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Tag: ONDO

  • Gunmen shoot police officer in Ondo

    A policeman, Corporal Michael Olujimi,  was shot yesterday by unidentified gunmen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olujimi, who is battling for his life, was found in a pool of his blood, about 5:30 am.

    It was gathered that Olujimi was to resume at the Okitipupa Police Division in  Ondo State.

    A sympathiser, who pleaded for anonymity, told NAN the gunmen mistook the policeman for someone else.

    “He was going to the station when the incident happened. We met him in a pool of his blood and we called the station,” he said.

    The Divisional Police Officer, Oluwole Ojo, said he could not comment as he had not been briefed.

  • Ondo’s House of crisis

    Ondo’s House of crisis

    The crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly has escalated, with two Speakers laying claim to its leadership. Efforts to resolve the logjam by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which controls the majority in the House, have hit the rocks. Correspondent DAMISI OJO examines the implications of the crisis for parliamentary unity and decorum as the state eagerly awaits the inauguration of a new government.

    There is no end in sight to the crisis rocking the Ondo State House of Assembly. The two legislators parading themselves as speakers are flexing muscles. Efforts by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to halt the strife and rancor has failed.

    In the past, particularly during the era of former Olusegun Agagu, the House of Assembly along Igbatoro road, Akure, the state capital, was a beehive of activities.

    The legislators from the respective constituencies were pragmatic and vibrant. Chairmen and members of various House Committees took their oversight functions seriously. The former Parliamentary Liaison Officer (PLO), Hon Ola Oguntimehin, was up to the task.

    Lawmakers engaged in robust debates and arguments on the floor of the House, leading to the passage of useful bills and motions that had positive effects on the lives of the people. Everything was in order. The welfare of the lawmakers was paramount to the executive arm. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case now because of the dormant situation at the Assembly.

    The ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) has 21 members while the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has five members. However, unlike in the past, the Eighth House is in deep slumber. Its leadership has been accused of loyalty to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, which observers said was not good for the House.

    The house is not at peace with itself. Majority of the legislators, even in the ruling PDP, are not happy with way things are going. They have complained that their welfare was not well attended to by the executive; no funds, no official cars, no comfortable offices to enhance better performance of the members.

    The five opposition members are powerless. They could not resist the House’s leadership style. They only grumble in silence.  Their aides complain that their principals are suffering. Observers are of the view that the executive arm had successfully weakened the House and put it in a tight corner.

    Lawmakers could not invoke impeachment against the governor. When it was attempted in the past, the plot collapsed like a park of cards. They were stopped by Mimiko, who deployed his arsenal.

    However, less than a month to the inauguration of the administration of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), 26 lawmakers met and removed the Speaker, Princess Jumoke Akindele.

    Akindele, a PDP member, is from Okitipupa Constituency, South District. Also, the House impeached the Deputy Speaker, Fatai Olotu from Akoko Division, North District and the Majority leader, Dayo Akinsoyinu, who is the most senior legislator in the House.

    The action was reportedly carried out in the evening of that day. It was learnt that after the swearing in of a new Speaker, Malachi Coker, by the Clerk, Bode Adeyelu, the lawmakers quickly adjourned sitting. They had the mace with them. Twenty of the 26 members allegedly signed the impeachment paper and 14 were present during the impeachment.

    The Assembly had been embroiled in crisis since March, last year when Akindele and Olotu were first impeached over alleged gross misconduct and financial impropriety.

    Some lawmakers alleged that the Speaker withdrew N15m from the House of Assembly’s coffers without the approval of the paymaster, Makanjuola Adesina.

    The aggrieved faction elected Coker from Ilaje Constituency One as Speaker. Ayo Arowele from Owo Constituency One was elected as the Deputy Speaker.

    Now, two factions are laying claim to the leadership of the House.

    The spokesman of the House, Siji Akindiose, dismissed the impeachment, describing it as an exercise in futility. According to him, the faction, led by Coker, needed no fewer than 18 to effect any lawful removal of the Speaker and other principal officers.

