Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has called on electorate across the states to vote for leaders of good character so that the country will move forward and develop.

Akeredolu, who said this on Thursday in Akure, at a programme organised by a cultural socio-political pro-democracy advocacy group, the Atulunse Initiative, however, urged people to shun vote buying, saying, “it is the quality of followers that is affecting the quality of leaders.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said people should vote leaders with characteristics and attributes of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and should not to celebrate money over good behaviour and character.

“We need to look for visionary leaders, like we had Chief Awolowo. So let us look at the characters of those that were contesting whether they have the character of Chief Awolowo or not.

“You can see the way and manners how our governor is doing wonderful well in the state. You could see that Akeredolu has the same character with Awolowo and the development of this state is very paramount to him.

“Let communal life be our priority, let us look at the characters of our candidates to vote. Let us vote for the candidate that is ready to provide adequate security and move this country forward,” he said.

The convener of the initiative, Akin Akinbobola, in his welcome address said the vision of the initiative was to serve as a vital catalyst for social, economical, political equity and justice for the overall development of the society.

According to Akinbobola, while the mission of their initiative was to inspire, empower and connect people within the society to proactively change their conditions and to build a society in which people live in harmony, full of hope, secure and have opportunity to achieve their fullest potential.

He said that the organisation is in 36 states of the country, sensitising people on how to make their votes count.

Speaking on the theme of the programme entitled, “Let our votes count”, while the topic for the event is “Ethical governance: Awo’s legacy as a case study.” Akinbobola said that the country was in a mess; that there was a wide gap between people living in affluence and poverty.

“Give us education that is affordable. When those living in luxury are sick, they travel abroad, while the poor go for herbal treatment because orthodox medicine is not affordable.

“Life becomes unbearable for most Nigerians. Why? Because their votes don’t count. All these must stop. They buy votes and people go for such.

“Power is in our hands. That voting is in your hand. That is why, they beg you for it. But when you sell it, they will come back and make life unrealistic.But when you vote based on your conscience, not by  ethnicity or any affiliation, you will enjoy the society,” he said.

The Chairman of the occasion and Chief Imam of Akure kingdom, Abdulhakeem Yayi-Akorede said that the purpose of the gathering was to ensure that votes count in the forthcoming elections.

While the Guest Lecturer of the event, Prof. Akin Alao of the Obafemi Awolowo University, said many political parties did not have programmes.