What Iroko’s Promised Ondo People

Fri, Mar 1, 2013

By publisher

4 MIN READ

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, starts a second term in office with a promise that he would not relent in his efforts to make the state a model for others

|  By Olu Ojewale  |  Mar. 11, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT

AKURE, capital of Ondo State, was agog on Sunday, February 24, as Governor Olusegun Mimiko was sworn-in for a second term in office. The grand occasion hosted political giants of different parties, captains of industry, religious leaders and community leaders, among other interest groups. Accompanied by his wife, Olukemi and members of his immediate family of three girls and a boy, Mimiko was sworn-in by the Olaseinde Kumuyi, the state chief judge. About 30 minutes earlier, Alli Olanusi, the deputy governor, had been sworn-in by Kumuyi. The eventful inauguration was the climax of a week-long event that included prayers in churches and mosques, a lecture and hosting of guests at a gala night.

In his address, Mimiko said in his first term, he restructured the education sector to produce “truly competitive and socio-economically-relevant products, who will be equipped to climb the social ladder,” with the aim of producing a vibrant middle-class that would drive development in the state. Rather than relenting, Mimiko, a medical doctor, promised that the next four years of his administration would bring “governance closer to the people by recording greater achievements on all fronts.”

The governor, who is nicknamed Iroko by his admirers, thanked everyone in the state for the support he enjoyed during his first tenure and promised that his second coming would enable him to serve the state better. He promised that he would not leave any abandoned project, and that the next four years of his government would focus on an aggressive creation of jobs for youths in the state through innovative and durable programmes that would engender sustainable livelihood. He also emphasised the need to keep the youths engaged so that they would not be involved in hooliganism, kidnapping and other vices.

Among the important personalities that witnessed the ceremony were two Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, governors, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Ibikunle Amosu of Ogun State who was represented by Segun Adesegun, his deputy. Governor Tanko Almakura of Nassarawa State, who was elected on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, was also in attendance, and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State from the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, and traditional rulers from both within and outside the state including Oba Okunade Sijuade, the Ooni of Ife.

Others were General Abdusalam Abubakar, former head of state, Aliko Dangote of Dangote group of companies, Great Ogboru;, Onyebuchi Chukwu, health minister; Oba Otudeko, chairman of First Bank Plc; Tunji Braithwaite, former presidential aspirant; Gbenga Daniel, Ayo Adebanjo, Rasheed Ladoja and Ayo Fayose, all former governors.

The rest included Olu Falae, former presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy, Bolaji Akinyemi, a professor and former minister of foreign affairs and Fredrick Fasheun, leader of OPC, among other personalities across the country.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was not impressed. It criticised the inaugural ceremony, which it described as absolutely elaborate and flamboyant and expressed the hope that Mimiko would soon be sent packing when the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivers its judgment. A statement issued by Ayo Fadaka, the party’s director of publicity, said Mimiko was only acting as an interim governor.

The statement said in part: “Despite the fact that millions of unemployed youths roam our state, Mimiko found it convenient to spend over N1 billion on a needless inaugural ceremony that saw to the invitation and hosting of various dignitaries from far and near, including the Diaspora.”

Mimiko was declared winner of the October 20, 2012 governorship election in Ondo State by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.