…say expectations high

By Jubril Bada

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Elder statesmen and religious leaders in Ondo State have outlined key areas of focus for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration ounce he is inaugurated in February 2024, for four years tenure.

The Governor-elect and the deputy governor -elect, Dr. Olayide Adelami had secured landslide victory in the historic and popularly acclaimed free and peaceful November 16 governorship poll in the state.

The eminent personalities who spoke with The Hope in seperate interviews, described the task ahead towards building the state as daunting, saying the challenges are many.

They noted that the people of the state are of  high expectations , providing a roadmap that prioritises education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, employment, and security , so as to achieve sustainable development and a lasting legacy.

Setting the agenda are leaders of the Yoruba pan- socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, including its State Chairman, Chief Korede Duyile, Chief Femi Aluko, immediate past Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ondo State chapter, Rev. Ayo Oladapo, Imam of Police Officers’ Mess, Akure, Alhaji Taofiq Akintola, and an opinion leader, Mr. Henry Olonimoyo.

They explained that the State education sector requires urgent attention, with many schools in need of rehabilitation, as well as the construction of more classrooms and the recruitment of qualified teachers.

In the agriculture sector, the leaders noted that Ondo State has the potential to become a major hub for cocoa, cassava, and palm oil production. They called on the new administration to come up with new specific initiatives to empower farmers with provision of modern farming techniques, high yielding inputs, irrigation systems, and fertilizers.

On infrastructural development, they suggested that the governor-elect should prioritise new road construction to connect underserved areas and complete the existing road projects awarded by late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

According to them, concentrating on infrastructural development, particularly, the rural roads, would boost food security in the state.

The leaders added that access to qualitative healthcare remains a challenge, calling on the governor-elect to strengthen the health sector, recruit more medical personnel, and equip hospitals with modern facilities.

The state chairman of Afenifere, Chief Duyile, who noted education as one of the cardinal programmes of the state, highlighted the need for rehabilitation of many schools, construction of more schools, and the recruitment of qualified teachers.

For quality health service delivery, Duyile appealed to the governor to recruit more qualified doctors and provide the necessary facilities to encourage them to stay in the country and practice their profession.

Duyile, who was a former member of the House of Representatives and ex-chairman, SDP, in the state, further advised the governor to focus on industrialisation to generate employment opportunities for the teeming youths.

He stressed the importance of prioritising security, noting that it is a critical issue that must be addressed within the limits of available resources.

Another chieftain of Afenifere and former Commissioner for Education in the state, Chief Femi Aluko, described education as a vital sector that the government cannot overlook.

He urged the governor-elect to ensure the regular payment of teachers’ salaries, as well as those of civil servants, and to recruit more teachers to enhance efficient teaching service delivery at both primary and secondary school levels and in government offices.

He also advised the governor-elect to focus on constructing roads in communities and cities across the 18 local government areas of the state, noting that this would bring innovation to his administration.

The Afenifere chieftain further stressed the need for Aiyedatiwa to make health services affordable for citizens, as the current cost of healthcare is unbearable. He said many citizens are struggling with health challenges due to the unaffordable cost of treatment in the state.

The former commissioner for education appealed to Aiyedatiwa to use his position to encourage agricultural expansion in the state, including in primary and secondary schools, to achieve food security.

He called on the governor to improve the security of lives and property by equipping the South-West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, as was done by former Governor Akeredolu, to curb insecurity in the state.

Rev. (Dr.) John Oladapo, former State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and current Chairman of the Bible Society of Nigeria, urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to prioritise the welfare of the people by transforming the State into an industrial hub.

He emphasised that reducing unemployment will help tackle crime in the society.

Dr. Oladapo advised the governor to create an enabling environment that fosters inclusivity, ensuring every citizen feels valued and unoppressed in their contributions to the state’s development.

He highlighted the importance of not sidelining women and youths, advocating for business-friendly policies and uninterrupted farming activities.

The cleric also stressed the need for a robust social security system, ensuring that all residents benefit from government programmes.

He appealed for particular attention to the education and health sectors, describing them as essential to the well-being of the populace.

On education, Oladapo called for affordable school fees at all levels to support families, especially those of modest means.

Regarding healthcare, he urged the governor to emulate former Governor Segun Mimiko’s initiatives, including free medical care for mothers and children, and to enhance the state’s health centres and Mother and Child Hospitals for improved service delivery.

Expressing optimism about Aiyedatiwa’s leadership, the cleric is confident the governor will implement transformative policies that will benefit all residents of Ondo State

Additionally, the Imam of the Police Officers’ Mess, Akure, Alhaji Akintola, urged the governor to remain focused and ensure that ongoing projects initiated by late Governor Akeredolu are not neglected.

He advised the governor to implement the payment of the N73,000 new minimum wage as approved.

While appealing to the governor to reconsider the high cost of school fees in higher institutions in the state, the cleric also urged him to elevate the School of Nursing to a full-fledged College of Nursing to produce quality nurses.

Regarding agriculture and food security, the Imam suggested that the government should re-strategise and develop new plans to ensure food availability for everyone. He also recommended improving the distribution of palliatives, ensuring they go to the needy rather than political office holders.

Equally, he urged the government to make foodstuff available to civil servants at cheaper rates, with the cost deducted in installments from their salaries at the end of each month.

To achieve progress in agriculture, he charged the governor to probe the whereabouts of the tractors purchased during Akeredolu’s administration for the 18 local government areas.

The Imam stressed that retrieving and utilising the tractors would make farming easier for farmers, encouraging greater investment in agriculture.

On his part, an opinion leader, Mr. Henry Olonimoyo, charged the governor to ensure that all pending government obligations, such as road construction, are prioritised and completed.

According to him, the government should engage in concerted efforts to improve power supply.

He also advised the governor to completely address the long-standing electricity challenges facing the South Senatorial District of the state.

He called on the governor to operate an open-door policy and ensure transparency in his administration by updating citizens on the status of the Free Trade Zone, which is jointly owned with Ogun State.