AS far as speeches go, Ondo State governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s inauguration address was long, tedious and uninspiring. Punctuated by so many references to God, complete with a few Bible quotations, it is remarkable that it bristles with a few combative opening paragraphs that subtly repudiate the exegetical profundities of the Christian faith that formed its leitmotif. The problem was not that the speech rightly acknowledged those who made his victory possible, beginning with President Muhammadu whom he rhapsodised in soaring language, to other party chieftains, especially Odigie Oyegun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, whom he venerated; the problem was how the acknowledgement was done. Whether he knew it or not, or whether he intended it or not, the speech, particularly the acknowledgements, gave the impression he still had an axe to grind with those who opposed him within his party.
The surprise is that in some paragraphs down the line, he acknowledged that political opposition was an integral part of partisan politics, but counselled that after the elections it was time to close ranks and work for the development of the state. Governor Akeredolu’s speech strangely did not profit from his own counsel. It reminds those who have followed Ondo politics for a long time of a similar inauguration address by the equally Bible-quoting ex-governor Olusegun Mimiko who at the outset of his governorship set a worrisome tone that brutally sought to detach himself from his key supporters. Though Dr Mimiko was considerably more subtle, the import of his address was nevertheless not lost on the perceptive observer.
Inauguration speeches, as that of President Muhammadu Buhari also showed, say a lot, even when they are not written by the candidates themselves. Because they are well redacted by the candidates when they still possess the best of moods as freshly coronated politicians, they tend to mirror their idiosyncrasies, set the philosophical rubric of their governments, and signpost their paths to the future. Thus Dr Mimiko’s impersonal and distant speech indicated he would not be a team player, nor be beholden to anyone within or outside his state or party. President Buhari, who borrowed the sound bite of belonging to everybody and to nobody from the late Sunday Awoniyi, indicated in his speech he was determined to call his soul his own. He has since charted a path more notable for its combative isolation than for its ideational lustre and depth.
Not too dissimilarly, Mr Akeredolu is also indicating by his speech the futility of conciliating his political foes, a fact that probably inspired the social media to run riot with a story said to have emanated from his Gala Night remarks where the newly crowned governor allegedly berated top APC politicians who congratulated him in newspaper advertisements but worked against his election. Those who know the three gentlemen well say that their political proclivities are not surprising. Nigerian politics may be fertile for President Buhari’s style of combative and isolationist politics, and Ondo State politics may be imbued with the kind of ‘nationalist’, independent and insular sentiments that United States President Donald Trump has proved are never far from the surface, but the more enduring point is that the three Nigerian politicians are merely exhibiting the very nature of their own private politics than anything else.
In 2012, this column opposed Dr Mimiko for a second term and preferred Ajayi Boroffice, a senator, to Mr Akeredolu for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) ticket, and endorsed Olusola Oke for last year’s Ondo governorship election. The column thought that those it endorsed were more likely to approximate the concept of consensual and cerebral politics which Ondo needed and still needs. That the endorsements have yielded nothing does not vitiate the force of this column’s observations. After all, though it also endorsed President Buhari, it warned that the only thing safe in the hands of the inflexible APC candidate, as he then was, was the country’s money, not its freedoms. Today, those freedoms are gravely endangered, as court judgements are flouted with reckless and gluttonous abandon.
More, the next four years in Ondo will prove the prescience of this column’s refusal to endorse Mr Akeredolu, as the last four years justified its refusal to endorse Dr Mimiko. Ondo may today be ‘nationalistic’ in its politics, but the state’s political culture was not always like today’s hue, as the golden age of Ondo politics under the late Adekunle Ajasin showed. Ondo should brace up for combat of the most insidious sort in the coming years. But perhaps Mr Akeredolu is a quick learner, and he will appreciate the futility of fishing for enemies, fighting them and lording it over them. Both his style and nature do not suggest he can see that futility, let alone modify his ways, or find the ideological clarity whose lack undermined the governorship of his predecessor. But he can at least mitigate what is set to be an agitated time under his governorship by enacting great and populist measures to rebuild the economy of Ondo rendered incoherent and prostrate by the self-absorbed Dr Mimiko. If Mr Akeredolu cannot heal the divisions in the state, a task he shows little appetite or even inclination for, he should at least feed the people to their gills. With full bellies, the people might by less finicky about the governor’s grating style and legendary short fuse.
Tag: Akeredolu
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Akeredolu and leadership puzzle
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‘Akeredolu not aware of suits’
A mild drama ensued at the Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, as Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said he was not aware of moves to dissolve local councils.
