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Apr 23rd, 2009
Apr 23rd, 2009
Ondo State New Commissioners
List of the new commissioners:
Chief Julius Akinigbagbe – Agriculture
Prince Sola Amodeni – Forest Resources
Mrs. Adenike Fatogun – Education
Alhaji Sikiru Basaru – Lands and Housing
Dr. Kunle Asaolu – Physical and Urban Planning
Mr. Akin Akingbesote – Commerce and Industry
Mr. Clement Faboyede – Cooperative and Community Development
Mrs. Bukola Tenabe – Women Affairs
Mr. Wole Akinjo – Employment, Labour and Productivity
Mr. Yele Omogunwa – Works
Mr. Wale Akinterinwa – Finance
Mr. Oye Alademehin – Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs
Mr. Lebi Adepiti – Environment
Mr. Tola Wewe – Culture and Tourism
Mr.Yekini Olanipekun – Youths and Sports
Mr. Akin Adaramola – Economic Planning and Budget
Dr. Lawrence Adegbenro – Health.
42 Responses to “Ondo State New Commissioners”
May the good Lord grant you the wisdom to succeed – Amen. You are on to a very GREAT start!
Congratulations to all the new Commissioners. We the people pray that you perform with excellence and deliver to the people. May you never ever be subject to failure and ridicle. May you never be tempted with corruption and power politics, and above all may the love of God and love of the people dwell uppermost in your hearts all through you term in office. Now let the work commence and good results pour in.
Your Excellency, well done. So far so good. May God continually guide and guard you. May your governance be blessed all through. The people all love you.
Peace my people.
Long time no hear Mr Fred, Iroko Kekere, Ola and Lekan. Hope all is well?
Thanks @omotaylor.all is well with me.yeah it has been a long time we hear from iroko kekere,ola,faphounda and mr fred.God will help our commissioners.so that they can deliver for their people.we all want good for you..congratulation all.this is a new dawn and we are expecting new thing to happen in Ondo State.we shall fight poverty in Ondo State.im not doubting Mimiko.im 100% sure that Mimiko will work in Ondo State..God bless Ondo State,God bless Nigeria and people of Ondo State..
Just one question to His Excellency – Are we going to have a Commissioner of TRANSPORT? I am aware that there are two more names to be given clearance and I hope TRANSPORT is one of them for this position is very important for the government and the people.
Iroko wa jo gba sibeeeeeee.
Peace my people
At OmoTaylor:
Why Transport? Just curious…does Ondo state have a transportation need that demands having a full ministry?
There is no information portfolio and office of attorney General…
Besides, looking at the list above I see what appears like duplication of duties 7 functions –
Agriculture vs forestry
Physical and Urban Planning vs Environment.
Thanks Ben. Why Transport? I am looking at the bigger picture, the future and the expectations. Ondo State is vast and diversified and tourist oriented. A good transportation system will aid our growth and development. It will aid Tourism, and with transport, I am not looking only at road transportation. Ondo state is beautiful and the riverine areas could benefit from water transportation and this is also tourist oriented. With a ministry of transportation we could advocate for an airport/seaport. Mass transportation may not be a need but if we start now and get settled transport wise, in the future when Ondo State has grown and progressed like we project and pray for, then it will also be a natural progression for the transport sector.
I too thought about the duplication. I believe our Governor will be able to help us out here. This issue will be picked up I am sure and we will await the explanation.
I believe the Post of Attorney General is one of the two left, not yet allocated. I am wracking my brain if Information is the second one. Can someone please remind me…
Cheers Ben. Hope to read more from you and I love challenges for then I am forced to THINK AND REFLECT. This is good for everyone.
I think Ben has a point about the transportation portfolio. It would obviously make sense at the centre – federal – as opposed to the local level. Transportation issues can and should have been subsumed under Commerce and industry or Works. You cannot have a robust economic system without a well-functioning transport system.