    He added: “To orchestrate such illegality, they blatantly took recourse to the travesty to the known rules and convention of the House.

    “Expecting it to stand shows clearly that some people are either power drunk or they are incapable of understanding or appreciating the fine ethos of the rules of the House and the rule of law. To even attempt to enforce their ill-advised will on the majority of the House in such a callous manner is a pointer to the kind of leadership style they plan to provide”.

    Akindiose said the fund being paraded by the aggrieved lawmakers as fraud was meant for the project execution, adding that they were properly appropriated for and approved by the leadership of the house.

    The spokesman for Coker faction, Ogundeji Iroju, said the impeachment was legitimate because of the gross misconduct of Princess Akindele. He alleged that N15m was found with the paymaster of the House, Makanju Adesina.

    He said an emergency plenary session was convened after the paymaster was arrested with the money, leading to the impeachment of Akindele and the swearing in of Coker by the Clerk.

    Iroju said there was no going back on the impeachment of Akindele and other principal officers.

    The impeachment was reminiscent of last year’s plot against the principal officers, an action that was reversed 24 hours after the intervention of Mimiko and other PDP leaders.

    The paymaster, Adesina, said he was issued a cheque of N15m by his boss, the Director of Accounts (DA), to cash the money at Stanbic Bank. He said after collecting the money from the bank, the DA instructed him to move the cash to the Assembly’s Complex as usual for further directive on how to disburse it through his office as slated in his official schedule of duty.

    However, Adesina said the moment he left the bank, he noticed a car trailing him while he made a frantic effort to get the House of Assembly to avoid being robbed. But, he said he later discovered that they were lawmakers.

    He said before I could move the cash into his office, about 13 members of the House bombarded his car and ordered him to carry the bag containing the cash from his car.

    Adesina said they took his pictures and treated him like a common criminal for doing his lawful duties.

    The paymaster urged the police, rights activists and other relevant bodies to rise up to condemn the act and assist in bringing restoring his dignity.

    Sources said the governor had intervened into the crisis, but no without success.

    The APC, which was accused of being the brain behind the crisis, debunked the claim through its spokesman, Abayomi Adesanya, saying the development was an attestation of the looting spree by the state government and its agencies.

  • Police quiz Ondo lawmakers

    Police quiz Ondo lawmakers

    The police in Ondo State have quizzed House of Assembly “Deputy Speaker” Ayo Arowele.

    Also invited for questioning were the Clerk and some senior officials  of the Assembly.

    It was learnt the police were in search of the mace allegedly taken by Arowele.

    The police were ordered to recover the mace. A source said Arowele was interrogated for several hours and he reportedly promised to return the mace.

    It was gathered Governor Olusegun Mimiko met with some lawmakers on how to resolve the crisis.

    Sources said embattled Speaker Jumoke Akindele and her deputy, Fatai Olotu, attended the meeting.

    Although details were not known, it was learnt that no resolution was reached.

    A member of the faction that purportedly sacked Akindele and others, Deji Iroju, yesterday said there was no going back on their removal.

    Iroju, a former commissioner, quoted Section 92 of the 1999 Constitution that emphasised on 2/3 majority to carry out impeachment of any officer.

    Speaking on Adaba FM radio programme, Iroju, who represents Odigbo, said 20 members signed the impeachment paper and 14 lawmakers were present during the impeachment, adding that the action was final.

    He accused the House leadership of financial misappropriation.

  • Ondo contractors rush to meet deadline

    Contractors in Ondo State are rushing to meet deadline of projects ahead of the February 24 handover.

    It was gathered that the government had released funds for their completion .

    The accident-prone ‘Okealabojuto hill’ in Ikare-Akoko and the Okeagbe-Arigidi- Ikare Road are now receiving prompt attention.

    Another project is the Ajowa-Ikaram -Erusu-Arigidi-Ikare Road awarded over four years ago.

    On Okealabojuto and Ajowa roads, contractors were on site, leading to speculations that the projects may be inaugurated before the exit of the Olusegun Mimiko administration.

