Right man for the job…Why Robert Ajayi Boroffice should become Ondo’s next governor

As the gubernatorial race intensifies, Ondo North senator emerges as the most qualified APC candidate
By Femi Adebowale
Few men are gifted and intensely qualified to lead like Prof. Roberts Ajayi Boroffice. The former academic and senator of Ondo North constituency, carves his path to prominence aided by superior intellect and the will of a quiet revolutionaire. Leaders who have no beliefs but only understand methodology and processes are modern-day eunuchs. Boroffice isn’t one of such breed. Unlike them, he is gifted enough to inspire competence and confidence – plus he has the capacity to be truly intimate and relate with his people’s needs.
Boroffice’s political savvy and experience dwarfs all other contenders’; so far, he has shown that he is capable of performing superbly under stress. He is the only candidate capable of making informed decisions based on his wide and very rich experience in public service. He is perceived, rightly, as a peacemaker and an excellent mediator, when the citizenry’s interests are at stake either at home or abroad. He would have expertise from the best political minds peopling his ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
What makes his candidacy particularly appealing is the fact that he has already spent creditable years serving in various capacities in government. His years of service as an accomplished senator and commissioner, gives him more experience and broad-mindedness than any other probable candidate. More importantly, he has a wonderful rapport with people at the grassroots and abroad.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain has both power and influence, which endears him further to Ondo people and the most powerful APC chieftains. It would be recalled that Boroffice failed in his previous play for the number one political office of Ondo state. The re-elected Senator representing Ondo North in the National Assembly, stepped down for Rotimi Akeredolu in 2012. But he is currently one of the frontline leaders in the race for the APC 2016 governorship ticket.
There is no gainsaying Boroffice will improve the fortunes of the state if elected as her next governor. He will choose a direction on issues from security, maternal mortality to primary healthcare, and building a sustainable economy. Boroffice has proved he’s the candidate who can take on tough fights and get things done. But that’s not the only reason he should be the state’s next executive governor.
As a public servant who had served Ondo in various capacities, senator, commissioner, and a lifelong advocate for the people’s rights and better standard of living, no one is more qualified to be governor than Boroffice.
Boroffice is well versed in the affairs of state; for instance, he knows child care, equal pay, and paid leave are fundamental economic issues—not just “women’s issues.” He also understands that democracy should work for everyone—not just the wealthy and well-connected.
He’ll fight to curb the outsized influence of big money in politics because the wealthiest should pay their fair share in taxes. He’s several big goals to be achieved during his tenure if elected as the next Ondo governor: He intends to foster massive infrastructural and agricultural advancement of the state by the end of his first term. He also seeks to generate enough renewable energy to power every home in Ondo within few months of his taking office.
The economy will be stronger when a Boroffice is in the State House because he has a blueprint for sustainable economic rejuvenation of the state via technological, agricultural and industrial schemes and developmental palliatives. His educational plans for the state would guarantee that students would never have to go without quality education or borrow to pay for tuition to attend vocational and tertiary institutions in their state.
Boroffice’s plan to keep the business and industrial sectors accountable to the state and host communities makes him the darling among gubernatorial candidates.
He has both short-term and long-term plans to improve primary healthcare in the state while guaranteeing elderly citizenry’s access to timely and high quality health care. The former commissioner and senator, after decades of fighting for progressive issues has proved nobody can stand up to societal wrongs and fight for the interest of the underprivileged better than he can.
He believes that raising middle-class incomes is the defining economic challenge of our time—and he has a plan to do just that. He also has a health plan to cater to severely mentally ill folk. Boroffice also has a well-thought out plan to cage suspected terrorists, domestic abusers and other violent criminals. He understands that for Ondo to progress, there is need to invest in infrastructure and rebuild or expand our roads, bridges, rail, broadband, public transit, and water and energy infrastructure. He also understands the need to protect the citizenry’s right to vote—not billionaires’ and corporations’ right to buy elections.
Born on April 23, 1949 in Oka-Akoko, Ondo State, he became a lecturer at the University of Ibadan in 1975, and Professor of Zoology at the Lagos State University in 1986. He has conducted research at the post-doctoral level in the areas of human congenital malformations, carcinogenesis and mutagenesis. He also held administrative positions at the Lagos State University including Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, and Chairman of the Committee of Deans.
He also flaunts an enviable record in public service; for instance, he was appointed Coordinating Director for Science in the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in 1992. His main focus in this job was on Biotechnology, Information and Communication Technology, Space Science and Technology. He played a central role in establishing the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). In 1999, Boroffice became the founding Director General of NASRDA, a post he held for 10 years. Under his leadership, NASRDA launched two satellites; a low orbit earth observations microsatellite (NigeriaSat-1) in 2003 and a communication satellite (NigcomSat-1) in 2007. He also laid the groundwork for the building of NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X, which were launched in August 2011, from Russia.
In 2004, for his outstanding service to the Nigerian people, Boroffice was conferred the title of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by President Olusegun Obasanjo. In March 2011, he was given the 2011 Golden Merit Award in Space Science by the World Federation of Science Journalists.
The public rating of the academic and lawmaker has however, shot up in the last few years, a development not unconnected to his popularity within and beyond his Ondo North constituency.
Barring any last minute change in his plans, Boroffice, according to sources within the APC, would emerge as APC’s candidate at the forthcoming governorship elections in Ondo.