The other point Mr Ben raised is the issue of duplication. There is certainly an overlap with regard to 4 ministries, we would have expected the legislature to ask the executive to elucidate on this at the screening level. No kudos to the legislature on this I am afraid.
Our aim is to ensure that the sun truly shines in Ondo state.
Thanks T.A and you do see my point when you said
“You cannot have a robust economic system without a well-functioning transport system”
And this was what I thought when I mentioned the issue of having a Commissioner for Transport. I do agree that we may not in Ondo State, at this point in time, need a full Ministry for this. But later with growth and development we could. So for now even if it means adding this as a section to another department e.g. Commerce & Industry or Works as you mentioned fine.
About your mention of having this Portfolio at the Federal level… the problem is 1. Have you heard of the play “Waiting for Godot?” we would wait and wait for improvements which may never come, so let us look into this on State Level. 2. A viable economy derived from implementation of an efficient and effective transportation system would remain 100% State intact if done at State Level.
Slowly but surely, we will get there. As we reason together, we see clearer pictures and this is good for progress and for me.
I thought over and over again on the issue of “duplication” and I may have changed my mind. First there may be specific reasons unknown to us as to why the need for different Ministries in Agriculture and Forestry. It could be that Agriculture may have the need to concentrate on provision of food/sustenance for Ondo State and environs while forestry would focus on ensuring for environmental reasons that we do not deplete our stock; our green belts are preserved; and that Ondo State is preserved as a beautiful tourist attractive state. I am only guessing. With time and with the right channel in place we may be able to have question and answer sessions with Mr Governor himself.
All in all, things are going fine and will be better. No big news is good news until major accomplishments are announced and verified.
Peace.
I have not a doubt that Mr Governor has good reasons for setting up the executive council the way he did. Mine is just an observation made without the benefit of an insight. I’m eager to see the detailed job descriptions of the Commissioners, that is if we ever get to see it. Such information hardly make it to the public domain. Over time their mandates will be more obvious I hope.
@Ben, if Ondo State is to be a State with a difference and of Universal competitiveness, I dont particularly see why, if we want a change from the local statusquo, to a dynamic international democratically political state of being, we cannot get to see the JDs of the Commissioners. A government for the people by the people will definitely permit such. Transparency will permit such and above all, many questions will be answered. Remember Ondo State is blessed with educated gurus, enquiring minds, go getters and openminded people. If questions are answered and needs met stage by stage, it will go a long way to make Mr Governor’s “work for the people” easier and success acclaimed openly too. That insight that makes people KNOW rather than WONDER is very important. The internet and especially this site could be a very good channel to reach the people.
Peace
Omotaylor writes about the game of Chess on AfricanLoft. Please take a read and decide which chess piece you identify with. I solicit your comments/answers to my questions:
http://www.africanloft.com/the-pawns-on-the-nigerian-chessboard/
Peace
Hello all, just came back from Nigeria two days ago. I was in Nigeria for nearly 3months. I witnessed the appeal crt verdict, the Gov. of the people Dr. Mimiko’s inauguration and the selection of the commissioners (a lot of celebrations and happiness). I really missed all of u on this forum. As u all know, internet facilities are not that privately common and affordable like here in Nigeria and I must confess to you that my experience using the cafe once to check my mails wasn’t a good one. Therefore, I decided not to go back there as I did not want to be mistakingly taken as one of the Yahoo boys. Omotaylor the good and able mentor, Lekan, Fred, Ola and others, your contributions, fights for justice to establish this government cannot be quantified and am seriously proud of you all. This is our government and am very optimistic like you all that it will be the best government ever in Nigeira. Agagu and his agents of criminal activities are finally defeated. Victory at last, no more thuggery and we are finally free in Ondo State. Halleluya meje! Well done my people and keep the flag flying as ever. Justice 4all.
I was briefly unavalaible. I will ask all to fervently pray for our Governor ( let your prayer points be DIRECTION in governance and GOOD HEALTH).
All remain blessed.
