Hurrah! It’s Six Years of Akeredolu’s Purposeful Leadership

The administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON is six years today. It is the second anniversary since he was re-elected for a second term as Governor of Ondo State.

The last six years have been filled with monumental development and phenomenal achievements across the three senatorial districts of the state. It has been a story of success, redemption and progress.

A dispassionate summary of Governor Akeredolu’s administration depicts positive development in virtually every sector in the state since February 24, 2017 when he first took oath of office. The testimony of his dedication imbued with inexorable courage and visionary leadership abounds.

On assumption of office, Governor Akeredolu readily acknowledged that the tasks before him were daunting, but surmountable. His belief in promoting good governance was his inspiration. His eyes were gazed at enduring legacies for the people of the sunshine state.

The Governor recognised that the economy of the state was driven by the civil servants . When he assumed office, the workers were being owed seven months salaries. It was a tale of frustration and despondency. Productivity was absent at every work station.

Irked by the worsening situation, the Governor vowed that his administration will always promote and prioritise workers’ welfare. He specifically promised to pay workers’ salaries as and when due. It was a great relief for the state civil servants.

In no time, he offset six out of the seven months salary arrears. Today in Ondo State, the Akeredolu administration has paid up till date. The organised Labour in the state yesterday issued a statement appreciating the Governor for approving the February 2023 salary.

In the last six years, Ondo State has witnessed unprecedented transformation. The kilometers of road constructed by the Akeredolu administration is more than that of last two administrations combined. Over 294.11km of roads were completed in six years. More than 900 public primary school buildings were reconstructed across the 18 local government areas of the state. 250- bed hospital was constructed in each of Ondo and Akure complexes of University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital. WAEC fees of SSS 3 students in public secondary schools were paid, while scholarships and bursary were awarded to Ondo State students in higher institutions. The list is endless.

Aside these great feats recorded by the Governor, the unwavering commitment of his administration to security of lives and property of the people has continue to receive accolades from far and near. The Governor led the struggle for the establishment of Amotekun corps at a time when his reelection was on the line. To him, the lives of his people is worth more than his ambition for a second term in office.

Today, the Amotekun Corp is a success story. The security outfit has made remarkable strides in protecting the people of the state against external aggression. Amotekun has been instrumental to the successful security operations within the state, especially in the thick forests. Over 2000 officers have been recruited, and deployed across the state.

Other security agencies in the state also benefited from the impact of his commitment to a safe and secured environment across the state. Governor Akeredolu has continued to strengthen other security agencies in the state with the distribution of hundred of vehicles and other ancillary equipment. His resolve to protect the state and its people has been unwavering.

The Governor built an ultra-modern Revenue House in his first term in office. The project was commissioned by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in 2021. The investment in the construction of the modern edifice has yielded significant benefit for the state.

The Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has increased from N700 million to N2.7 Billion monthly. The Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) has recruited and trained over 450 young graduates to enhance revenue collection process.

Aside the passing and accenting to the Ondo State Revenue Administrations Law, the Akeredolu administration has also renovated and equipped the 18 Tax Stations in the state with modern facilities and internet capabilities. Also the three tax stations in Igbekebo, Ifon and Ileoluji have been moved from rented office to a new ODIRS building.

Governor Akeredolu, imbued with the resolve to expand the healthcare sector and improve on health service delivery in the state, commenced the construction of 250 - bed hospitals each in Akure and Ondo complexes of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital. The project has reached an appreciable level in Akure and Ondo.

One of the ambitious project of the Akeredolu administration in the state aside the Ore Flyover is the construction of the new Governor’s Lodge. The old Lodge was a modest three-room duplex of timber flooring, built for the Colonial District Officers. The historic building went through a lot of modifications, restructuring and renovations since the creation of Ondo State in 1976. The state doesn’t have a befitting Governor’s Lodge.

When he assumed office in February 2017, the Governor met the old Governor’s Lodge building, fabrics and furniture in acute dilapidation and utter state of abandonment. Also, the Governor’s Lodge Annex that was built by the immediate past administration was structurally defective. The Governor then moved into a 2-bedroom apartment where he occupies presently.

But the new Governor’s Lodge which was flagged off in 2021 has reached an appreciable level of completion. The project, which is expected to be commissioned soon, was conceived with the best expectations of any Governor’s Lodge you can find in Nigeria.

The structure sits on approximately 2,000 square meters of land and measures about 18 meters from the ground floor to the tip of the iconic roof. The facilities will house a Banquet Hall to sit about 250 guests, basement parking, indoor and outdoor kitchens, swimming pool, sitting lounge, atrium sitting room, bedrooms and other functional spaces with Information Communication Technology (ICT) software and gadgets to be applied in the finishing of the edifice while the entire environment will be adorned with both soft and hard landscape.

Despite the huge resources already committed to road construction across the state, the Akeredolu administration is not going to sleep. It has commenced the construction of Igoba township road among other numerous road projects in the state. In fact, the government is set to flag off the construction of an iconic flyover at the Onyarubulem junction along Akure-Ilesa expressway in Akure to curb the recent incessant carnage at the spot.

It has been six years of unprecedented performance and impressive achievements scattered across the three senatorial districts of the state. The remaining two years of Governor Akeredolu tenure promises to be eventful with more impactful projects and life-changing policies and programs.

It’s the sixth year anniversary, let’s roll out the drums and celebrate!

Richard Olatunde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
February 24, 2023.