By Banji Ayoola
Ondo State’s immediate past governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, said on Sunday that he would respond to the allegations leveled against him by his successor and incumbent Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu when the campaigns for the October 10 governorship election begin.
He spoke in his Ondo city home while hosting the state’s Deputy Governor and governorship candidate of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Hon Agboola Ajayi.
Akeredolu had on Thursday criticised Mimiko for allegedly abandoning several infrastructural and building projects at the Olusegun Agagu University, OASUSTECH, Okitipupa, formerly Ondo State University of Science and Technology, OSUSTECH due to alleged political differences with the late Governor Olusegun Agagu, the founder of the university and Mimiko’s predecessor.
Describing the act of abandoning projects as a total disgrace to governance and disservice to the people, he lamented the number of projects initiated in the institution by the administration of the late Agagu but which were allegedly abandoned by the successive Mimiko administration.
At least 20 uncompleted building projects including the Senate Building, still dot the university’s landscape.
The governor spoke while commissioning three of the abandoned projects which were completed by his administration at the institution’s permanent site along Igbokoda Road, Okitipupa.
Mimiko is the National leader of ZLP which had on Friday formally welcomed Ajayi into the party following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
But Mimiko, according to a report by NAN, said the time to compare his government with that of his successor, had not come.
The Mimiko administration, noted for its “caring heart” policies and programmes, had to its credit, the caring heart markets, mega schools, health facilities across the state, Millennium Eye Centre, Mother and Child Hospitals, Abiye programme which ensured that pregnancy was no longer a death sentence, Motor parks, International Event Centre, MKO Abiola Democracy Park, infrastructural projects, Mare Festival Idanre, Trauma centre, and road projects statewide among others. These programmes earned that administration strings of local and international awards.
Mimiko reportedly said any party or government that would not meet the needs of the masses at the point of their yearnings is not progressive, while declaring ZLP as the only party which loves helping the poor to achieve their dreams.
It added that the former governor described Ajayi as a seasoned politician saying: “all his good and bad sides we know, we do not expect surprises.”
He thanked Ajayi for joining ZLP, describing him and his followers as true progressives.
Ajayi had earlier said he joined ZLP not only to contest the gubernatorial election, but to help promote good governance in the state.
Akeredolu had commissioned the University Library, University Auditorium and the Administrative Building, all of which were initiated by the late Agagu, but abandoned since he left office through a court judgement.
He had described “the manner of abandoning the projects due to political differences as a disgrace to governance and disservice to the good people of the Southern Senatorial district in particular and the entire state at large.”
He said his administration, which believes in the axiom that Government is a continuum, has completed some of the projects inherited from the Mimiko administration which that administration allegedly abandoned for eight years.
A statement by his media aide, Olabode Olatunde said that Akeredolu “saluted the great vision of the former Governor of the state, Late Dr. Olusegun Agagu for his sincerity of purpose and commitment, which he said made the establishment of the University a reality. “
It said: “The Governor noted that at the inception of his administration, he was alarmed with the deplorable condition of things in the University in terms of infrastructure, workers’ welfare and other essential facilities incidental to conducive learning environment.
“According to him, the unfortunate and deplorable situation in the University strengthened his administration’s resolve to change the narrative, by immediately commencing a gradual, radical and systematic implementation of the State Government’s strategic plan as it relates to the University.
“The Governor disclosed that, aside the commencement and completion of a new Electrification Project, his administration was able to facilitate the donation of science equipment worth millions of Naira from Seeding Lab., USA, in order to encourage meaningful learning and research in the institution.
“Arakunrin Akeredolu said within hundred days in office, his administration completed the asphalt laying of the road from the Main Gate to the heart of the Campus, stressing that the road contract was awarded, but abandoned for over eight years.
“He explained that the institution, which was a one-Faculty University for over eight years, now has two added additional schools; the School of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, as a result of improved funding from his administration.
“The Governor said: “Our administration is desirous to expand the programmes as stated in the Brief of the University.
“Marine Engineering, Applied Geology, Applied Geophysics, Petrochemical Engineering with options in Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering and Computer Engineering are some of the programmes already approved by the Senate of this University in this regard.
“It is gratifying to note that all programmes due for National Universities Commission’s accreditation have been accredited. This has been accomplished as a result of the commitment of our administration to the development of the University.
“In line with the desire of our administration to transforming OAUSTECH to a world class University, it has been enlisted as a beneficiary of TETFund for the first time since inception.
“The University is at present having some interventions in this regard, which will raise the status of the institution.
“OAUSTECH has also been selected to be a major beneficiary of the normal TETFund intervention for year 2020.”