I find I sometimes shift from a position of optimism to one of scepticism when I ponder over the issue of governance in our polity. Many Nigerians have resigned themselves to the fact that the present crop of political elite in Nigeria cannot lead us out of our present doldrums; in fact some even swear that the political elite are part of the problem rather than the catalyst that will spearhead us out of our current position of abyss, ennui, and despondency. The reasons for this position are varied, but let’s briefly focus on the current political imbroglio in Ekiti. The impasse is nothing but shameful; rather than just dismiss the occurrence in Ekiti as an aberration; it is sadly the norm in our polity, from Abakaliki to Zungeru. We have seen the extent to which some people will go to attain or keep political power. But the interesting point is that the motivation behind all this hankering does not appear to stem from a burning desire to seek political power for its transformative capabilities, but rather the need to have it for the sake of it, and then using it for one’s own selfish ends. I say this because this quest for political relevance and ascendancy has been going on in our polity for sometime but there hasn’t been a corresponding improvement in our physical environment, morality and values. Perhaps we do not have it in us to bring about a society that has all the trappings of good governance?
@ T.A, many of us I believe must have felt the same blow like you. When it comes to political affairs in Nigeria, we all (the concerned ones) feel the pains to the marrow of our bones.
Yes it’s true that the majority of our so called political elites are the problems holding back Nigeria from moving forward, refusing to establish the foundation of true democracy, killing and burying free and fear election under the concrete slabs. They have hugely contributed in making Nigeria a complicated society where the masses have been purposely pushed to the edge to crave for tokens in order to survive on daily basis as the ordinary citizens are seen by them less than animals. This I believe suits their purpose and ungodly minds so that the passage of corruption can be widely and continuously opened for them. Instead of empowering the youths, they have been turned to instruments to carry out their atrocities.
To be honest, nothing has really changed democratically in Nigeria; it’s the same old story, evil minded people of the same ideology and mission.
Free and fear elections have never been the practice to elect our leaders. Nearly all the politicians in Nigeria are rottenly corrupt and only God can help us as Nigerians with integrities are yet to take part in our politics. Even within any political party’s primary elections, it’s the same war (malpractices) as that of the general election. Manipulation and falsification of election results have become the standard for democracy to foist leaders on the innocent poor masses. Everybody is corrupt to the core regardless of status. Positions are given by godfathers or bought by the highest bidders and the results of all elections are prepared and known even months before the elections.
How can we expect these types of false leaders who came to power through the corrupt doors to deliver? Rather they will continue to build the empire for thuggery, corruption and create poverty for the masses so as to cling to power.
The visits of President Yar’dua and the Vice President Jonathan to Ekiti State just before the election were nothing but clear message to the people of Ekiti State that the election results had been fixed. PDP has nothing for the people of Nigeria most especially the south west. They have changed Nigeria to a shameful society where morality and values are totally lost. Mr. President would you call your visit to Ekiti part of the rule of law that you said you believe or your 7points agenda you still find difficult to establish after nearly 3years in office? Like I have said in the past, it’s not a fancy title that makes one a true leader but what he does as a leader. You might be thinking or looking at the records of the past Presidents of Nigeria who did not deliver and that nothing happened to them and that there is nothing the people can do mainly because the government in Nigeria is not the government of the people as opposed to the definition of true democracy.
But you must remember this in your own tribal language that ‘‘Seriki ngoma, Samani goma’’ your own time will soon be on record as well. If I were you I’d used the only opportunity at your hand to change Nigeria for better so that the people of Nigeria can forgive and forget how you came to power by selection and not by election rather than passing on the corrupt process that made you a leader.
Those of you that believe Nigerians must suffer; the Almighty God will pay you back what you deserve even if you repent at last. The spirits of the innocent children, women, youths and those who died fighting for justice in Nigeria will continue to hunt all you the enemies of the people of Nigeria.
I still believe there is nothing wrong with Nigeria as a country but it is the people that need to be exorcised. I am very optimistic that Nigeria can be changed for better but until when the fear of God and human feelings becomes sacrosanct in that society. Yes everybody pray every minute in Nigeria but do we really have the fear of God in our hearts? Justice 4all.