    Similar work is going on at the Oba-Ile- Akure -Airport Road, where contractors are working to beat the deadline.

    A community leader in Okeagbe, Owolabi Abannikanda, said completion of the projects, including Okeagbe-Arigidi- Ikare Road, would excite the people and serve as parting gift for residents.

    Another community leader in Afin-Akoko, Ibrahim Kilani, bemoaned the neglect of Okeagbe- Afin- Eshe to Ogbagi Road, which was awarded by the late Adebayo Adefarati’s administration and re-awarded by the late Olusegun Agagu’s administration and abandoned since then.

  • Ondo: Akeredolu promises inclusive governance

    Ondo: Akeredolu promises inclusive governance

    Ondo State Governor-elect, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, has assured traditional rulers in the state that his administration will partner with them to ensure they are integrated in the scheme of things.
    Akeredolu who was represented by the deputy governor-elect, Agboola Ajayi, gave the assurance at a thanksgiving programme organised by 130 crown club made up of grade B and below monarchs in the state held at Alade Idanre in Idanre local government.
    Akeredolu noted that the incoming administration will have a robust relationship with the traditional institution.
    Dignitaries at the event included ; deputy chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Ade Adetimehin, governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the last election , Olusola Oke, Saka Yusuf Ogunleye, Yemi Olowolabi, Ojo Alalabiaye , Bamiduro Dada and Sola Ebiseni.
    Akeredolu said his incoming administration will build a lasting relationship with the traditional rulers in order to integrate them into the government.
    He said the place of the traditional institution will be respected, saying the monarchs deserved to be commended for securing their communities peacefully.
    According to him, the government will create an important role for the traditional rulers in the incoming government .
    He said “Ondo state , being a Yoruba state, we cherish age and authority, and our traditional institution must be respected
    “We will accord our traditional rulers all the respect , their roles cannot be undermined , if you observed critically, you will also understand that Ondo state has been very peaceful in terms of securing the environment , we give the credit to the traditional rulers
    “They are the custodian of our culture and they are in charge of our community, we are going to work with them to ensure that Ondo state continue to enjoy the peace its witnessing now
    “At the local government level , at the state level , they will be fully involved in the government , they will be part of the government , they will be fully integrated into the government ” .
    Earlier at the Church service , the Bishop of Akure Diocese , Rt. Rev Simeon Borokini Bishop of Akure Diocese charged the traditional rulers to ensure they record good history during their reign.
    He warned them not to allow politicians use them for political reasons , saying politicians are the cause of divisions among the traditional rulers.
    The cleric also noted that the country is in dire need for leadership, stressing that leadership starts with the traditional institution. Bishop also urged the monarchs to always seek the face of God in all their doings.

  • ‘Why Ondo ACPN members were expelled’

    The governorship candidate of the llied Congress of Nigeria (ACPN) in last year’s governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Adetunwo Ogunjumelo, has justified the expulsion of the party chairman, Bosun Omosule.

    Ogunjumelo said the allegations against Omosule, particularly on  anti-party behaviours and mismanagement of party funds, led to his expulsion from the party.

    He said: “Leaders and party supporters across the state resolved to expel the chairmanhim based on his alleged anti- party activities of romancing candidates of two major parties in the state and pretended to be too smart”

    “The decision of the party members and the executive is supreme and must obey the order with immediate effect.

    The ACPN flag bearer alleged that Omosule collected the sum of N1.42m from him as security allowance, which he diverted for his personal use.

    Omosule had since last week been expelled from the party. But, he insisted that those who purportedly sacked him were not party executives as required by the law the and constitution of the party.

    The embattled chairman added that the National Executive Committee(NEC) of the ACPN had cleared him of the allegations.