His counsel, Charles Titiloye, told the Appeal Court that his client was embarrassed to read the newspaper reports as he was not aware of both the order of the High Court restraining him from dissolving the councils or the appeal supposedly filed by him.
Titiloye, who was joined by another lawyer, O.O. Ayenakin, said the solicitor-general, Dapo Ogunleye, was in court, to demonstrate how concerned the governor was about the suit.
Ogunleye rose to confirm his presence. The 18 local government chairmen and councillors were represented by Olusola Oke.
The governor’s legal team pleaded for adjournment to enable the governor study the matter.
Justice U.I Ndukwe-Anyanwu adjourned till June 7. -
Akeredolu: I’ll respect rule of law
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has vowed to respect the rule of law and abide by the Constitution.
According to him, it is only equal application of the law that can guaranty justice and lay a solid foundation for socio-economic and political development.
Akeredolu spoke in an interview with The Nation following his swearing-in last Friday.
Akeredolu said: ‘’We are determined to make the difference with the specific mandate of redemption liberally handed over to us. Those who expressed other preferences are no less patriotic. Before long their anxieties will be addressed, realistically. All of us will be involved in the reconstruction project.
“The collective interest of the state must be our paramount focus. Consequently, we stand before you to pledge, with the guidance of God and our resolve not to renege on our promise, that your welfare shall form the basis of all our activities. To achieve this, the main mission of our administration is therefore to lead a patriotic, highly inspired and competent team to rescue the ship of our state.
“We intend to help rebuild our economy, resuscitate damaged infrastructure, restore hope and return our state to a prosperous land. We are determined as an administration to break down the barriers that have made stagnation possible.
“We will break down the barriers to honest leadership, to comprehensive development, to physical growth and social security. These we intend to do through the promotion of transparent leadership, rule of law, extensive consultation, quality and accessible public utilities and social security; all in a sustainable manner. We acknowledge the enormous challenges faced by the state and the severely limited resources available to meet these ever-increasing and compelling demands.’’
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong said he expects Akeredolu to deliver on his promises.
“Being an integral part of the campaign structure that midwifed his election, I honestly share in the conviction of Ondo people, that being a Senior Advocate in the temple of Justice, he will definitely go beyond advocacy into the translation of the best of his dreams into tangible dividends of democracy for the good people of Ondo State.
“As he joinds the progressives Governors Forum, I am sure that the State will draw strength from the value of our shared experiences, prayer and partnerships to collectively deliver on our promises to the citizens of our States,” Lalong said.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ngige ( SAN) believes Akeredolu’s first 100 days would be action-packed.
He expects the governor to translate some of the activities and actions he demonstrated as President of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA) to governance.
Former NBA Financial Secretary Mr. Marc Enamhe said: “Expectations are really high and Akeredolu will definitely deliver the dividends of democracy to his people within the limits of his resources” Enamhe said.
Former NBA Legal Adviser Mrs. Linda Rose Bala said: “Akeredolu respects the law. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he will be just and equitable in delivering the dividends of democracy to his people.”
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Akeredolu begs doctors to end strike
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday appealed to striking doctors and health workers to end their industrial action.
Akeredolu made the plea at his first meeting with civil servants held at the Governor’s Office in Alagbaka, Akure.
Civil servants are owed seven months salaries. Two weeks ago, health workers embarked on an indefinite strike and vowed not to resume until they are paid.
The governor said he felt their pains, assuring them that he will ensure prompt payment of salary.
He said: “I feel your pains. I am not an executive governor. I am one of you. I am just a top servant
“If you don’t receive salaries, as your governor I don’t deserve to receive any salary too. If you are not being paid, no one should be paid.
“I am aware of the agony you are going through, I can feel your sufferings. A labourer deserves his wages.
“To the striking health workers, I want to use this medium to appeal to our health workers, doctors, to please in the name of God, resume work.
“We will run an open government. I intend to move from here to have a small committee that will include the accountant general and a few others to address this issue and find out what we can do.” -
Bishop to Akeredolu: don’t waste time probing Mimiko, others
The Archbishop of Ondo Province, Anglican Communion, Rev Latunji Lasebikan, yesterday advised Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu not to be distracted by probing his predecessors.
Rev. Lasebikan said this in a sermon at a thanksgiving service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Church, Owo Local Government.
The service was also to celebrate the 85th birthday of Akeredolu’s mother, Grace.
The bishop said the focus of the new governor should be on how he to fulfill his campaign promises.
Akeredolu, on several occasions, had said he would not probe the Olusegun Mimiko administration, adding that the law was there to punish any corrupt officer.
