When Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, was contesting the Alagbaka seat in 2016, many wondered if the job was really worth the rigourious tasks of campaigns all over the eighteen local government areas of the state.

The reason people wondered was because of the economy of the state which had already nosedive to the point that the Olusegun Mimiko’s administration could not pay salaries and allowances to the workers.

The onerous task of rejuvenating the soul of the economy of the state to where it was when Mimiko assumed office with over N38 Billion sitting fallow in the coffers of the state inherited from the late Olusegun Agagu’s administration, seems impossible.


It was clear to many that, Akeredolu would not be welcome into office with such huge amount of money. However, what was not really clear to many was that he would meet a whooping N220Billion debt.


November 26th 2016, was the date between Akeredolu and faith which has also put him on the wall of history of Ondo State. His election was adjudged freest in the recent past. It was litigation free.

February 24th, 2017, Governor Akeredolu was sworn into office amidst pomp and peasantry at the Akure township stadium. In his address to the people of the state, Akeredolu declared that he was embarking on a Road to Redemption.


WORKERS’ WELFARE

Ondo State is known as a civil servant state. In fact, the only chain that’s known to oil the economy of the state is the civil service. It, however, sounded like a tall dream when Akeredolu was using the issue of non -payment of salary to campaign in 2016.


It was one major area his adversaries had hoped he would fail. As at then, the Mimiko administration was owing salaries, months upon months, the civil servants were made to trek to work while others who own cars could no longer afford to fuel their vehicles. It was a bad time for the people of the state.

When Akeredolu assumed office on February 24th, 2017, he told the state workforce that his administration will not owe a dime. He also promised not to take salary as a governor until all salary arrears are cleared.

Today, the administration of Akeredolu has kept to the promise he made with the workers of the state. Since February 2017, workers in Ondo State have been receiving their salaries as and when due. Governor Akeredolu has also cleared months out of the seven months backlog of salary arrears he inherited from the Mimiko’s administration.


The Akeredolu’s administration has also paid the 2017 leave bonus and promoted over 7000 Civil servants in the state, Including the injection of over 50 administrative staff into the civil service.

Akeredolu has also been paying the sum of two hundred million naira monthly to offset outstanding gratuities owed retired workers and the sum of N800, 000 for the payment of car loans and other allowances.


Aside prompt release of the 2017 promotion letters to deserving workers, the Akeredolu’s administration also promoted one thousand eight hundred (1,800) primary school teachers in the state.That’s apart from the over 230 medical personnels that have been employed by the Akeredolu’s administration.


The Governor also appointed new Permanent Secretaries based on merit without the obnoxious practice which viewed all serious issues from the prism of ethnicity, religion and politics.


The verdict of the people of the state is that Akeredolu is doing wonderfully well in the area of workers’ welfare. His performance is not only a wonder but an incredible commitment to his words and welfare of the people.


INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

It’s often said that the only public good any government can do is to provide infrastructural development. When Akeredolu assumed office, the people of the state were pessimistic about any infrastructural progress in the state.


The people’s pessimism was understandable. The allocation accruing to the state was meagre due to a dip in oil price from its peak price of about $140 per barrel to about $56 per barrel. The people are aware that The Governor may even have to struggle to pay workers’ salaries, talk less of construction of roads.


The wonder that has filled the whole of Ondo State today is the attendant massive infrastructural development of the Akeredolu’s administration. In less than one year in office, Akeredolu had already constructed 3.5km Abusoro road in Akure, 3.328km Iwalewa 1, 2and 3. The government has also constructed 2.7km St. Joseph College Road, Lisa Palace in Idanre as well as Opasorun road and tree the rest.


In Northern Senatorial District, In One year, the Akeredolu’s administration had already completed the 2.5 km Lennon Jubilee – Solaco road, Ugbe and the construction if another 2.5 kilometer in Ifon,1. 5 kilometer Oke Afa Road Supare and 4.5 kilometers GRA road, Owo. This is apart from the governments intervention on the deadly Oke Oka where rehabilitation work was carried out to prevent the frequent loss of lives.


In the Southern Senatorial District, the Akeredolu’s administration has completed the Construction of 2.5km Sabomi – Ajagba Road, the construction of internal roads of the Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OSUSTECH) and completed the abandoned Ayeka – Irele Road.



Presently, there are ongoing projects scattered across the state which are daily progressing in work. Some of the projects include: Oke Alabojuto road and the dualization of Ikare township road, dualization of “A” Division – Akure – Ijoka road, dualization of 4.273 Emure Junction – AUD, Owo road, Construction of 4km Iyere /Igbe road, Owo , Construction of Iyere / Ipele road, Construction of 9km Molege Junction, Ute township road, Construction of Ijoka to Idanre road and reconstruction of 8.050 km Bolorunduro to Fagbo road in Ondo east local government.


Other ongoing roads project include: construction of 8.1 km Igbara Oke Ibuji raod, construction of 5.412 km Oke Ogba community road, construction of 5.569 km Gaga community, construction of 3.1km Igbara Oke Isharun township road and Construction of Alagbaka SIB – Appeal court road among several others. The government has also mobilized contractor to site to begin work on the Ore flyover as the government paid some of the affected properties owners compensations last Tuesday.


The Akeredolu’s administration has surpassed people’s expectations and impressed the people’s mandate. Already, over 50 km has been delivered in less than two years, the Governor has also promised to deliver 90km of road in his second year in office. Indeed, it’s an era of wonders in Ondo.

Babatola, a native of Ifon, Ondo State.


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