One of the leading All Progressive Congress, APC, gubernatorial aspirants in Ondo State, Mr Isaac Kekemeke has expressed optimism about picking the party’s ticket in the primary in July.
Recently, the Liberal Movement comprises members of the Ondo State chapter of the APC and other parties in the state vowed to ensure that he wins the ticket which the guber hopeful says is just a tip of the iceberg.
They said they supported Kekemeke because they needed a government they could call their own, run by the APC members for the benefit of Ondo people and would not alienate them.
The Chairman of the movement, Mr. Demola Ijabiyi, said their decision to back Kekemeke was because of the pledge to focus on human capital development as highlighted in his (Kekemeke’s) manifesto.
Speaking with hordes of journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, Kekemeke said his credential and loyalty to the APC would be the joker that will clinch the ticket for him even as he promised the people of the state a better deal if given the opportunity to govern them.
The aspirant said his mission and vision for the state were clear.
Kekemeke said: “My primary purpose of seeking the office of governor is to work with all patriots to create a prosperous and peaceful Ondo State where citizens are productively engaged to enable them live meaningful, comfortable and decent lives.”
He explained that his experience as pioneer state APC chairman had equipped him with the know-how on how to manage all the tendencies within the party for optimum performance in terms of service delivery.
Parading an incredibly intimidating credential Kekemeke further said, “It is time to fully deploy my training and acquired experience in government. To berth this new government of our dream in Ondo State, the machinery of our campaign popularly known as Lekeleke Movement is committed to the practice of a new politics: the politics of ‘Ko siro, Ko sebo’ that is ‘no deceit and no rituals.
The Crest presents below, D. I. Kekemeke at a glance
Hon D. I. Kekemeke was born on July 2nd, 1963 in Agadagba-Obon in Ese-Odo Local Government area of Ondo State, Nigeria. He undertook his elementary and primary education between 1967 and 1975 in many schools in Ogun and Ondo states, moving whenever his teacher-father was moved. He was at the Stella Maris College, Okitipupa, Ondo State, between 1976 and 1981 for his Secondary school education.
Kekemeke bagged a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1988 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989. He bagged a Master of Laws degree from the same Obafemi Awolowo University in 2006 and is due to bag a P.hD in Law from the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti any moment.
DIK as he is fondly called by friends has spiced his legal career of over 30 years with public service duties. He served as Minority Leader of the old Ondo State House of Assembly between January 1992 and November 1993. He stabilised the National Examinations Council (NECO) as its pioneer Chairman of Council between 2001 and 2004. Kekemeke was also a member of President Yar’ adua’s Niger-Delta Technical Committee.
Kekemeke, the LEKELEKE of Ondo State has held many offices in Ondo State; namely Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, 2003 and 2005, Commissioner for Works, Lands, Housing and Transport between 2005 and 2007 and Secretary to State Government between 2007 and 2009. A veteran party administrator, D. I. Kekemeke was the pioneer Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo state as well as the Pioneer Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state.
Kekemeke is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Institute of Local Government and Public Administration and also fellow of Institute of Local Government and Public Administration; Certified Institute of Management; Institute of Public Administration and International Strategic Management Institute.
Hon. Kekemeke has received accolade and recognition from within and outside Ondo State borders, some of which are: Nigeria Bar Association, Akure branch’s-Quality leadership award, 2004; RCCG Ondo Province 4, Ondo State’s Award of Excellence 2005; African Youth Congress Nigeria Chapter award as most outstanding Commissioner in Ondo State 2006; National Leadership Award 2006 as best state Commissioner in Nigeria, 2006; Rotary International District 9130 Nigeria, Meritorious Service Award 2007/2008; All African Students Union, 2008 Kwammeh Nkrumah Leadership Award; Southwest Progressive Youths Congress award as Commander of Southwest Youths; National Association of Niger-Delta Students Award of Pragmatic & Diligent Service; Trace Magazine Man of the year, 2015 and Life Patron, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Ondo State Council.
Kekemeke is a family man with Children and he is the founding partner of D. I. Kekemeke and Company, a firm of Legal practitioners with its head office in Akure
