ONDO State known by its sobriquet of “Sunshine State” is 43 years old   today. The state excised from the old Oyo State by the late military Head of State, General Muritala Mohammed in February 13,1976 through a decree has indeed come a long way in attaining this memorable milestone.

IT has witnessed tremendous progress in infrastructure, education, health, human and capital development. It has been 43 years of growth from a toddler and weather beaten state to adolescence, into adulthood and then maturity.

WHEN the founding fathers mooted the idea of creating the state, it was met with cynicism but with greater determination and enthusiasm, their vision metamorphosed into   reality.

TODAY,  the seed they all sowed has become the proverbial oak tree, a great state with great potentials. Kudos therefore to the founding fathers of the state like Pa Adekunle Ajasin,Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Baba Ayo Fasanmi, Olu Aina, Akin Omoboriowo and  Pa  Olu Akinfosile  and several others living or dead who contributed immensely to the creation of the state.

WE also commend the military administrators and civilian governors who have paid great price for the development of the state. We commend Wing Commander Ita David Ikpeme, Brigadier Estujolomi  Tuoyo, Commodore Bamidele Otiko, Commodore Bode George, Colonel Ahmed Usman,Navy Commander Anthony Oyearugbulem, The first civilian governor of the state, Pa Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Bamidele Olumilua, Adebayo Adefarati  and others who have done tremendously well in governing  the state.

IN the words of Martin  Luther King ” Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love”. Our founding fathers combined grace with love and what they have done will continue to be a reference point in the history of the state.

WE  commend their heart of love and soul inspired by service to the people. Their love for the state is what we all are enjoying in the state today.

AT the inception of the state, the founding fathers lived in ramshackle houses, sacrificed their comfort, time and energy to make the state what it is today. Their action of selflessness and loyalty should be imbibed by the youth of today.

NELSON Mandela, an icon of greatness says, ” A winner is a dreamer who never gives up”. The state’s founding fathers never gave up, today their dream has given birth to another state, Ekiti State.

WE salute the courage, sagacity, commitment and contributions of those who have governed  the state since inception till now. A good head and a great heart are always a formidable combination, those who have governed the state have combined both together, the result is what we are seeing in the state, as it continues to expand at all fronts.

THE HOPE calls on the state government to as a matter of urgency evolve a policy to develop the adjourning communities nearer to the state capital accelerated development.  Priority should be given to towns like Oba-Ile, Ijare, Ilara, Ipogun, Irese Iju/Itaogbolu to ease the pressure on the state capital and bring development to every sector of the state.

AGAIN we say that the Southwest Integration programme otherwise known as DAWN now trending among states in the region should be vigorously pursued. The integration should be an avenue to share ideas, rub minds and compete harmoniously with one another as it was done in the past. Ondo State should share ideas and programmes with others in the region to bring rapid development to the state.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, government should be brought nearer to the people as democracy is  about the people,  the reason  why it is defined as government of the people, by the people and for the people. The present government in the state must not detach itself from the people that voted for it in 2016. The relationship must be watered, nurtured to take the  state to the next level.

AS Ondo State celebrates her 43rd birthday, the people must key into the developmental strides and vision of the  present administration to take the state out of her unprosperous and comatose state to industrial studded one.

THE whiff of self  sufficiency being nurtured through Port Ondo, bitumen exploitation and huge infrastructural projects dotted  across the state gives  much hope that soon Ondo State will  join the league of plushy  states in the country.

HAPPY  birthday Ondo State.