Rev. Lasebikan said: “Probe of successive administration, what do you make out of it? You get to an office, do your own job.
“President Muhammadu Buhari was to ensure that all those who mismanaged our money are brought to book, what have we got so far?
“The precious time he would have used to do better things has been wasted pursuing people who are unwilling to bend.
“The nation is suffering because of probe; probe has no meaning for anybody”.
The cleric, however, urged Akeredolu to ensure he clears all the seven months unpaid salaries left behind by his predecessor.
He said: “You should pay salaries; many of our people have not been paid, not only in Ondo State but in other parts of Nigeria.
“It is not good. A labourer is worthy of his wage and government needs to do something that the public will know that it is taking care of them, otherwise people will not respond to the politicians.
“I know recession has been a bad thing for the nation but there should be a way that workers are paid.“
Akeredolu, who commended those who were present, urged the people to always prophesy good things into their lives.
He assured the people that his administration will hit the ground running immediately.
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Bishop to Akeredolu: Don’t waste time probing Mimiko’s government
The Archbishop of Ondo Province of Anglican Diocese of Ondo State, Rt. Rev Latunji Lasebikan has advised the new governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) not to be distracted by probing his predecessors.
Lasebikan, stated this while delivering a sermon at the thanking service of the governor at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Church, Owo local government area of Ondo State on Sunday.
The 85th birthday of Akeredolu’s mother, Grace was also marked during the service.
The Bishop said the focus of the new governor should be on how he will fulfill all his campaign promises to the electorates, who voted for him during the election.
Akeredolu had on several occasions said he would not probe the immediate past administration, noting that the law is there to punish any corrupt officer.
Lasebikan said “Probe of governments in the past, what do you make out of it? You get to an office, do your own job.
“President Buhari was to ensure that all those who mismanaged our money are brought to book, what have we got so far?
” The precious time he would have used to do better things has been wasted pursuing people who are unwilling to bend.
“The whole nation is suffering because of probe; probe has no meaning for anybody”.
The Cleric however urged Akeredolu to ensure he clears all the seven months unpaid salaries left behind by his predecessor.
He said ”You should pay salaries; many of our people have not been paid, not only in Ondo State but in different parts of Nigeria. It is in East, North and every part of the country.
“It is not good, a labourer is worthy of his wage and government needs to do something that the public will know that the government is taking care of them otherwise people will not respond to the politicians.
“I know recession has been a bad thing for the nation but there should be way that workers are paid”
Akeredolu, who commended those who attended the occasion, urged the people to always wish themselves good things.
He assured the people of the state that his administration would hit the ground running immediately.
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Ondo Council’s crisis: Akeredolu’s appeal for hearing tomorrow
Barely few hours after he took the mantle of leadership as the Ondo State governor,the former President of the Nigeria Bar Association(NBA),Mr Rotimi Akeredolu(SAN),has approached the Court of Appeal to upturn the judgment of the State High Court barring the state government from dissolving the local government administration in the state.
The case is scheduled for mention at the Appeal Court, sitting in Akure, the state capital, tomorrow.
Akeredolu’s appeal to the appellate court was served on the counsel to the 18 local government chairmen and councilors, by Barrister Olusola Oke.
The chairmen and councilors were largely elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which lost the last governorship election to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Earlier on January 17, the Ondo State High Court, ruling on a suit filed by the 18 local government chairmen and councilors, led by their chairman, David Alarapon-chairman of Akure South, had ruled that the state government, either by their agents or servants, had no right to remove the elected officials until their tenure lapsed.
In the judgment delivered by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, the High Court upheld the claims by Alarapon and 34 others, among who were some councilors, that the council officials were democratically elected to serve for a tenure of three years which would lapse on April 25, 2019.
As a result, the court gave an order preventing the dissolution or sacking of the council chairmen and councilors in the 18 local council areas of the state.
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Falana congratulates Akeredolu … advises him to fight corruption
Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has advised the newly inaugurated governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, to frontally confront corruption for the good of the people of the state.
The advice was contained in a congratulatory message sent to the new governor yesterday.
Falana advised him that he “must not only plug the leakages, but you must also frontally fight corruption so as to conserve the limited resources of the state for the good of the people”.
The message stated: “I congratulate you on your inauguration as the governor of Ondo State.
“No doubt, the task before you is gargantuan as the state has been run aground in many areas.
“The people are groaning in poverty in the midst the opulence of the elite as the economy is in shambles.
