Written By Amudipe Opeyemi Marcus
Edited By Seyi Fasegha

The 2019 presidential election has come and gone leaving so much to talk about within the public circles of our socio-political system. Even as many will conclude that the results from each state is a testament of the things to come in the respective gubernatorial elections, it will be a hasty generalization to safely conclude, drawing inferences from the just concluded elections. Even though the People’s Democratic Party might have pulled a surprise, winning in Ondo State, nevertheless, it will be foolhardy to assume that the electoral result is a testament of the feeling of the good people of Ondo State towards the incumbent state governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.

It is no gainsaying to note the tremendous success of the Akeredolu led government, in the history of the state, the state has witnessed a great paradigm shift in development and economic growth giving the state a new positive outlook, creating a great atmosphere for investment and even growth and development.

In less than 2 years, the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, administration has shown total commitment to the welfare of the state workforce. On assumption of Office, Governor Akeredolu had promised that his government will not owe workers’ salary. Since February 2017 when he assumed office, his administration has been loyal to the promise. True to his words, the state governor has risen above the waters of the harsh economic realities, prioritizing the welfare of its workers by ensuring that their salaries are well and promptly paid.

Within two years in office, Akeredolu has kept to his promise of paying the salary arrears. Contrary to the expectations of some fifth columnists, the relationship between the governor and the workers is now more cordial than ever before. “The Governor does not view the payment of salary as an achievement; rather he sees it as a duty and responsibility of government.”

Through his infrastructural developments, Arakunrin Akeredolu is on the right path to redefining governance, reawakening progress in Ondo state.

Like no other administration before it, the government has kept to its promises by making both the people’s welfare and infrastructural development of the state its top priority

The road projects are evidential testimonies of Governor Akeredolu’s determination to implement all his campaign promises by executing projects that touch the lives of Ondo State people. The road rehabilitation and construction are spread across the three Senatorial Districts of the state. Some of the ongoing projects, 43 in total, include: Rehabilitation of selected roads in Ifon; construction of GRA dualisation road(2.5km) in Owo; dualisation of Ikare Township road; dualisation of Oke Alabojuto road, Ikare phase 1(0.5km); construction of selected roads in Idanre(2.76km); construction of Iwalewa-Alafiatayo, Iwalewa-Oshinle, Iwalewa-Hospital road and Abusoro road,Ijoka phase 1,construction of Alagbaka SIB-Appeal Court road(6.02km) and rehabilitation and construction of Oke Ogba Community road(5.412km). Also ongoing are: construction of Gaga Community road (5.569km); construction of dual carriageway from A division-Oluwatuyi-Ijoka (8.135km); rehabilitation of selected roads in Ondo town (7.11km); construction of Sabomi-Ajagba road(2.3km) and construction of Okitipupa-Igbokoda bypass road phase 1(10km).

These road projects will go a long way in making the state accessible and open for economic growth, opening doors for job creation and wealth creation, thereby leading to increased revenue, improving the lives of the people in the affected areas and ensuring sustainable economic development

In line with the governor’s promise to create massive jobs for the teaming youths, over 1,000 thousand youths are already trained on various aspects of agricultural production value chain as Agro-preneurs. 100 of these youths are already engaged and working on State owned farms. In addition, the state government has facilitated the training of 5000 youths on the same agricultural value chain by the National Directorate of Employment. The beneficiaries have been given their certificates and further programmes to assist them in establishing their projects has already commenced.

During the 2019 budget presentation, Governor Akeredolu stated, ‘On assumption of office, we met two (2) Mother and Child Hospitals, dedicated to cater for maternal and infant health challenges in the State. However, the two (2) institutions are located in the Central Senatorial Zone. In furtherance of our avowed commitment to equity and fairness, we have upgraded five (5) other health facilities to the Status of Mother and Child Hospitals in Ikare and Owo in the Northern Zone, as well as Ore, Okitipupa and Igbokoda, in the Southern Zone, to cater for our people in the other two (2) Senatorial Zones of the State. To address the dearth of Tertiary Health facility in the State, we have established the Teaching Hospital of the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, to fast track medical interventions in the health sector of the State’.

Also the state governor is unrelenting in his efforts to ensure that qualitative education is made available to all and sundry in the state. In the last one year, over 598 projects has been awarded in more than 501 primary schools across the three senatorial districts of the State. While teachers are being motivated to do better.

Judging from these performance, it is crystal clear that Arakunrin Akeredolu etched for himself a soft spot in the heart of the good people of Ondo state. The party losing out in the presidential election in Ondo state is merely a testament of the dysfunctional structure in the party which when addressed will put the party on a formidable track. Even as tough the road to the next gubernatorial election in Ondo State might seem for many gubernatorial aspirant, with the unending sustainable projects of Arakunrin Akeredolu, it might just be another stroll in the park.

source:

https://citadelng.com/the-road-to-2019-in-ondo-state/

A good politicians must know how to balance governance with politics, Arakunrin might be doing well in the former but the way is handling the his own politics is counter productive and if care is not taken he might be digging is political grave unconsciously.

with all the evidences on ground that Aketi is performing wonders within a space of two years, yet people still don't like him, WHY?

Akeredolu is rude, he talks carelessly, the overbearing influence of his wife on the regime leaves all with the impression that he's not in control