and criminalises maternal death
By Banji Ayoola
Former Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, said on Thursday that he would ensure that the National Assembly passes a law which would ensure that every child in Nigeria has access to universal and quality education.
Besides, he promised to see that the apex law making body enacts a law that criminalises the death during pregnancy, of any woman in the country, if elected a Senator in the coming elections.
He spoke at Bolorunduro, headquarters of Ondo East Local Government, during a seminar organised for pastors by the local chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN. The theme of the workshop was “Who is my neighbour?”
The former Governor, and now candidate of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, eyeing the seat of Ondo Central Senatorial District in the Senate, decried the general poor living standard in the country, and particularly the abysmally low life expectancy rate, which he described as “brutish, nasty and short.”
Noting that it lies in the hands of the Nigerian people themselves to change the situation positively, by exercising their free choice responsibly in voting selfless leaders, who regard them as friends and neighbours, and who have their genuine interest at heart, in the coming general elections.
He therefore admonished the Nigerian people: “Let us know why we are choosing.”
Speaking with passion, he said: “We are going to stand up in the National Assembly and say that Nigeria is endowed enough to ensure that every child has access to universal and quality education.
Not many people in Nigeria can say that. But I can say it. We have done it before. I am going to raise it in the Senate and say that it is a crime for anyone to die in pregnancy in this country.”
Mimiko likened the living standard in the country to the Hobbesian state of nature, where life is brutish, nasty and short, saying: “It is in our hands to change, and we are going to change it by the grace of God.”
He noted that official retirement age in advanced countries is 85 as against 60 in Nigeria; and that the husband of British Queen Elizabeth, still drives a car at 97, due to a high living standard in the United Kingdom.
His words: “The difference is that our party, the Zenith Labour Party, is a party of the people. That is what we want to go and do in Abuja. I am going to fight for the common man. I want to fight for your freedom.”
Describing the living standard of the nation’s poor, he asked: “You work daily. You don’t want your children to be slaves to their mates. How would they not be slaves when you cannot pay for their university education?
How would they not be slaves when some children are being taught with computers from the beginning of their education, and your children do not see computers to practice?”
This, he said, underscored the education policy of his administration when the mega schools it built across the state, were equipped with computers from inception.
Describing election and leadership as delicate matters, he advised the people to choose leaders who would not deceive them when in power; even as he regretted: “Now people cannot spread pants outside. Have you ever heard of such in history; has it ever happened in the history of our nation?”
He urged the people to pray for their leaders as enjoined in the Bible, as government is always overwhelmed with items needing its urgent attention at the same time, among which it prioritises.
But he said that a government which is truly ‘’of the people, by the people and for the people” would consider the greatest interest of the people in its priorities.
He urged the church leaders to go back and educate their congregations that election is a sacred matter as governance is.
His words: “The Lord asks us to be praying for our leaders. Pray for leaders. He did not say good or bad leaders, but leaders. This is the power of leadership. David (in the Bible) did what was wrong. Thousands of people were killed.
Leadership is a delicate matter. Some people would take decisions that would take them to hell direct by way of doing wrongs. I beg you, don’t let us be voting for those who are not our friends, who are not friends of the people.
Vote for those you could trust, those you could beat your chest about their character, those you are confident would treat you like neighbours.
He who gives you rice is not your neighbour.”
In his own speech, the member representing OndoWest/Ondo East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Joseph Akinlaja, who is also a guest speaker at the seminar, said that free education, introduced by the late Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and as implemented by Mimiko recently as Governor of Ondo State, is possible throughout Nigeria.
In her own, Mimiko’s wife, Kemi, thanked supporters for showing love to her husband, and prayed that water of love streaming from out of the Lord, Whom she noted is Love Himself, would never dry in Ondo State and the entire Nigeria.
In the closing prayer, the local CAN treasurer, Pastor Afolabi, said: “We pray for the Will of God. We need His Will in Ondo State and Nigeria. May His Will be done. Let Your Will alone be fulfilled in Nigeria. Your Will for this nation, let It be done.”