  • Ondo, this is our chance

    At a recent conference called by some Yoruba elders to discuss an agenda for regional development, I advocated a return to Awoism or Democratic Socialism as had been christened by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. It was on the platform of this philosophy that the Great Awo excelled as Premier of the Western Region in the 50s and was acknowledged to have run the most efficient government not only in the country but also in Africa. If 30 years after his death and 57 years after he left Western Region administration, Awo’s administration is yet to be equalled in good governance, then there is a need to look back and see where we have got it wrong and repackage the act of governance as some European leaders did at the end of the Second World War in 1945, using the Marshal Plan as a road map. The Europeans socio- economic prosperity today is a testimony that those leaders had taken a wise decision.

    To Awo, the computer may be invaluable but has to be manufactured by man. Therefore Awo advocated for free education at all levels and free medical services for all explaining that “the more educated and healthier a man is, the more productive he becomes as an economic agent and the more useful and effective he is as a member of society”. If all these propositions are true, he said, “It follows that the education of and health of every citizen are indispensable to our rapid economic progress, political stability and social harmony”. Unfortunately, leaders after Awo have altered the constitution “to pamper luxury and thin mankind”. The revenue allocation formula has been reversed in favour of the centre that must now take over 50%, stomach infrastructure and constituency projects; outright stealing has replaced free education at all levels and free medical services for all; Primary School Leaving Certificate is all that is now required to become a President, Governor or Senator with a title of Alhaji, JP or Chief as an added advantage.

    Awo was   concerned with full employment. “To plan for less than full employment he said “is an admission on the part of Nigerian leaders that they are unequal to their admittedly difficult but at the same time inspiring and manageable assignment”.  “Who would be the unfortunate one to be kept out of employment?” he asked. Unlike our modern economic planners, Awo believed that government had business in business. He practiced mixed economy and economic self-reliance. He created industrial estates at Ikeja, Ilupeju, Apapa in Lagos and Bodija in Ibadan. The visionary Awo occupied the estates with government and quasi-government industries. He had established Government Trade Centres, products of which manned the industries. But today’s leaders are happy going to China, pockets loaded with ‘estacodes’,  to  inspect  technical schools; the type Awo had established  free in the 50s. He established Cocoa Marketing Boards in Ikeja where cocoa was processed for export, and farm settlements for those who could not go further academically to provide employment and promote agriculture .Farmers were so prosperous that they established a cooperative society, Cooperative Bank and built the first skyscraper in Africa-the 26 storey Cocoa House, Ibadan.  The Western House in Lagos remains a masterpiece. Criminals have occupied the vacuum poverty, ignorance and idleness have created. The money that would have been better spent on education and employment now goes for crime fighting, the rest, wasted and stolen. Why not? While Awo allocated land for industrial estates, today’s leaders allocate land for churches. While Awo created industrial estates for wealth, today’s leaders exchange the estates for miracles. Obasanjo “who never lifted a single stone” of development as Head of State and two times president is always excited to announce that he created 25 billionaires even though by  so doing  the middle class has been wiped out. While past leaders of Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia and Brazil are celebrating a legacy of economic prosperity, their counter parts in Nigeria are forming a band.

    As the focus of this essay is largely Ondo State, the government of the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin remains a reference point in good governance in the state apparently being a direct disciple of Awo. He established Oluwa Glass Industry in Igbokoda, Ceramic and Paint Industry in Ifon, Iree Bricks Industry in Ire, among other industries .He established Ondo State University, now Ekiti State University etc. If as proclaimed by the incoming governor Oluwarotimi  Akeredolu Esq., Governor Olusegun Mimiko has achieved much, there is still much more for the Akeredolu’s government to do. Like that of the late Ajasin, Akeredolu’s government must have business in business; he must embark on good governance and economic growth.

    While not underplaying the achievements of Mimiko, failure to pay workers’ salaries for about six months is a minus for the economic prosperity of the state especially for a state which collects 13% oil derivation. To regenerate and boost the economy as well as motivate workers, payment of salary arrears should be the topmost priority of the new government. This will stimulate demand and supply. Pursuing economic self-reliance, Oluwa Glass Industry, Ifon ceramic and paint Industry, and other moribund legacies of Awo and Ajasin must be revived to generate income and employment.