“Criminality is on the increase on the part of disenchanted youths. Law and order have broken down as the rule of law is in abeyance. Integrity and principle in politics have been sacrificed due to harsh economic conditions being experienced by the masses. The moral fabric has to been restored in the Ondo State political landscape.
“Yours is a state of paradoxes. Workers are owed arrears of salaries by the state which earns resources from the oil derivation fund.
“Whereas it was the late Dr. Akinola Aguda, an indigene of the state, who laid a solid foundation for the judiciary of Botswana the Ondo state judiciary has not been able to address the crisis of injustice.
“Education is also comatose in a state that has produced not fewer than 10 National Merit Award Winners including two from the same town. Intercity and township roads are in a dilapidated state.
“However, the socio-economic problems confronting the state are not insurmountable provided that you are prepared to involve the people in the planning and execution of all projects. “Your government should make the people the subject and object of governance. In implementing the welfare programmes that formed the basis of your campaign you must place premium on a knowledge based economy as over reliance on oil has compounded the crisis of poverty in the state. While jettisoning the neo-liberal economic policies that have ruined the national economy you must ensure the revitalisation of agriculture, the exploitation of the bitumen resources and the development of the Olokola port in the state.
“You must not only plug the leakages, but you must also frontally fight corruption so as to conserve the limited resources of the state for the good of the people especially massive investment in education, healthcare and infrastructure”.
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OUR EXPECTATIONS FROM AKEREDOLU
Kinsmen of the new Ondo State Governor Rotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN), who was inaugurated yesterday, have enumerated what they expect from their man, who is taking office 37 years after Owo-born Pa Adekunle Ajasin became
governor of the state (1973-83). LEKE AKEREDOLU reports.THE people of Owo, the hometown of the new governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, are still in cloud nine over the good fortunes of their kinsman. With their son in the saddle, the people have become very hopeful of a good turnaround in the lives of the people of the state. Interestingly, in 2012, when Akredolu first ran for election, he lost his polling unit to the incumbent governor, Segun Mimiko.
According to the result of the poll, at Owo, Unit 6, ward 5, polling unit, Akeredolu had 139 votes, while the LP, Mimiko’s party, had 144 votes. Four years on, the homeboy finally had his kinsmen rooting for their son. And the result from his polling unit was good proof of the people’s readiness to see their son as the next landlord of the Alagbaka Government House. Akeredolu won by a landslide in his polling unit in Oke with 413 votes, leaving his closest rival, the PDP, with a mere 13 votes, while the AD had four votes. Akeredolu, scored 244,842 to defeat two of his closest rivals, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] and Chief Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy [AD], who both got 150,380 and126,889 votes respectively.
Expectedly, the dancing and rejoicing began immediately after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Akeredolu as the winner of the election and the governorelect. Since then, the ancient town of Owo, in the northern senatorial district of Ondo State, has been agog with victory songs and celebration. Everywhere you turned in the town, the people gather in groups discussing their ‘good fortune’ about 37 years after another son, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, won election as the first civilian governor of the old Ondo State between 1979 and 1983. Pa. Joseph Afolabi, a retired teacher who is in his late 80s, was as excited as any other indigene of Owo over the fortune of his kinsman. The Octogenarian, who claimed to be a devoted follower of Ajasin, said he was excited because the people had for a long time prayed for another kinsman, after Ajasin, to become governor of the sunshine state.
He said: “From the result released by INEC, you will observe that it was only from Owo that Akeredolu got the highest number of votes of 32,889. What that means is that our people were determined to produce the next governor. “Akeredolu did not just win the election; he won 14 out of the 18 local government areas. We are very happy, and since that time, we have been celebrating the victory.” He urged the governor-elect to build on the legacies of Ajasin, which he claimed remains the yardstick with which successive governors in the state have been judged. “Ajasin was a father of all and the governor of all. Ekiti was part of Ondo State then and there is nowhere you go to that people will not speak well of Ajasin. He was successful as a father and a governor.
He did very well. He had only one term and he started the second term when the military took over. “I was very close to him and he was a very straight forward and hardworking man and we are proud of him. “About 32 or 33 years now, we never had anybody as a speaker from Owo; even as commissioner, hardly do we have. Apart from the time of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, when he appointed one or two of them for some time, but later removed them. That was why we were very determined to have somebody from Owo as governor.’’ On his expectations from Akeredolu as governor, Afolabi said: “Everybody will be very happy first that our son has become a governor, and then the official language at Alagbaka will be Owo, not Ondo any longer.
