AKEREDOLU’S MISRULE IN ONDO STATE (1): THE ROT IN RUFUS GIWA POLYTECHNIC,OWO.
By Kennedy Ikantu Peretei.
It is impossible to expose the maladministration and misrule of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, in the governance of Ondo State, in one short piece, hence my decision to bring them to the public domain in a series.
Since his assumption of office as Governor on 24th February, 2017, governance has been on a steady negative slide. Leaders of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) were the first victims of his high handedness, which became manifest in the sheer number of persons who sought to replace him when he indicated interest to run for a second term. That is a matter for another day.
The Free School Shuttle Buses that parents and students enjoyed for more than six years under the previous administration suddenly disappeared from the streets under Akeredolu. There are unconfirmed reports that, some of these buses have been sighted in Lagos and Owerri (only God knows what the buses are doing in those places).
Mother and Child Hospitals that provided free medical services to pregnant women and children below the age of five have all turned out to be mere consulting clinics, as more than 150 medical doctors pulled out of the state’s employment due to poor conditions of service. The woes that have accompanied Akeredolu’s misrule are endless and the people are suffocating daily.
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo has become a ghost of its former self, since the coming of Rotimi Akeredolu. Incidentally, the Governor hails from the ancient town too. Why he allowed this level of ruin in the only government owned tertiary institution in his birth place beats one’s imagination.
The Polytechnic’s Staff School that had operated for more than 25 years was closed down for no good reason. The staff and students were left in the cold. The Governor’s friends and allies amongst the staff were absorbed in the already over staffed Polytechnic’s nominal roll.
Subventions to the school have been on the decline while the school is being loaded with new staff from Akeredolu and his aides. Workers have not been promoted in the last three years. Even jobs that are awarded by TETFUND are hijacked by Governor’s cronies. The entire place has been reduced to something near hell.
As it stands, the school has more staff than students because of increment in school fees, which students cannot afford.
On Monday, 1st November, 2021, at the launching of office complex of Anglican Diocese, Bishops Court, Owo, students of the school blocked the convoy of the Governor, displaying placards with various inscriptions, appealing to the Governor to pay the arrears of the Polytechnic staff salaries that is more than ten months. How does the Governor expect these workers to feed their families?
The Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo belongs to the people of Ondo State and no effort is too much to protect this institution from imminent collapse. The school has produced great men and women in our society. Governor Akeredolu should not ruin everything that he met in Ondo State, as history will be very unkind to him if he continues on this lane.
This series will continue shortly.
Meanwhile, The Ondo State Government has raised the alarm over a grand plot to blackmail Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his immediate family and the state government.
In a statement by the Commissioner for information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo said the planned smear campaign was targeted at the Governor’s family with fabricated details and spurious allegations.
“It has come to our notice that some unscrupulous individuals have perfected plans to blackmail the Akeredolu administration, using the first family as a target of their smear campaign
“The plan, which was hatched and orchestrated by these individuals, particularly, targeted the Governor’s son, Babajide Akeredolu, on allegations of high handedness and interference with serious government decisions, especially as it relates to the economic activities at the government reserves
“Succinctly, the purveyors of this heinous plot have perfected plans to lie against the Governor and his son of attempting to take over the management of the forest reserves to corner the resources for personal gains.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Akeredolu handles the business of government with utmost respect and accountability. The government decision to ban all logging activities and subsequent lifting of the ban, are all in the interest of the state.
“This government is exploring all avenues and blocking loopholes to shore up its Internally Generated Revenue to ensure that more funds are brought into the government coffers to drive development in the state. We will not fold arms and allow disgruntled elements to ruin the gains that have been recorded and being consolidated, in the state.
“Under this administration, we have recorded significant progress and growth in our IGR. For a government that has shown accountability and readiness to explore all economic angles for the progress of the state in the past four years, it is not only laughable but, preposterous for any disgruntled group to suggest that Governor Akeredolu’s son was planning to man the ministry of natural resources for personal gain.” the statement reads.
Ojogo urged members of the public to disregard the lies being peddled around by bad losers whose aim is to distract the Governor and government of the state.