From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
A new chapter will be opened in the history of Ondo, today, as Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) will be sworn in as governor of the state.
Akeredolu, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and former commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state emerged winner in the November 26, 2016 governorship election held in the state.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko has already handed over to Akeredolu.
Chief Judge of the state, Justice Osoba will perform the swearing-in for Akeredolu and his deputy, Mr. Agboola at Akure city stadium.
Akeredolu defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) and 16 other governorship candidates to emerge winner of the election.
Mimiko formally handed over to Akeredolu and held a meeting with him at the governor’s office in Akure.
Born in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of the state, Akeredolu attended the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife where he graduated with a degree in Law.
He served as a commissioner in the state and contested the gubernatorial election in 2012 but lost to Governor Mimiko of the PDP. At the inauguration ceremony today, eminent personalities, including the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, are expected. Also expected are governors, members of the state and National Assemblies, captains of industries and politicians from across the country.
Meanwhile, the newly sworn-in governor has approached the Court of Appeal, Akure to upturn a judgment of an High Court sitting in Akure that barred the government from dissolving the local government administration in the state.
The governor’s appeal to the appellate court was served on the counsel to the 18 council chairmen and councillors by Mr. Olusola Oke, a lawyer.
The chairmen and councillors were largely elected on the platform of the PDP.
The High Court had, on January 17, ruled on a suit filed by the 18 local government chairmen and councillors, led by their chairman, David Alarapon, who is the chairman of Akure South Local Government Area, that the government, either by their agents or servants, had no right to remove the elected officials until their tenure lapsed.
Earlier, in his broadcast to the people, Mimiko declared he served them with the fear of God for eight years and called on the people of the state to support Akeredolu.
“At my inauguration in 2009, I made a solemn commitment to work for you, the good people of Ondo State, at all times and in all seasons. I enunciated a programme, underpinned by our campaign manifesto, which sought to bridge the gap between the government and the governed; bring succour to the blighted lives of the poor and weak amongst us; give a fresh hope to our women and children; upgrade our environment; and generally reposition our State for the good.”
“Eight years on, by the special grace of the Almighty God, Ondo State has not only done well, it has indeed become a benchmark across the globe in several of our well-conceived and well-delivered programmes. It is now time to go and turn over the baton of state to another governor.”
In the judgment delivered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, the court upheld the claims by Alarapon and 34 others, among who were some councillors, that the council officials were democratically elected to serve for a tenure of three years which would lapse on April 25, 2019.
The council leaders had approached the court to prevent the state government from dissolving, sacking, impeaching or removing the claimants from their respective positions, offices, duties, functions, powers and rights.
The claimants averred that anything to the contrary would contravene the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended.)
In granting the prayers of the local council chairmen and councillors, Justice Kumuyi observed that the “tenure of an elected councillors or office holder cannot be abridged or determined at the whims or caprices of anyone except the electorate.”
As a result, the court gave an order preventing the dissolution or sacking of the council chairmen and councillors in the 18 local government areas of the state.
On his part, Mimiko declared he served the people of the state with the fear of God for eight years.
In a state wide broadcast yesterday evening, Mimiko called on the people of the state to support Akeredolu.
Highlighting his achievements within eight years, Mimiko said his achievements cut across all the strata of the economy.
“At my inauguration in 2009, I made a solemn commitment to work for you, the good people of Ondo State, at all times and in all seasons. I enunciated a programme, underpinned by our campaign manifesto, which sought to bridge the gap between the government and the governed; bring succour to the blighted lives of the poor and weak amongst us; give a fresh hope to our women and children; upgrade our environment; and generally reposition our State for the good.”
“Eight years on, by the special grace of the Almighty God, Ondo State has not only done well, it has indeed become a benchmark across the globe in several of our well-conceived and well-delivered programmes. It is now time to go and turn over the baton of state to another governor.”
“We have done everything within our reach to help assuage the private cost of education and to also rekindle the hope of our kids in a government that has orientation for service. That perhaps is responsible for the fact that the regime of fees in all Ondo State
owned Tertiary Institutions remained the most affordable under our administration,” he added.
Continuing, he said “with a bouquet of programmes and initiatives, not the least of which are our Abiye Safe Motherhood programme, Agbebiye programme, the chain of medical care initiatives encapsulated in the Medical Village and on top of which sits the relatively novel University of Medical Sciences, our health care programme has undoubtedly enhanced the quality of lives of our people, rich and poor.