I wish to chiefly thank God on behalf of the good and justice seeking of ondo State and the ‘oribamise’ Gov.,Dr. olusegun Mimiko.However,my little msg to the intelligent looking Gov. is that,his gospel of success and greatness should not end on words,but actions.Therefore,His Excellence should let his admnistration be the begining to the end of ondo state backwardness and stagnation. Devices for strategies that will turn the state to industral state should be sought.Thanks
Hello all and a very big welcome back to our very own beloved Iroko Kekere. I know your plight for I am currently experiencing the same thing. Here I am, stuck in a very stuffy smelly Internet Cafe and having to watch my back because of them strange faces and looks. Dont think I will be coming back here in a very long while.
All is well in Ondo State. I thought I could pay a courtesy visit on our dear governor but boy oh boy is he busy or is he busy??? Anyway your Excellency in case you still find time to read our posts on this site, greetings and well done so far. Keep the flag flying for the masses and especially the downtrodden and make Ondo State a pride of the South West.
No news is good news all.
Peace
The new Governor and his cabinet of Ondo state must work hard to achieve better than the Agagu’s government. that state is full of natural resourses which any governor can use to develop the state.
Iam so happy to see someone like Tola Wewe as a commissoner, he was in london years back to promote our Country Nigeria in arts.
Mr Tola is a very good ambassador to our nation.
well done God bless you.
Can the seed of War Against Corruption germinate in Nigeria soil at all? If yes, how? Please read this latest news about our corrupt avaricious leaders. These nefarious people are sick from their heads to their toes. Another dawn another corruption revealed. Which way Nigerians for God sake! How long must we continue like this? Is our HOPE still alive?
Courtesy of the Sunday Punch.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Uncertainty over Tafa Balogun’s loot
By Toyosi Ogunseye
The stolen money and property recovered from the former Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun, may have been tampered with, SUNDAY PUNCH investigations have shown.
Balogun was arraigned in court in 2005 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and slammed with a 70-count charge of stealing and money laundering, among other offences.
The former IG was accused of stealing about N10bn, most of which he returned in a plea bargain deal with the EFCC.
But, four years after the Nigerian government made a show of recovering the stolen money and property from Balogun, nobody in the EFCC could state the exact money and property recovered from him.
Already, the House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the exact amount recovered from Balogun as well as the whereabouts of the fund, which included a huge amount belonging to the Police Insurance Fund.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Mr. Abdul Ningi, had on two occasions asked the current IG, Mike Okiro, to furnish the House with the details of the money recovered from the former IGP.
According to documents obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, Ningi had in the two separate letters with reference numbers NASS/HR/CT-58/VOL.11/10, dated November 6, 2008 and NASS/HR/CT-58/VOL.11/23, dated February 3, 2009, asked that the House be supplied with “the amount of money recovered and the whereabouts of the money. The number of property recovered and the whereabouts of the property.”
Okiro had also communicated the House’s queries to the EFCC via a February 3 letter referenced No. NASS/HR/CT-58/VOL.11/23.
In the letter, the IG asked the commission’s chairman, Mrs Farida Waziri, to “forward details of the amount and the whereabouts of the money recovered from the former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, by your commission.”
However, spokesman of the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said, “Nobody knows the exact properties recovered from Balogun. The Chairman of the EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, raised this issue when she assumed office.
“Till date, we don’t know the exact number of properties seized from the former IGP because there is no record for forfeited assets. We don’t know how many properties were sold, who sold what and how much was recovered from the sale.
“The commission has just set up an asset forfeiture unit for proper documentation. The few ones we know of are controversial because some people are claiming they bid for the properties but did not get them.
“A particular man even threatened to take the EFCC to court. He claimed that after he bid for one of Balogun’s houses in Abuja, a lower bidder was given the property.”
A reliable inside source also told our correspondent that the money recovered from the former IG was kept in two consolidated accounts.