“I am a pensioner and I think the first thing he should do is to clear the backlog of pension arrears. I sympathise with him on how he will get the money. Akeredolu is a man who promises and never fails, and I believe he will fulfill his electoral promises.” On how he wants Akeredolu to impact on Owo community, the Octogenarian said: “It is the duty of Olowo of Owo, Oba Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi. Olowo told us when we had a meeting with him. He said you people should go to Ondo and see. He said I want you to bring Owo to the standard of Ondo. “Ondo has got to their peak: my wife is from Ondo and I have told her this. It is the turn of Owo and I pray that by God’s grace, Akeredolu will impact positively on our town. “Look at the road Mimiko constructed for us. He promised to construct the road from the Emure Junction to Joks Junction, but he started from Amadiya and stopped at Baba Conway’s house.
There is no light, no beautification on that road. We want a solid beautification that will return the old glory of Owo. Anybody would love to visit Owo during the time of Baba Ajasin.” Also speaking, the Obajerewa of Owo Kingdom, Chief Mrs. Christiana Famolagun, who is already in her early 90s, commended other local governments for throwing their support behind Akeredolu. Famolagun, who said she served on the board of the arts and culture council during Ajasin’s administration, appealed to the governor to establish industries in his home town. Sixty-two-year-old Agboola Obagade said he believes that Akeredolu will transform the state with his five cardinal points. Obagade urged the new government to work on how to utilise all the yet-to-be tapped resources in the state.
“This particular state is blessed naturally. If we can tap all the resources, we will have money and the Internally Generated Revenue [IGR] will surely go up and we will not wait for allocation from the Federal Government before we pay salaries. “Akeredolu said that another person is bringing refinery to the state and that one will surely employ people. Unlike the former governor who allowed the state to miss the opportunity of establishing a refinery in the state to Lagos State. “I believe Akeredolu will give Owo a facelift. Look at our roads, no streetlight. I know other local governments may be jealous about us, but I am not saying he should put everything in Owo.
I believe they will also benefit immensely from his administration,” Obagade said. A chief from Iyere-Owo, Kadri Olamute, said Akeredolu will do most of the work that his predecessor could not do. “There were many companies in Ondo State that were established by late Ajasin. Unfortunately, most of them have been abandoned. But Akeredolu will never leave all these companies unattended to. He will resuscitate most of them. “We have Oluwa Glass, if that company were to be in operation, do you know the number of people that would be employed? Akeredolu should ensure that the road from Emure-Irele, which has been abandoned, is constructed immediately he settles down. In Owo, there is no constant power supply and whatever he thinks he can do about it, he should do it.
“Most of our children are unemployed. I have some graduates in my house that I am feeding with my little stipend as a retiree. This is not supposed to be so. If he can create jobs, especially to engage the youths, some of the problems would be solved.” Olamute said that it would be unwise for the people to demand for the establishment of a university in the town because, according to him, a university is a capital intensive project. “Ajasin was honest to a fault. He related with the people based on merit. When we voted for him, the type of crowd that voted for Akeredolu did not vote for Ajasin in Owo. He got his highest votes from Ekiti, hence he established that University at Ado-Ekiti. “So, Ajasin paid back Ekiti people because they voted massively for him.
This time around, Akeredolu has the highest votes from Owo and he has to use it again to pay us for our support.” The Secretary of Ojomo of Owo-in- Council, Chief Yakubu Uwangen, lamented the hardship the people in the rural areas face in their quest for their daily bread. According to him, the people of the Ijebu Owo area of the town get their water from the Ose stream, a situation he describes as shameful. He urged the governor to provide potable water and good roads for the people of the area. According to Rev. M.A Fabuluje, the governor has promised the people of the state that there will be positive change, and they are looking forward to the fulfillment of the promise. Mallam Yakubu Aralepo, a retired court registrar, described Akeredolu’s victory as an act of God. Aralepo said Ajasin used his first tenure to serve the people of the state without doing much for Owo, with the hope that during his second term, Owo people will benefit more. He said he hoped that Akeredolu will be there to do for Owo all that Ajasin could not do for them.
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Akeredolu’s inauguration speech: I see hope for redemption
Full text of inauguration speech by new Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
Humbled by the uncommon kindness of the Almighty God and an unequivocal expression of preference by the good people of Ondo State, exemplified by the victory of our great party at the last gubernatorial election, I am extremely delighted to share with you all the joy of this day of glory.
We are grateful to Almighty God for granting this state such a beautiful day and a beautiful moment like this. I thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of our great party, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for his leadership and unwavering stance to support what is just and noble.
