Akeredolu: 100 days and beyond

ABOUT 100 days ago, Ondo State moved on to a new and exciting chapter of its chequered history when Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) was inaugurated as the 6th civilian governor of the South-West Nigerian State.With a renewed faith in the magic of new beginnings, people’s expectations based on Governor Akeredolu’s campaign promises have reached fever pitch in anticipation of a major paradigm shift that would raise the bar and take governance to an unprecedented next level of socio-economic prosperity for the broad majority of the people of Ondo State.

Governor Akeredolu, an original thinker with a very discerning mind was fully prepared for governance and therefore in a pole position to make quality choices on behalf of his people in the face of very limited resources. Despite being sufficiently knowledgeable about the copious and overwhelming challenges confronting the state, Arakunrin Akeredolu was ready to ‘’prosecute his conviction with courage.’’- That was his campaign mantra when he contested and won the NBA presidency about a decade ago. So, shortly after being declared governor-elect, about two months to his swearing-in, Akeredolu set in motion a game plan that would effectively create a new depth, tempo and progression in governance. This he did by inaugurating a 158-member Strategic Development and Policy Implementation Committee made up of distinguished individuals with sufficient pedigree, integrity and of diverse callings and competences, who were mandated to develop a coherent strategy in form of a blueprint, a sturdy pedestal for governance models and initiatives that would invariably foster sustainable growth and development in the state.

The blueprint, which promises to be equitable, accountable and inclusive, is an all encompassing strategic governance procedure anchored on five cardinal programmes duly tagged ‘’Platforms for Change’’. Uniquely, the blue print is clearly calendared to span the first four year tenure of Arakunrin’s administration. As revealed by the governor in his inaugural speech, these platforms include Job creation through agriculture; entrepreneurship and industrialization; massive infrastructural development and maintenance; provision of functional education and technological growth; provision of accessible and qualitative healthcare and social service delivery; and rural development and community extension services. So, consequent upon emplacing a solid foundation for good governance via the Change Policy and Programme Blueprint, the governor hit the ground running, walking the talk with decisive strides immediately after his inauguration. The totality  Akeredolu’s commitment to the people’s welfare as the focal point of his government was quite evident in his actions in the first 100 days in office. First, the governor found it a compelling need to comprehensively resolve the issue of unpaid seven-month salary arrears of civil servants in the state.

Sequel to this was the governor’s promise to pay monthly salaries as and when due from February, the month he was sworn in, while he set up a committee headed by the Deputy governor to come up with modalities for the payment of the salary backlog. The committee has since submitted its report, the recommendations of which are already being implemented to resolve the crisis permanently.For example, the governor was roundly commended by the entire workforce for matching his words with action when he recently directed that one month of the arrears inherited from the immediate past government should be paid alongside the March salary in order that civil servants could have a blissful Easter celebration. Next, within two months of his assumption of office, Arakunrin Akeredolu embarked on massive road construction and rehabilitation in the state’s three senatorial districts in fulfillment of his campaign promise of providing quality network of roads, especially rural roads across the state, which were hitherto neglected over the years by past administrations.

A fact-check reveals that these on-going road projects that government is set to replicate in all the 18 LGAs,  include among others, a major road in Abusoro in Akure South LG; a road linking Opasorun and Okelisa communities in Idanre LG; reconstruction of a giant Adagbon Bridge that links several streets in Oyinmo community in IkareAkoko; a bridge that links Isakunmi and Odoruwa communities in Akoko North East LG; a 2km Jubilee-Ugbe road and Oke-Alabojuto road in Ikare Akoko; a 2.5km Majare road in Idanre LG; Internal and access roads in the Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; the road linking Ilara-Mokin with Ikota in Ifedore LGA; the 1.6km road spanning Ogbomo, Ifedara and Howlet Lanein Ifon, Ose LGA, and Owo township road. This commendable effort by government no doubt presented a picture of pure, undiluted joy among residents of affected communities who were full of gratitude to Arakunrin for ending their nightmarish and tortuous journeys on these routes.

Governor Akeredolu also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the construction of a 50km Akodo – Araromi Road, which would link Akodo in Ibeju-Lekki LGA of Lagos State with Araromi in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State. According to the governor, when completed, the road would in no small measure help to unearth the hidden treasures in Ondo South senatorial district to the full benefit of the entire state. Another laudable effort worthy of mention here was the new administration’s unprecedented move to woo foreign investors and donor agencies to the state. About a month ago, the governor hosted representatives of governments of Britain, Australia and Algeria, multilateral agencies and donor organisations to a dinner in Abuja, the essence of which was to expose them to investment opportunities that abound in the state. Reports have it that the discussions were centered on the reactivation of Olokola FTZ, refortification of Owena Oil & Gas Ltd and Owena Energy Ltd, and resuscitation of moribund companies such as Oluwa Glass, Ifon Ceramics, Bolorunduro Timbers, Okitipupa Oil Palm Mills, Cocoa Processing Company, Ile-Oluji, Arigidi Akoko Tomato Factory etc.

• Ogunremi writes in from Akure, Ondo State