While one of the accounts was said to be with the Attorney-General of the Federation, the other was with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Efforts by our correspondent to trace the “Tafa Loot” were largely unsuccessful as no documentation of the recovered loot was available.
The uncertainty over the “Tafa loot” was coming on the heels of the recent request by Okiro for the money recovered from his former boss to be released to him.
Okiro had written to the EFCC last year demanding the police insurance fund which he claimed was among the money seized from Balogun.
SUNDAY PUNCH reliably gathered that the EFCC had also written to the Federal Government requesting approval to give Okiro the money, but the source at the commission said the FG was yet to reply to the letter.
“Initially, the IG was asking for all the money recovered from Tafa but we told him that the money belonged to the Federal Government. Later, he wrote the EFCC requesting the police insurance fund. We heard that the president has given us an approval to give the IG the money in April but we are yet to get a written approval.”
The source said the commission was set to write another letter to the FG “to remind them that we are yet to get a document to that effect.
“What we are giving Okiro is the police insurance fund, it is the entitlement of dead police officers,” the source added.
Ondo contract review panel, a witchhunt – PDP
Yinka Oladoyinbo, Akure- 25.05.2009 (Nigerian Tribune)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, on Sunday alleged that the contract review panel set up by the state government was an attempt to hunt the immediate past government of Dr. Olusegun Agagu.
A statement by the publicity secretary of the party, Chief Adeyemi Adedipe, said the decision of the current administration to look into contracts awarded towards the end of Agagu’s tenure had a sinister motive.
The party said rather than dissipating energy on the past administration, the government of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko should face the task of governance.
According to the PDP, transparency and accountability were its watchwords, saying those were the guiding principles of the Agagu administration in the award of contract.
“Right from the inception of the Agagu administration in 2003, the governor had made it clear that we were going to have a transparent and responsive administration.
“It is on record that the establishment of the Ondo State Due Process mechanism predated that of the Federal Government and billions of Naira that would have gone into pockets of fraudulent officials and dubious contractors were saved for the development of the state.
“The unprecedented strides of development that were recorded during the Agagu administration were made possible by the financial prudence of the governor and the success of the due process mechanism, the statement read.
If some people know that there actions in government were above board and accord with due process, why raise an alarm over the contract review panel? Every single minutiae of the panel report should be published in every accessible media (and translated into Yoruba for maximum impact) when done for Ondo state citizens to see the extent of the theft committed against the people of the state.
I sincerely agree with the portfolio rolled out by our amiable governor but my disagreement is with the pace at which the special advisers were rolled out. I hope the Board personels will be named swiftly and once. There is still a lot to be done than procastinating the appointment of those to do the job.
Be it as it may Gbosa 4 U – IROKO.
@ Admin, could you pls update the lists of our commisssioners as the final five new commissioners have been added and sworn in last monday.
Many thanx
There was a survey a couple of years ago on how religious people across the world were. Nigerians were right at the top of this survey. But there is a paradox inherent in the outcome of this survey and it is in the fact this religiousness is not reflected in our attitude, values and governance. Public officials – politicians, budget holders, top civil servants etc – at the outset of assuming their duties swear on the Bible and the Koran that they will carry out their duties in accordance with the prescriptions laid down in these holy books, but we know what actually happens in practice.
Here is a novel idea – why don’t we instead call on our traditional religion priests’ (Babalawos) to get them instead to swear on Ayelala, Sanpanan, Orunmila or whatever the deity is in their respective places that they be strucked down if they ever abuse the trust we repose in them.
I say this because 90% of the populace do not feel the impact of the government’s existence in their lives. The phrase uttered by the seventeenth century English political philosopher Thomas Hobbes applies in our society – life of man is ‘nasty, brutish and short’. Interestingly, this applies to everyone, including those who find themselves in the remaining 10% bracket in present day Nigeria, as a proverb has it that a rich fellow in the midst of millions him/her self is an impoverished fellow.
I fear that if something drastic is not done, in 60,100, 200 years time future generations will still be lamenting the issue of scuttled hopes, mis-governance etc that pervade our society. How do we break this torrid cycle now?
