By Sunday Olugbenga Abire
Since December 27th 2023, when providence crowned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the seventh civilian governor of Ondo State, every week has been extremely filled with moments of decisions that impact positively on the well-being of the people of Ondo State.
One after the other, the clogs are being removed to pave ways for sanity and unfettered harmony. Diving through the backlog policies and procedures of government, which had hitherto suffered during the days of primitive politics cannot be a tea party. Injecting new ideas to cushion the inclement economic climate is another. Facing the distractions of hateful politicking and politicians within and without, especially as the state goes into an election is another herculean task.
How Governor Aiyedatiwa has meandered through these serpentine moments calls for serious understudy.
To rejig the civil service for optimum performance and set it on a productive pedestal, the governor has appointed the 16th Head of Service as well as Permanent Secretaries, who have been designated and tasked to turn things around positively in the Ondo State Civil Service.
In a related development, mainly to engender the smooth pace of governance, Governor Aiyedatiwa has formed his cabinet with the inauguration of six Commissioners and eight Special Advisers some days ago. It is expected that these carefully selected individuals will run with the vision of the governor at this critical time to ensure that Ondo State jumps off the economic doldrums ravaging the world. Top on the agenda of the new cabinet is the systemic and deliberate tackling of food shortage, rising cost of living, mitigating economic inequality and reducing unemployment.
Moreover, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s giant strides in education continued with his support of N1.2 billion at the second convocation ceremony of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, for the completion of abandoned building projects.
The governor assured that the university’s subvention of N91 million will be speedily released in order to avoid hitches in the day to day running of the institution.
He had said, “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in order not to bother you with much rhetoric, let it be on record that as part of our commitment to the development of tertiary education, our administration will endeavor to release the capital grant of N1.2 billion in the 2024 budget to OAUSTECH to ensure that before this time next year, the abandoned buildings of the School of Science are completed and put to maximal use. The institution’s monthly subvention of N91 million will also be given due consideration.”
Recognizing excellence and rewarding same, the governor offered automatic employment to the best graduating student.
It is gratifying that the people of Ondo State cherish the genuine and reliable leadership direction of their governor. This is evident in the unending declaration of support for his ambition to lead the state beyond 2025 from different tribes and tongues across the state.
Governor Aiyedatiwa started the week in the arms of Ondo kingdom All Progressives Congress leaders who declared overwhelming support for his ambition on Monday.
The leaders spoke unequivocally that the governor has shown absolute interest in the development of Ondo with the approval of N1 billion for the rehabilitation of UNIMED Teaching Hospital and the generous allocation of over N4 billion for the construction of bypass road in Ondo.
However, non-indigenes of Hausa/Fulani, Ibo, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ebira, Igala and Tiv origins thronged the Cocoa Conference Hall, Alagbaka, to endorse the governor to continue his purposeful leadership beyond 2025. Aiyedatiwa used the occasion to harp on peaceful co-existence, lawful living and assurance of inclusion.
He said, “We are all Nigerians with freedom to reside anywhere, provided we abide by the laws. We are governed by the same set of laws and discrimination has no place in our society.”
The governor received the concerns of the non-indigenes warmly as he promised to proffer solutions to the myriads of problems confronting them. He stressed the need to increase food security and supply in Ondo State as the fertile arable land will be put to use.
The wind of declaration of support blew unstoppably as APC leaders in Akure South endorsed Governor Aiyedatiwa. At the well attended meeting, which took place at St. James Caring Heart Mega Primary School, leaders of APC in Akure South didn’t mince words that the government under the leadership of Governor Aiyedatiwa has been their very best. The various speakers praised the governor for bringing Akure to a true status of a state capital, with his interventions shortly after he was sworn in as the governor.
As months become days, the overwhelming support from the people of Ondo State will never be taken lightly by the governor. As much as no thanks can be adequate for the trust reposed in the leadership of Governor Aiyedatiwa, the best recompense will be to tirelessly work for the progress of the Sunshine State.
•Abire is Special Assistant on New Media to the governor of Ondo State.
