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How sincere is governor Akeredolu of Ondo state?

INTRODUCTION

One of the banes of governance in Nigeria is the level of insincerity among our leaders. We have a lot of problems in Nigeria due to failure in leadership and irresponsible followers of this great country. The governance in Ondo state has been relegated to a pitiable status. Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN who assumed the leadership role in the sunshine state for almost six years has bastardized all sectors of the economy beyond reasonable measure.

The hardship currently witnessed in Ondo state hasn’t been in existence since its creation in 1976. The opposition party has on several occasions accused Mr Governor of running the state like family affairs in which Aketi’s government has been termed trinity government of father, his son, and his wife i.e Aketi himself, his son, Babajide Akeredolu and his wife, Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu decide who gets what in the state.

The various associations of the Nigerian University system have embarked on industrial actions for almost five months, thereby collapsing all activities in our public universities. Several efforts from all and sundry to resolve the industrial disagreement between these esteemed associations and the Nigerian government have proven abortive. The recent solidarity support from the Nigeria Labour Congress with nationwide protests to force the impervious government of President Muhammed Buhari to yield to their agitations, took another dimension in Ondo state when governor Akeredolu tried to play to the gallery.

As usual, Arakunrin of Ondo state quickly condemned the prolonged strike action and its effects on the future of our youths of the nation, this statement was made through his special adviser on civil service matters, Mr Dare Araigbaye who represented Aketi to address the protesting universities workers.

HOW SINCERE IS GOV. AKEREDOLU?

Ondo state has been known for the unquestionable values we placed on education since the days of the Western region. The education policies of Action Group, the first political party of Chief Obafemi Awolowo were formulated by Pa. Adekunle Ajasin who became the vice chairman of the party and served in the national parliament in the pre and early post-independent era.

When this Owo-born political leader finally became the governor of the old Ondo state (Ondo and Ekiti state), he established many schools including technical schools, and Ondo state polytechnic (now Rufus Giwa Polytechnic) Owo, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ado Ekiti (now Ekiti State University Ado Ekiti). He (Ajasin) had a bad political relationship with the Alhaji Shehu Shagari-led NPN government of his days but never allowed it to affect his life-touching programs for the people of Ondo state despite the meagre resources at the disposal of this great political sage.

Today, the reverse is the case in Ondo state, Arakunrin started his misrules by increasing the school fees of state-owned Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko. Many students were said to have dropped out of this school due to this Aketi’s insensitive action. As expected, the students protested, but Mr governor never gave a damn. He also increased the school fees of other state-owned higher institutions in Ondo state.

All the members of staff of Ondo state-owned higher institutions recently released a communique in which Gov. Akeredolu was alleged to have turned all of them into beggars i.e pauperized them, because of irregular payment of their salaries. To support the claims of these workers, one of the legacies of Pa. Adekunle Ajasin in Aketi’s hometown, Owo i.e the state-owned polytechnic (Rufus Giwa polytechnic), its members of staff are currently being owed more than 12 months salary arrears.

IN CONCLUSION

I don’t want to bore my teeming literate audience who have taken their precious time out to read my articles, I promise to write on the failure of the education sector under the watch of Aketi in one of my subsequent write-ups. For governor Aketi who has failed in virtually all sectors of the economy in Ondo state to be solidarizing with labour unions on ASUU’s strike is nothing but a deception of the highest order from the Arakunrin. Until our leaders start to be sincere with themselves and the citizens of this great nation, we will continue to have bad governance like this current one of Aketi in Ondo state.

If no one has ever told Aketi before, I should use this opportunity to tell Arakunrin that governance hasn’t been this bad in the state. Nobody is enjoying the state except himself and his beloved immediate family members.

Dr. Akeredolu O.N. Leader, Aketi Medical Team, 2016, Vice Chairman, Aketi-Aiyedatiwa Medical Committee, 2020