A very good and blessed month of June to all readers on this forum. Being away has been strange in parts for without your personal wireless laptop and the money to buy those connection cards that cost so much in Nigeria, one is as good as cut off from internet information. It has been so so difficult gaining internet access and visiting internet cafes, as with my past experiences was a real waste of time. Not only does on subject oneself to the dingy smelly cafes, with so many shifty xters and discomfort, one could spend hours on end trying to access sites without success. After a few trials, I simply gave up.
Ondo State will make it real soon. Yes it is true that the coffers are dry and the going has been from difficult to hard, but no failure for our man Iroko. He is strategising well and doing his darened best given the situation. PATIENCE is the key word for all. Governor Mimiko is intelligent and has good foresight hence he will soon dust off all the cobwebs and start refurbishing and redecorating the dillapidated “house”. One good thing I noticed is the peace and more cheerful/hopeful faces. Their hopes i.e. our hopes for the best in Ondo State will materialise soon.
It is important to keep this site going. So many people know about this site and want to partake of debates, contributions and news (especially our not so young youths).
Peace to all and keep
ling.
AS PER IROKO KEKERE’S REQUEST OF 31ST MAY, THE NATION REPORTS THAT:
Mimiko swears in five commissioners
By Damisi Ojo Published 26/05/2009 News Rating: Unrated
Five more Commissioners Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration in Ondo State yesterday took the oath of office at the Babafunke Memorial Ajasin Hall Akure, the state capital.
Mimiko on the occasion described the “five commissioners as “final five” for completing the blocks of structure upon which his administration would be based.
They are Pastor.Ranti Akerele (Ose), Otunba Omoniyi Omodara (Akure North), Mr. Niran Sule (Owo), Mr. Eyitayio Jegede (SAN) Akure South, and Mrs. Kehinde Florence Momoh (Odigbo ). Akerele got the Information portfolio, Omodara (Public Transportation); Sule Special Duties); Jegede (Attorney-General) and Justice and Momoh(Adult, Technical and Vocational Training.
Mimiko said: “We from here will catalyse the machinery of state with a vigour , certain that we have the full complement of our administrative arsenal.”
He disclosed that the appointment of boards and members to be announced soon would be the final nuts in the vehicle of the needed revolution in the state.
His words: “We today have the advantage of swearing in four men and a woman who have passed through fire of private and public scrutiny in the last few weeks and who have been found not only to be competent, but also above board.”
Mimiko reminded the commissioners that having been found to be capable by legislators , they have the opportunity to truly prove their mettle and showcase the confidence reposed in them.
The governor said the promise he made at his inauguration February 24 to work for the people and activate their social and economic development still stands, stressing that his trust in God that restored his mandate is absolute.
He said the philosophy of the present administration had dictated that the structure of government be re-designed in a more focused and result –oriented paradigm.
To this end, said Mimiko, the configuration of the ministries into 22 is a deliberate effort to create ministries that would be performance-oriented and nimble so that every area of life would be touched in a meaningful way.
I AM PERSONALLY HAPPY TO NOTE THE INCLUSION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AS THIS VALIDATES MY ASSERTION THAT ONDO STATE WOULD NEED ONE. KUDOS MR GOVERNOR. YOU ARE A WINNER. JUST KEEP WORKING HARD AND DONT LOOK BACK. YOU WILL SUCCEED AND ONDO STATE WILL MAKE GOOD PROGRESS SOON. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU AND I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE ADVICE YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS. THEY MUST PUT THE PEOPLE FIRST AND NOT FALL PREY TO THAT INCURABLE SICKNESS CALLED CORRUPTION THAT HAS SO GRIPPED NIGERIA, SO MUCH SO THAT WE SHED LITERAL TEARS FOR OUR BELOVED COUNTRY DAILY.
Peace my people for it is well.
Welcome back Ms Omotaylor. Nice to read from you again.
All remain blessed.
