This was contained in a communique issued by the group at the end of its meeting in Akure, Ondo state capital and signed by the Coordinator, Mr. Kunle Ajibogun, who accused the present administration in the state of inflicting hardship on the people of the state, through bad governance and policies since it came to power.
Ajibogun who condemned the recent protest by pregnant women at the State General Hospital in Akure, over an outrageous increase in the cost of services at the state government-owned hospital described the development as unfortunate and urged the governor to govern with a human face.
He said “We notice that pleasant news has not been coming from Ondo state in the past couple of months and feel the continued silence in the face of degeneration that has been witnessed by the state since Akeredolu mounted that the saddle of leadership is a disservice to our dear state.
“Pregnant women, with their protruding stomachs, had to protest last week before forcing the state government to reverse the outrageous hike in the cost of medical services in the state.
“The state government also last week came out with its decision to increase tuition in the state-owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, by over 500 and 800 percents.”
The group frowned over the state government decision to stop free education and introduce payment for West African Examination Council which subsequent government had been paying since 1999.
“The government had earlier stopped payment of WAEC fee for senior secondary school students. Free education has also been cancelled at the secondary school level.
“Another unpleasant piece of information reaching us is that the government has concluded the plan to increase Land Use Charges in the state.
“It is our opinion that the burden is too heavy for the poor people of Ondo state. We, therefore, urge Governor Akeredolu to give a human face to the way he governs the state.
“It is a lamentable irony that a governor elected on the platform of a supposedly progressive political party is destroying the much-cherished legacies of free and affordable education and health in the state.
“However, if the government is hard pressed and finds it unavoidable to raise the cost of its services, it must not do it in a way that will take education and health services beyond ordinary people of Ondo state.
“After all, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu promised not to increase fees in the state-owned higher institutions while campaigning for votes in the last gubernatorial election in the state.”
The group, however, called on traditional rulers and prominent indigenes of the state to prevail and advise the governor from “introducing policies that will add to the burden of the people and make life miserable for the people.”
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