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, includes discussions on the state of the 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).
The FactCheckHub verified the accuracy of the claims made by the PDP candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who was a former deputy governor of the state.
Fact-checking Ajayi’s claims at the Ondo 2024 gubernatorial debate
CLAIM 1
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 2
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 subsidised 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.
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 for the ministry.
Fact-checking Aiyedatiwa’s claims at the Ondo 2024 gubernatorial debate
CLAIM 1
Aiyedatiwa said the 2024 edition of the Global Entrepreneur Festival would be held in Ondo state.
THE FINDINGS
Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is TRUE.
In August 2024, multiple media houses, both local and international reported that the event slated for November 22-24, 2024, would take place in Ondo State.
ThisDay reports that Ondo State’s Commissioner for Information, Wale Akinlosotu, at a press conference in Lagos said the festival’s theme, “Beyond Boundaries: Poverty Eradication through Entrepreneurship,” strongly reflects the state’s mission.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the 2024 edition of the Global Entrepreneur Festival would be held in Ondo state is TRUE, as it was reported by multiple media platforms few months ago.
CLAIM 2
Ondo state is the second least state in terms of poverty in Nigeria.
THE FINDING
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MOSTLY TRUE!
The 2022 Multidimensional 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 nationally at 0.095 with only 1.3 million multi-dimensionally poor people in the state.
THE VERDICT
The claim that Ondo state is the second least state in terms of poverty in Nigeria is MOSTLY TRUE; Ondo state is actually the state with the lowest poverty index in Nigeria, according to the 2022 Multidimensional poverty index.
CLAIM 3
Cocoa processing factory in Ondo state processes 7,000 tonnes of cocoa every month.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub indicate that the claim is UNPROVEN!
An investigation by CrossRiver Watch shows that The Sunshine Chocolate Factory in Idanre, launched in 2020 by the state government as a government initiative was eventually bought by a private individual, Johnvents Industries after it went desolate some months later.
TheCable and Vanguard report that the late governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, commissioned the factory in 2021.
A 2022 report by ThisDay notes that the factory had processed about 5,000 metric tonnes of cocoa for export, barely six months after its launch.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the cocoa processing factory in Ondo state processes 7,000 tonnes of cocoa every month is UNPROVEN, as there is insufficient evidence to verify the claim.
Fatimah Quadri is a Journalist and a Fact-checker at The ICIR. She has written news articles, fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy in an effort to combat information disorder.
She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or fquadri@icirnigeria.org