ITS A NEW DAWN IN ONDO STATE,A DAWN OF PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND ECONOMIC TURN -AROUND FOR OUR STATE.
lets all sons and daughters of the state join hands with the new administration to uplift the sunshine state.
LETS KEEP THE SUN SHINNIG!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi,we thank God for giving us back our manadate,but it suffice to say that i wish to see a new ondo where all the street lights are working.The thinking of people like me is that our great state can be a mega city of refrence if resouces are properly annexed.An intergral part of city life is the mode of transportation,pls we have to arrange and rearrange our TAXI system of transportation and build adequate bus terminals for them.Also the basic necessities of life like good roads,water and affordable housing should be urgently pursured. Iroko a bori o .
@Omotaylor. I want to tank you for the opportunity given to me to be with wen in Nigeria. It was a fruitful time. God bless you.
Want to believe yo have settle down now.
The traffic lights at first bank junction in alagbaka area of akure is a wellcome development,our state is stepping.
However we must also sentisize the motorist on the use before the men in black(policemen) starts to make money from ignorant motorists.
I want to belief the parastatal of government in-charge will not stop this remarkable development at this junction alone,pls let it extend to other parts of the town and state so that our critics will not tag the development”POLITICAL PROPAGANDA”
KUDOS
@Demola Olotu, I will agree with you that Ondo State has all the makings of a Mega City and we are even blessed with greater tourist attractions that could bring in greater revenue than many other states in Nigeria. Thank God for Iroko’s wisdom in creating a space for transport i.e. having a Commissioner of Transport. Hopefully all above requests would be met, sooner than later.
@Ola, thanks for the pleasure of knowing you in person was mine. Albeit a short time, I was blessed with seeing the Youths that will make a greater Nigeria in the not too distant future. I bless God that upright, religious, well brought up hardworking and integrity Youths like you still abound. Thanks for showing me your friends. My prayer is that you all find and get your hearts desires. That the right people will continue to come your way and mentor you to greatness. Good luck to you and Kunle on the job search. By the grace of God you both will get a break soon.
Ondo State go better, really. We all shall have the cause to celebrate greatness and growth in Ondo State for a very long time to come in Jesus name.
Thanks to Your Excellency for reviving the free medical care. Your recent Eye Test programme of love that gave sight to the blind and near blind is an attestation of your grassroot commitment. More grease to your elbow.
Iroko yi joooooo, gba sibe. Mimikooooooooo o jareeeeeeeee.
To borrow the words of James Allen (British Philosopher); `The strenght of effort is the measure of the results`. It does not realy matter how `busy-body` some people are in Government, all we need is RESULTS and I`m certain that our Governor will produce result(s) since he has done it before in his previous portfolios.
All remain blessed.
I am really glad I stumbled onto this site. I was afraid that we would tow the paths of previous administration with much grandstanding and little action.
Iroko’s victory was won for the people of Ondo State but we all now have an obligation to further reempower the polity by showing that governance is measured through the elevation of the governed (not just the governing). We need to truly support (rather than distract) our governor with specific credible viable solutions to the challenges of Ondo State.
The governor’s familiarity with the Real Sector is bound to impact development in the State. Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) seems the way to go in a State whose GDP ranks 13th in Nigeria. We can thus hope Ms Omotaylor’s bent on transportation is taken on alongside tourism, energy/power, et al.
Among other things, Ondo State prides itself as the intellectual capital of Nigeria. It would like to great to start seeing “Islands of Competence” emerge from these sectors so can can truly contribute our quota to the development of our glorious state in waiting.
@ Dotun Makinwa, you have stumbled well. All the necessary tools to bring Ondo State to its rightful place are almost gathered together by our capable new governor, although it has been a slow pace due to some tidying up of the appalling state of things left behind for this new God chosen government by Agagu’s administration that needs careful attention. But we will surely get there as we now have good advisers and 22 capable commissioners for easy management and accountability. Dr. Mimiko has started very well with achievable solutions to the challenges and very soon we shall see a new Ondo State we can be proud of by the grace of God. Justice 4all.