Today’s celebration would, perhaps, have been impossible without his steely disposition to always stand against all acts not in consonance with decency, probity and justice. I thank the President of Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
I thank all APC Governors who stood to be counted with us in our hour of need andother eminent Nigerians too numerous to mention. An especial reverence must be reserved for our indefatigable party chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, whose strict adherence to lofty principles and doggedness laid the foundation for our resounding victory at the polls.
This exemplary leader behaved like a true elder, whose sagely presence in the village square not only professed rectitude but acted it, resolutely, affirming nobility of the human spirit. Our party benefitted, tremendously, from his vast experience in public service. We are eternally grateful. The verdict of history shall be kind to him. Akeredolu takes oath of office as new Ondo state Governor We express our profound appreciation to all the leaders of the party, at the national, state, local government, ward and unit levels, for their untiring and selfless efforts during the election.
May I also use this opportunity to pay tribute to those who have served this state in this capacity, both living and departed, for their invaluable contributions to the development of the state. On behalf of our State, I pay tribute to Governor OlusegunAbdulramanMimiko for his several years of service toOndo State. I thank all our guests and friends both far and near who have taken it upon themselves to be here or sent words.
I thank all citizens of Ondo state, particularly our resilient youths and women. I come to you this day, with a message of hope, a clear agenda of prosperity and a vision of life abundant. I believe the greatest expression of faith in our ability is to be strong enough to look upon our imperfections and decide that it is in our power to remake our society to align with our highest ideals.
We can rise out of this dust and build a new Ondo state where honesty, prosperity and confidence can once again be our self-identity. We can pull ourselves by the bootstraps and shake off our current frustrations and disappointments. We must recognise the need for a cohesive platform, indispensable to an effective and efficient implementation of policies and programmes of both government and party, respectively. Divergence of opinions is integral to party politics.
We are bound to disagree as politicians but we must cast aside bitter recriminations and destructive predilections. Democracy thrives on infinite multiplicity of ideas. Popular participation is one of its fundamental norms. The subordination of individual preferences for the collective will is essential if we are to avoid anarchy. Party supremacy should be respected at all times.
This should not be difficult for us to accept if we are truly desirous of bringing about positive change in the lives of our people. We listened to the voices of our people in the course of our campaigns to all the nooks and crannies of the state. We heard themloud and clear through their votes. We witnessed, first hand, the deplorable conditions under which they exist. To those who cast their ballots in favour of our programmes, your trust is not misplaced.
We are determined to make the difference with the specific mandate of redemption liberally handed over to us. Those who expressed other preferences are no less patriotic. Before long their anxieties will be addressed, realistically. All of us will be involved in the reconstruction project. The collective interest of the state must be our paramount focus. Consequently,we stand before you to pledge, with the guidance of God and our resolve not to renege on our promise, that your welfare shall form the basis of all our activities.
To achieve this, the main mission of our administration is therefore to lead a patriotic, highly inspired and competent team to rescue the ship of our state. We intend to help rebuild our economy, resuscitate damaged infrastructure, restore hope and return our state to a prosperous land. We are determined as an administration to break down the barriers that have made stagnation possible.
We will break down the barriers to honest leadership, to comprehensive development, to physical growth and social security. These we intend to do through the promotion of transparent leadership, rule of law, extensive consultation, quality and accessible public utilities and social security; all in a sustainable manner. We acknowledge the enormous challenges faced by the state and the severely limited resources available to meet these ever-increasing and compelling demands.
In readiness for this enormous task ahead, I have two months ago inaugurated a Strategic Development and Policy Implementation Committee comprising of eminent and very knowledgeable Nigerians to produce and articulate a compressive change policy and programme blueprint.
They have since submitted their preliminary report. This blueprint is anchored on five cardinal programmes, which are popularly known as our Platforms for Change (JMPPR). These are: Job creation through Agriculture, Entrepreneurship and Industrialisation. 2. Massive Infrastructural development and maintenance. 3. Provision of functional Education and Technological growth. 4. Provision of Accessible and Qualitative Health care and social service delivery. 5. Rural Development and Community Extension services.
This platform for Change is erected on strong pillars, which consist of the core sectors of government activities that our blueprint lays emphasis on. These are Finance and Management of state resources, Health and Social Services, Infrastructure and Public utilities, Agriculture and Natural resources, Commerce and Industrial development, Education and Technology, Land, Housing and Environment, Women Affairs and Social Development, Youth and Sports development, Culture and Tourism as well as Information, Civic orientation and Mobilisation among others.
