MIMIKO: A Disaster Packs His Load …….. By Wale Adetarami

I am not here to sing a dirge, no, it is rather too late, but to use this piece to chronicle the misadventure of Ondo State people in chosing Mimiko as governor who is now leaving the state worse than he met it with N160billion indebtedness, gross decay of infrastructure and 7months unpaid salaries. Though Mimiko did not become governor as an outcome of a direct election, he maneuvered his way through the court and used all weapons available in his arsenal which included forgery of security report.  On 24^th of February, 2009, he was sworn-in as governor following his victory at appeal court.

There was jubilation everywhere, a new dawn in Ondo State, people hoping for better governance, better dividends of democracy, employments, better educational system, better healthcare, infrastructural development,  provision of water etc all these later became figments of our imagination, for example, during the 8years there was no recruitment in the civil service. Soon as the new governor settled down to work, the real intention, the original agenda for Ondo State reared its head. First, it was time to settle those who financed Labour Party in 2007 election and the electoral tribunal. Within twinkle of an eye, the reserve of about N38billion left by the immediate past governor, Dr Segun Agagu was squandered, allocations due to the State from the federal government was next. Today, a governor who inherited N38billion in the treasury is leaving the state with debt of N160billion. We have asked questions, what did Mimiko achieve as governor of Ondo State? Yes he started a Medical University in his home town of Ondo, yes a

he built a dome, yes he built mother and child hospital in two locations in the state, Akure and his hometown, Ondo, yes he built Mega Schools, one in each local government at a cost of 5times more than the original , that is all. Ok ok, water fountain in Akure…..lol.  All these are way too abysmal for a governor who inherited much and also received much in 8years, and again these few projects were done with multiples of the original cost. I asked my friend from Irele, what your governor did for Irele people in 8years, he said he tarred Ajagba to Iyansan road, all in 8years?  Ondo South Senatorial District was worse off, the whole zone has been facing electricity blackout since November, 2014 ….wow! The University established by late Dr. Agagu has been abandoned; Irele/Ayeka road was not completed since 2009. This is evil. What of Oluwa glass, what is going on there?....Nothing. Okitipupa Oil Palm Company received huge share of negligence since 2009. These are organizations capable of employing thousands.

If you go to Ondo North Senatorial District, the story is not different. Negligence, abandonment, lack of consideration, disregard for people. All these characterized how Mimiko administred the region in 8years. The only senatorial district that has a faily good tale to tell is the central, Mimiko’s little achievements are concentrated there. University, Hospitals, Dome, Roads, Markets etc. His own Senatorial District, and to add pepper on injury, he wanted his successor to also come from there, that was where he incur the wraths of the gods and the supreme God. We all know how it ended for him.

It is time to say farewell to the evil that administered our dear state and dominated our political space for 8years.  As we welcome the new governor, OLUWAROTIMI ODUNAYO AKEREDOLU who takes over the reign this week. We wish him success and also remind him that he should be mindful of what people  will say or write about him, when his own time is up.

Wale Adetarami is from Ode Irele, he lives in Lagos