    The people’s welfare is the hallmark of good governance. In line with Awolowo’s philosophy of free education at all levels and free medical services to all, Akeredolu’s government must give priority to both. Education and health must be placed on first line-charge and 50% of fund received on oil derivation, devoted to their funding. Student loans of about N100,000 should be automatic for every student in tertiary institution to allow the children of “the poor and the poorest”, acquire education instead of giving their parents a paltry sum of N5000.00 monthly. Feeding of school children may be good, but it will be better to covert free food to free education at all levels. Today Awo lives forever, not because he gave the poor money but for giving their children free education and the parents, pipe-borne water, free medical services, electricity, good roads and “life more abundant”. The quality of education is not determined by big buildings in the name of mega schools. Mega schools should be discouraged for the simple types in Lagos State or the Agagu prototypes. Disadvantages of mega schools no doubt outweigh their advantages. In the next five to 10 years, the cost of maintenance may be more than cost of building them. If not maintained, they become dilapidated and may eventually be abandoned to prevent disaster. Every child is expected to attend school nearest his or her home for obvious reasons. Moreover, it is unwise to overcrowd students in a complex for security and safety reasons. The incoming government may consider turning these mega schools in the state capital to commercial buildings and schools, relocated to communities nearest to the students as it used to be.

    The incoming government must take full advantage of belonging to the political party in power at the federal level. To minimize accidents, federal roads across the state should become dual carriage ways as lasting legacy of Akeredolu’s government. If President Muhammadu Buhari would seek re-election in 2019, he must demonstrate that he deserves our votes; He must ‘dualise’ the Okene-Idoani-Owo road and Owo-Akure-Ore road, Akure-Ilesa road, give us a seaport at Igbokoda and complete the Olokola power project. Aketi, this is our chance, let’s make Ondo State great again.

     

    • Amoboye, is a journalist and political analyst.

     

  • Ripples over ambassadorial nomination in Ondo APC

    Ripples over ambassadorial nomination in Ondo APC

    Crisis has hit the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) over the recent ambassadorial nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A group within the party, the Movement Against Imposition (MAI), has called for the removal of the name of  Mr. Igbekele Daodu Jacobs from the list.

    Igbekele is a former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.

    He  defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a week to the 2015 presidential elections. He was allegedly involved in anti-party activities during the recent governorship election.

    But, the Itesiwaju Consultative Forum, Akoko (ICFA), lauded the nomination of Igbekele by Buhari and denied his involvement in anti-party activities.

    The coordinator of MAI, Austin Pelemo, and its leader, Mr. Saka Yusuf Ogunleye urged President Buhari,  and the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to intervene in the issue.

    Yusuf said: “I am a member of the state excutive of this party. He joined our great party one week to the Presidential election, after serving six years in governor Olusegun Mimiko administration

    “After the governorship primary, the man left for the Alliance for Democracy (AD). When Buhari came here to canvass for vote for our governor – elect, Igbekele was with Olusola Oke canvassing for votes for him

    “We realised that there must be discipline in our party and that Jacob Daudu must be disciplined for anti party activities and not that he should be compensated for anti party activity

    Also, another group, the Ondo State Progressives Youths (OSPY), faulted the replacement of the former Chairman of the defunct Action Congress (AC), Sola Iji’s name with that of Igbekele.

    Iji, who is from Ese-Odo local government, was on the first list, which was rejected by the Senate.

    The former Commissioner, who is from Akoko, has been named has his replacement.

    A statement by OSPY coordinator, who is also the former deputy youth leader of the defunct ACN in South West, Mr. Enas Muhammed, said those behind the removal of Iji’s name were unfair to him.

    It noted that Iji has paid his due in the party by remaining with the progressives without defecting to any party during the period they were in the opposition for 16 years.

    OSPY added that Iji had been a unifying factor among members of the party, who see him as one of their respected leaders.

    The group said the party national executive body had trust in Iji by asking him to be in charge of the then crisis-ridden APC Kwara State chapter.

    It added: “Iji is a party man. He had remained in Progressives fold without jump ship to another political party.