Our blueprint when unveiled shall explain in details our philosophy, vision, sectoral policies and comprehensive Programmes of action clearly calendared over a period of a tenure of four years. With this document our pact with the people will be clear, our path well defined and expectations clearly understood. In building the structure to deliver on our campaign promises, I come to you with a clear mind and an honest heart, to serve and give the very best of my ability to restore Hope and Happiness to our people.
I urge you to see hope the way I see it. I see hope with limitless boundaries for endless opportunities for all of us. I see hope for progress, stability and prosperity for all people of goodwill who are willing to contribute their quota to developing our state to a land of honourable, contented, smart, honest, diligent and patriotic people. I see hope for self-confidence, job security and increased commerce and economic production.
I see hope for redemption and renewal of our broken infrastructure, and social values. But make no mistake about it; our journey to redemption will not be without stress and undulating curves. There are mountains before us to climb. As we climb up these steep mountains. Sometimes we may trip or slip, we will get back up. We will focus on the journey. We will never stop. We will never stop. We will never stop. In the end we will reach our goal, which is to bring back jobs to our youths, food to families, safety, confidence and prosperity to this land.
For all these to happen, I am humbly going to ask ONLY one thing from you, good people of Ondo state. What I ask for is Attitude. We need to come with an attitude of belief and transformation. Indeed, in all successful cultures and societies, attitude is the spirit and driver of victory. Ladies and gentlemen, for us to see the change we all desire, we must be ready to constitute ourselves into change evangelists with exceptional missionary zeal to succeed. We must know that the man in the mirror is you and I.
We need to have faith and find courage in the words of the good scripture thats ays, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.” I believe if we combine these abilities with the force of Providence, a lot of great deeds will happen. We shall not subject ourselves to any specious and unproductive stereotypes, which find expression in the usual egregious celebration of the passage of time spent in office as achievement.
We will be too busy to notice the pace of the itinerary of the administration. Our state is particularly lucky. We have men and women of quality. We set the pace for others in the not too distant past. The country depended, to a very great extent, on our resourcefulness. We contributed, immensely, to the GDP of the country at a time when agriculture was the mainstay of the country’s economy. Our people were exemplars in virtually all fields of human endeavour.
The story is, painfully, different today. The fault, as the saying goes, is not in our stars but in ourselves that our fortunes have dwindled, considerably, and we have become underlings. We have transited, regrettably, from a producing economy to a basically consumptive society, which depends, almost solely, on handouts to survive. The resultant effect of this unproductive attitude is grinding poverty, desperation and hopelessness among our people.
It is a cruel irony that a state, richly endowed in material and human resources, wallows in inexplicable privation. Our unproductive taste has sustained the dichotomy between the rural areas and the urban centres. All attempts at improving infrastructural deficits seem concentrated at the capital of the state. Government intervention, where available, has been grossly inadequate in addressing the socio-economic challenges faced by the masses.
Our administration shall, decidedly, try to close the gap between the hinterland and urban centres. Real development can only be actualized and accentuated through an active symbiosis between the two, an understanding predicated on collaboration and co-existence designed for amity and progress. Our people will be encouraged to participate in the massive reconstruction contemplated by our administration in this regard.
Any honest indigene of the state must be disturbed by the crisis in the educational sector at present. The philosophy of education, conceived on the idea of functionality for improved living by our forbears, has been reduced to a routine certification ritual, the culmination of which is the award of certificates, diplomas and degrees to graduates who are left more confused than when they enrolled in school.
The unemployment crisis, apart from being a global socio-economic phenomenon, is self-inflicted. If education is the nurturing, training and mobilization of those who live in a society to confront the challenges of development, faced, primarily, by the people in that environment, the current situation confirms that we have since departed from that well-trodden path for a very long time now.
It is a big shame that a state, which was a clear leader in education in the country, now lags behind. It appears that our curricula at all levels of training have failed to produce experts whose contributions to the growth of the economy are needed. Our administration will strive to reverse this unfortunate trend by promoting functional education aimed at real development. We shall also revisit the issue of vocational training with a view to improving the skills of our artisans.
We recognize that the issue of unemployment is endemic. We equally understand that the greatest employer of labour, at a time such as this challenging period, is the private sector. The government will ensure that the environment remains peaceful and conducive for economic activities. In addition, we shall deploy considerable energy into agriculture. Through this, we hope to generate employment for the teeming youths. This administration will do everything possible to encourage investment in agriculture. Our youths must be ready for training necessary to kick-start this mission.
