary Allocations.
He also revealed how to bring these plans to a reality. " I will sponsor or co-sponsor a bill on the creation of Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation Funds to be domiciled in all the 18 Local Government Areas. It will enable young entrepreneurs to access funds to fuel their creative abilities and ideas.
"I will sponsor or co-sponsor a bill that will make it mandatory for all the Local Government Areas to have at least a Recreational Centre, a Tech Hub, and Industrial Park to keep our young people productively engaged. It will boost entrepreneurship, youth engagement, and wealth creation.
"I will champion the domestication of the Nigeria Start Up Bill in Ondo State to make our state a choice destination for tech investments in Nigeria and Africa.
"I will lobby and persuade the government to invest in STEM Education to equip our young people with the right skills to be relevant in the Digital Economy.
"As a Tourism Professional, I will leverage my experience and also collaborate with the Ondo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism to review existing tourism policy as well as create an aligned "Sustainable Tourism Masterplan" for Ondo State to o bring order to the industry through new legislations, to improve coordination of the sector, to stimulate investment, to increase private sector involvement, to increase revenue figures, to contribute to the sustainable economic growth and equitable distribution of wealth for the benefit of all and finally to promote conservation of the environment for society and culture.
"I will sponsor, co-sponsor, or activate existing laws to make Corporate Bodies operating within the boundary of Ondo State to be alive to their Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR.
"I will collaborate with relevant government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and MDAs to attract and encourage private sector players to invest massively in grass-roots Sportport Development, Arts and Entertainment, ICT, Tourism, Culture, and Hospitality.
"I will collaborate with the Ministry of Justice and other relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations to protect victims of rape and domestic violence. We shall ensure that perpetrators of such heinous crimes are brought to the book to serve as a deterrent to others.
"I will sponsor, co-sponsor, or activate existing laws to make the "Office of The Public Offender" more functional, accessible, and pro-people.
"Awareness and sensitization programs to be sponsored to keep our teens informed," he stressed.
Marcus added that, as an Honourary Ambassador of DROMI (Dr. Rhoda Makinde Initiative), I am sufficiently informed that: "no chain is stronger than its weakest link. Our society must not only care for the "haves", the strong and the affluent but also the weak and vulnerable members of the society i.e the Physically Challenged, Old Citizens, Widows, Widowers, Orphans and Abandoned Kids, Single Parents, Sexually Abused and Victims of Domestic Violence. It is for such people the government exists
Therefore, I will collaborate with relevant governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations to strengthen advocacy for the inclusion of the Vulnerable and Weaker Members of our society in governance, policies, programs, and projects.
I will also sponsor, co-sponsor, or activate existing laws to democratize access to opportunities, facilities, and other dividends of democracy.
He observed further that grassroots development is key to state and national development, stressing he poised to facilitate entrepreneurship, youth eneganement, wealth creation, infrastructural development of his constituency via quality representation, if given the mandate.