    “We won’t allow this injustice to stand. We are urging the President to have a rethink on the representative of the state.

    “We know their antecedent in this state and their loyalty is always in doubt because they are found of running around in order to reap from where they do not sow.

    But, ICFA, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Akinwamide Jayeola, said the Presidency took the right decision by removing Iji’s name from the list.

    ICFA noted that the federal appointments had favoured the southern senatorial district more than other districts.

    The group pointed out that the only minister appointed from the state, Prof. Claudius Daramola, is from the South and Ife Oyedele, an Executive Director on the board of Niger-Delta, is also from the South.

    “Moreover, the State Chairman of our party, Isaac Kekemeke and the deputy governor-elect, Mr. Ajayi Agboola, are also from the South.

    “We are urging those allegeding Igbekele of anti-party to come out with facts.

    “Apart from this, his appointment is beyond the party because Igbekele and Mr. President have been good friends when Buhari was still at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) as Chairman.

    “Also, the appointment is to serve as compensation for the people of Akoko, who have been marginalised” the group said.

  • Things are not rosy in Ondo, says Akeredolu’s wife

    Life of the governor-elect in Ondo State, Betty Akeredolu has said things are not working well in the state because of the economic recession plaguing the country.

    She, however, expressed the need for the incoming government to know the situation of things after the handover on February 24.

    Mrs Akeredolu made the observation when she hosted members of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation ((ASO) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The group presented to her a document containing its various activities towards the actualisation of Akeredolu as governor-elect of Ondo State.

    Receiving the documents which included pictorial album and detailed information on the work of the group, Mrs Betty Akeredolu said: “If you work, you claim it. What you did is exactly what is expected of you to do by telling us what your group has done during the gubernatorial campaign. I like what you’ve done; nobody can deny it because it had been documented.

    “From all indications, things are not too rosy in Ondo State largely because of the recession the country is witnessing. But it is important to see things first hand, after hand over on February 24 before making evaluation. “

    Mrs Akeredolu praised the group for its commitment during the campaigns and promised to take time to study the group’s documented activities.

    The group had earlier submitted same document to the governor-elect.

    Among members of the visiting team were Steve Bayode, Director of Media and Publicity, Ondo State APC, Femi Adu, Associate Prof. of Agricultural Science (FUTA), Adetola Ajagunna, Gbenga Musa and Odunlade Adekola, a leading Nollywood actor.

  • ‘How to restore Ondo’s lost glory’

    ‘How to restore Ondo’s lost glory’

    How economically viable is Ondo State? Why is it not living up to expectation as an oil-producing state? Does the state has a future? These were some of the questions a politician, Light Tunji Ariyomo, tried to proffer solutions to at the ‘Trace Annual Lecture’ held in Akure, the state capital, recently.

    The theme of the lecture was: Ondo in 2017 and beyond: Building a strong economy driven by 21st century technology and innovations. The guest lecturer said for Ondo to become a strong technology-driven economy, the developmental gaps that tend to stifle its growth must be closed.

    Ariyomo, an engineer and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said the incoming government should maintain a clean break from the past and make a difference in the Sunshine State.

    The politician alluded to a cloud behind the sunshine. Ondo gets N976.5 million Internally Generated Revenue monthly. The monthly personnel cost is about N2.26 billion. The allocation from the Federation Account monthly is N3.61 billion. Last year’s budget was N131 billion. Recurrent expenditure was projected at N76.7 billion, which was N6.39 monthly. In the face of various liabilities, including unpaid salaries, Ondo drew N14.69 billion bailout. At the end of 2014, the state’s domestic debt stood at about N19.26 and foreign debt was $52.68 million.

    But, the politician noted that Ondo’s potentials cannot be ignored. Its bitumen deposits are in commercially viable quantities and they are critical to the infrastructural development of the country. The state is also blessed with vast arable land, which can make cocoa farming thrive. “This means Ondo should have no business being in the company of states needing to borrow to pay debts associated with personnel costs,” Ariyomo added.