We must begin to deemphasize white-collar jobs. The era of unproductive civil service is winding to a close, gradually. The current economic realities make the deployment of the unemployed to other sectors, other than agriculture and rural development, unsustainable. We must train our youths to acquire entrepreneurial skills as a corollary to our programme on agriculture. The health care delivery system currently operating in the state will be sustained and improved upon. We shall adopt a deliberate policy to ensure that our people have access to health care regardless of their social status.
We intend, within the available resources, to provide qualitative primary health care delivery system to the rural populace. Health care centres in the rural areas will be accessible and functional. Our policy on massive infrastructural development will seek to open up the hinterland through our roads and waterways. Our state has the longest coastline in the country. It is unthinkable that all economic activities are restricted to land while our waterways are abandoned.
Opening up the hinterland will reduce, drastically, the perennial rural-urban drift and encourage our sons and daughters who live outside the state to consider returning home to contribute their own quota. The economic propensities of such a venture will be, unimaginably, exponential. We are all witnesses to the negative impact that our local economy has been subjected to as a result of over-reliance on federally allocated funds for even the most basic recurrent expenditure items.
It is high time that we looked inwards and come up with a solution that ensures we are sustainable and viable as a collective entity. We shall develop a comprehensive Development Plan that focuses on leveraging our collective resources and areas of comparative advantage for the benefit of our people. The plan will detail our philosophy and response to surviving in this harsh economic climate.
In addition to this, it will also take a medium term view to our economic development on an overall basis, and more importantly ensure that we remain consistently above board during economic booms and bursts. We will adopt a collaborative approach to get this done by ensuring that we engage with the other segments of the public sector, as well as the private sector in developing and implementing our ideas of transforming the economy of our great State within the shortest possible period.
All these lofty aspirations will remain a mirage if those saddled with the responsibility of implementing the decisions of the government do not support with dedication, honesty and patriotism. I acknowledge the very important role that the Civil Service has played, and continues to play in the development of our beloved State.
I understand the challenges, and these are quite apparent to those within and outside the system. We will work towards addressing these challenges in delivering on our mandate to our people. We particularly seek the support and cooperation of the Civil Service and all organs of labour. We will drive efficiency through capacity building and training needs assessment targeted at retooling our civil servants. Be rest assured that your welfare, training, capacity building and the overall interests of our people will be one of the highest pillars of our mandate.
We acknowledge the constraints that our current financial situation will place on our ability to deliver on our mandate. We however, believe that an adequate focus on transforming the current socio-economic status of our State will lead to substantial internally generated revenue for our State. We believe that Ondo State has the required resources – human and material to ensure our sustainability in the short, medium and long term.
We are looking at building on our existing relationships with local and international development partners. Many of them have been there for us in the time past, and we reach out to them, especially at the new dawn in the administration of our State.I am therefore using this opportunity to reach out to businesses, manufacturers, private investors as well as potential international partners. You are welcome to Ondo State.
We commit to partner with you in developing the economic potentials of our State for the benefit of all our stakeholders. The collective deployment of our resources, combined with those of our neighboring and sister States cannot be over-emphasized. Our administration believes that we can achieve a lot more if we work with a number of our sister State Governments to ensure that certain development efforts (infrastructure or otherwise) are channeled in such a way as to deliver maximum benefits for the participating States. We believe we don’t have to build or develop everything ourselves.
There is a lot we can gain if we harmonise efforts and resources to build enduring assets that can cater for the needs of every one of us. Security of lives and property shall be guaranteed. Our administration will protect all and sundry. We will act in the interest of everyone. We will be there for all. All those who will add value to governance in the state shall be engaged. We believe that the inputs and participation of every stakeholder is required for us to succeed and deliver our mandate.
We will provide numerous avenues for direct engagement with our people. Whether you are civil servants, market women, students, vulnerable groups, artisans, professionals, we will have specific means of reaching out to you to feel your pulse, and more importantly to seek inputs into programs and policies that will directly impact your lives. Ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed a brand new day!
With the assistance of the Almighty God and the good people of Ondo State, we hope to take the state out of the morass of privation, hopelessness and desperation. The welfare of our people shall be the fundamental objective and directive principle of governance in Ondo State. Your Excellencies, My lords, ladies and gentlemen and my good people of Ondo state, the hour is here and our Journey to Redemption commences now.
And to God Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth, the author and finisher of all things perfect and excellent I say: “Forth in thy name oh Lord I go, my daily labour to pursue, thee only thee resolved to know, in all I think or speak or do. The task thy wisdom has assigned o’ let me cheerfully fulfil in all my works thy presence find and prove thy acceptable will”. Long live Ondo State, Long Federal Republic of Nigeria. I thank you very much for listening. God bless.