From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The assumption of office of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as the sixth governor of Ondo State may have changed the political and administrative settings of the state. With the coming into office of Akeredolu many things are expected to change in the state, especially within the political circle.
Also, his coming into office will no doubt affect some administrative settings in the civil service of the state, as it was being rumoured that he may change all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state. It is expected that the governor would have his own choice people placed in certain offices.
Unlike other previous governors who announced the appointment of key political office holders within the first week of their inauguration, Akeredolu having spent more than two weeks in office remains silent on the constitution of his team. This situation is generating serious concern and worry among the people of the state, especially members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Regardless of the situation, people in the state have set an agenda for the new administration with many stakeholders in the state calling his attention to the need to ensure total fulfillment of all his campaign promises. The governor had during his campaign, promised rural integration and development, urban renewal, employment opportunities for teeming youths of the state, agricultural revolution, welfare of civil servants and pensioners, establishment of agro-allied industries, educational development and road constructions among several others.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , has urged him to ensure continuity of the programmes and policies of his predecessor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, declaring that Mimiko had set the pace for others who would take after him.
The party also warned Akeredolu not to trample on opposition parties in the state through his programmes and policies, saying that the previous administration had built a solid foundation for Akeredolu to build on for the success of his administration.
The PDP director of publicity in the state, Mr. Ayo Fadaka said in an interview that the new government of Akeredolu will succeed if it builds on the legacies and achievements of the Mimiko’s government, even as he warned Akeredolu against tampering with the existing local government administration already put in place across the state.
He raised the alarm that the present administration was already planning to destroy local government administration in the state, stressing that “we feel duty bound to alert the people of Ondo State of a planned attack on the 18 Local Government Secretariats across the state by members of the APC all in a bid to create an emergency situation which in their calculation will necessitate the dissolution of the elected administrations at that level of government.”
The PDP spokesperson alleged further that “this disingenuous action, if implemented, will only achieve a breakdown of law and order and cause trouble in the state, adding that “it is absolutely important to underscore the fact that we will not stand by idly and allow a government headed by a senior lawyer trample on institutions of state with impunity. The fact of the matter is that we have elected administrations at the Local Government level and therefore wish to state very clearly that they must run their tenure without any hindrance.
“We feel duty bound to let the general public know that rather than for the new government of Arakunrin Odunayo Akeredolu to do a proper evaluation of issues that are germane to the development of the state, it is merely interested in the pursuance of ephemeral issues that will not advance the frontiers of good governance but equally capable of causing a distrust within our society and also generate a crisis.”
Also, the party declared that “while it is ready to join hands with the new government in pursuance of programmes that will promote developments within our state, we will however resist vigorously any plan or plot to undermine the people and institutions.”
Fadaka added that “two full weeks have since expired since the Akeredolu government was inaugurated, and in spite of the fact that it had a post election three months to prepare for governance, the administration is still inactive, docile, unable to kick-start and remains not sure footed on what it intends to do with power.”
Besides, the PDP also warned Akeredolu not to create Local Council Development Authority (LCDAs) in the state, saying that doing so, would only cause unnecessary tension and political crisis in all parts of the state.
Also speaking, a member of the ruling APC in the state who simply identified herself as Mrs. Olanrewaju urged Akeredolu to ensure that he sets up his cabinet in no distant time to ensure proper development of the state, as she noted that development may be difficult if there are no people to manage different departments of government.
According to the woman politician “appointment of key political office holders is germane to the development of the state. The expectation of the people of Ondo state is high. They want to know who occupies each of the Ministries and agencies of government, so as to know what to expect from such ministry or agency of government. We need to know who to meet and ask questions because it’s not all the questions that the governor can answer.”
She also tasked Governor Akeredolu to use his political prowess and acumen to resolve the current impasse among members of the state House of Assembly for efficient government activities to commence in the state, saying that “it may be difficult for Akeredolu to do much in government with the current crisis in the House of Assembly.”
While warning Akeredolu against taking instructions from godfathers, she enjoined the new governor to embrace all members of the party in the state and leave vengeance to God for the success of his administration, just as she counseled him to ensure that he puts right people in offices, stressing that the success of his administration is dependent on the caliber of people that work with him at both personal and corporate levels.
Also, a civil servant, who gave his name as Mr. Oluwaseun Ayotunde said the major thing that civil servants in the state need from Governor Akeredolu is the prompt payment of their salaries and allowances. He therefore urged the governor to ensure that salaries and wages of all categories of civil servants are paid regularly to avoid industrial action.
Mr. Ayotunde who identified non-payment of salary as the major bane of the Mimiko’s administration said Akeredolu would see the wrath of workers in the employ of the state government if he fails to honour his agreement of prompt payment of their salaries.
He also charged the governor to pay the seven months’ salary arrears left by his predecessor, adding that “we have met with the governor, but he is yet to make any concrete statement on when the seven months arrears of salary left by his predecessor will be paid to us. We all know that government is a continuum and so Akeredolu has inherited the assets and liabilities of Mimiko, so he must look for ways of settling us in the interest of industrial peace and harmony in the state.
“During our meeting with the governor, he only sets up a committee to look into the ways by which the outstanding salary arrears and pensions of retirees will be paid. I am sure the committee must have worked on it. We expect result as soon as possible. This is a major task before the government of Akeredolu,” he stated.
In his view, an industrialist in the state, Mr. Reka Akin urged Governor Akeredolu to ensure restoration of power to Ondo South senatorial district that has been in total blackout for almost seven years. He also charged the governor to ensure that the people of the state enjoy uninterrupted power supply like other parts of the country.
“One major challenge confronting us in Akure and other parts of the state is power outage. Power is important to industry and unfortunately we don’t enjoy power in this state. We want the Governor to help facilitate adequate power supply. Many industries have relocated from Ondo State to other parts of the country and this affects our economy in this state. This situation if not nip in the bud will further drain our economy,” Reka said. He also called on Governor Akeredolu to reduce the taxes paid by companies and industries in the state to allow for gains, just as he called on the new governor to provide loan facilities for small and medium scale businesses through various financial institutions, saying this would develop the economy and in return bring development to the state.
He enjoined the governor to relate personally with the people of the state and make himself available to know where the shoe pinches the people, saying “the governor should live with us and relate with us for him to know our problem and for us to relate well with him. He should organize a monthly programme through which he will have feedback on the programmes of his government. This can be done through the media like Mimiko did during his first time that he featured monthly on radio and television and allowed people to ask him questions. This will be used to access or rate his government’s success.”
Also, an artisan, Mr. Boluwatife Fadeyi urged Akeredolu not to take unilateral decisions, but consult widely before he takes any decision that bothers on the state, saying many of his predecessors in office failed as a result of unilateral decisions.
Fadeyi who is also the state Auditor of the Association of Vendors enjoined Akeredolu to provide soft loans for artisans in the state, even as he called for convocation of an economic summit, saying “the state of economy of the state calls for urgent attention and this can be addressed through an economic summit. This will afford the people the opportunity to brainstorm, ask questions and proffer solutions to the economic problems confronting the state.”
He also charged the Governor to do an audit of civil servants in the state, saying that the state civil service is porous and there was an urgent need to sanitize the system for the success of the Akeredolu’s government.
This is just as he also enjoined him to appoint traditional rulers in communities where there are vacant stools, describing traditional rulers as custodians of the norms, values, traditions and customs of the people, especially in Yoruba land, hence, “the need to ensure that they are in place in all communities and also give them functional roles to play.”