    In his view, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states are historically known for commercial cocoa production, being the power house of the Southwest economy in the sixties. Therefore, the watchword is diversification. As Ariyomo put it, “Ondo will need to come up with new fiscal strategies, including how best to diversify its crude oil powered revenue.”

    The state is not insulated from the national economic stress and strains. The decline in oil earnings has affected its share of allocation from the centre. With a debt profile of N36.88 billion by 2015, government also owed five months salaries to workers. Also, Ariyomo pointed out that “Obligations to contractors were threatened, many projects were stalled; some were abandoned.”

    The implication, said Ariyomo, was that Ondo hovered on the verge of not being viable. “Ondo State faces serious challenges, including the collapse of industries, unpaid salaries and pensions, and a high level of unemployment among the youths and the general population. The ability of the state to continually meet its obligations I crucial o its survival and the limit of its aspirations,” he added.

    For the state to remain competitive, the former governorship aspirant suggested five solutions. The state, he said, should gradually grow its stock of infrastructure to meet its current needs and make allowance for the future generation. The infrastructure refers to the critical social and public utilities that serve the needs of the common man, including transportation, education, health, security. “This is important to make life comfortable to the people,” he stressed.

    The state should also confront what Ariyomo described as the “paradox of energy poverty” and creatively fixed what has become a perpetual national embarrassment. “There are parts of Ondo State that have never witnessed five seconds of electricity in the last seven years. The politician did not elaborate on the mechanism for achieving durable power by the state. Power is within the purview of the Federal Government.

    However, his suggestion on agricultural development is lucid, but not new. “For food security and gainful employment, Ondo should embark on a deliberate and ambitious agricultural revolution programmes with the active support of the private sector, thereby taking the advantage of the natural agricultural value chain,” Ariyomo said.

    The former aspirant said Ondo should revisit and fast track the attainment of the original vision for the littoral part of the state as represented by the abandoned Olokola FTZ project and its deep seaport initiative, the Liquefied plant and refinery. “This will require adjustments to the original plan in view of extant realities and investment climate,” he added.

    Also, Ariyomo said the state should deliberately grow indigenous capability in technology and technology-enabled businesses through well-crafted initiatives that can spur the private sector as an effective enabler of growth.

    When is the right time for the stat to aspire big and unleash its creative capacities to attain these lofty dreams? Can this be done in this period of recession? Should the state wait for another period of oil boom? Ariyomo urged the people of Ondo State to learn from history. He said while it may be good or easy to achieve greatness in the period of surplus, history is replete with examples of nations and states that rose from the ruins of desolation and implosive challenges.

    “Japan rose from the ruins of World War 11 to become an industrial giant. Ruins and desolation became catalysts and enablers of growth. Our current challenges are disguised opportunities that can catalyse unprecedented growth. Our development will evolve steadily in the direction of our imagination,” said.

    What is the role leadership in all these? Ariyomo said the next governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) should be courageous to take the bull by the horn. He added:  “It is a function of the patriotic disposition of the leader, the strength o his imagination and the extent to which he or she would love to engage in unusual to attain unusual results.”

    Under Akeredolu, Ariyomo said the next budget must reflect the developmental needs of the people. He maintained that Ondo, and other states, can only survive, if they grow “indigenous capacities,” especially in the areas of meeting local and national needs and being globally competitive. “The current initiative whereby certain states and the Federal Government invite China for help in crucial areas is good as a temporary measure. We, like Malaysia, must however, maintain a robust contingency plan for learning and acquisition of the required capabilities of international standard to prevent the country from becoming or remaining a giant renter-property of China, whereupon China rakes in dividends of wise investments on a yearly basis and our people pay rents in perpetually on their soil,” he added.

    But, he urged him to implement the constructive proposals of the committee when the report is submitted. “I must commend the governor-elect for his vision in setting up a blue-print committee ahead of his inauguration. This is an indication the governor-elect is proactive and has no-go areas and he is ready to hit the ground running as the people’s governor from day one. It is my string belief that the committee will come up with the right solution,” Ariyomo added.