Found this news very interesting and like to share it with my people. Brace yourself to see more of this been exposed in the future as Agagu’s penchant for greed will shock you.
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O D S G Uncovers Secret Account in Lagos (Jun 18,’09)
http://ondostate.gov.ng/news_details.php?id=2270
Secret accounts allegedly operated by the erstwhile Dr. Olusegun Agagu’s administration in Ondo State have been discovered by the state government, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ranti Akerele, disclosed yesterday.
But in a swift reaction, his predecessor, Chief Eddy Olafeso, denied the allegation and dared the state government to publish the alleged secret accounts.
Making the disclosure in an interview with THE HOPE, Akerele said that the alleged secret account were not officially listed by the Agagu administration.
According to him: that is one of the reasons we cannot rush. They should not be in a hurry.
There were a lot of illegal things done by the Agagu government to deliberately hide the resources of Ondo State from the incoming government.
This is why they should not put pressure on us. They had all the time in the world to properly document the accounts. But they did not do that.
If they had morals especially at the Nabaruma after they lost woefully tribunal and the Appeal court they should have done so.
Thank God, they could not buy the judiciary.
The commissioner said that it was unfortunate that the former governor and the former Finance Commissioner disagreed on what was left in the state’s treasury.
He said: They are telling us Chief Tayo Alasoadura, (Former Finance Commissioner) operated the accounts. But it is Dr. Agagu that we voted for. These are all mumbo junbo.
According to Akerele; the truth is that the Agagu’s administration was a disaster to Ondo State particularly his illegal occupation of the Government House after the Nabaruma – led tribunal sacked his government.
He accused official of the former Agagu administration of making desperate attempts to incite the people of Ondo State against the new administration with their statements.
Akerele however assured: but the people of Ondo State won’t be incited.
But the information, Orientation and Mobilsation Commissioner in the former Agagu’s administration, Chief Eddy Olafeso said that he was unaware of any scret accounts operated by administration during its six years tenure.
He said that the Agagu’s administration during its six years tenure.
He said that the Agagu administration never did anything under the table.
Hi All,
It is not uhuru yet, we need to realise that soldiers go soldiers come barrack no de empty. For those that expect magic from iroko you may be in for surprises, why, the major ingredient that enable success in any govt is the cooperation of the people, are they not the ones who refused to cooperate with BABA ADEFARATI they also refuse to cooperate with DR AGAGU if they fail to cooperate with DR MIMIKO he will also go the way of His former bosses. Who are these people? they politicians who want commissionership for their loyalty, contract for their thuggery, influence for their linking official informations, above all they want recognition for their sycophancy pls tell iroko that he should bushit them and fail if that will make him fail afterall DR AGAGU bushit them but he is still alive.
THE SECRET ACCOUNT SAGA CONTINUES. COURTESY OF THIS DAY:
Secret accounts contain N500m, govt insists
From James Sowole in Akure, 07.10.2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Ondo
Ondo State government yesterday insisted that it discovered secret accounts containing N500million, allegedly being run by administration of former governor Olusegun Agagu, despite several denials.
Commissioner for Information, Mr Ranti Akerele, said the current administration would be ready to present documents to back up the claims next week.
Appearing before Public Accounts Committee of the state House of Assembly that summoned him and Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinterinwa, Akerele said a panel set up by the state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, to reconcile state accounts, would conclude its assignment today.
According to him, the state governor would present an address through the Assembly, on the state of the state finances next week, since information were still being gathered by the new administration, “which does not have the benefit of a hand-over note or smooth transition of political power, we have to wait until we put all the pieces together, so that we don’t misinform the good people of this state.”
Under about two-hour cross-examination by the committee members who insisted on knowing the full facts of signatories to the accounts, names of banks and places of domiciliary, as well as the balance contained therein, Akerele pleaded with the lawmakers to “please tarry till next week, when all these would be made available.”
He said information about discovery of the accounts did not emanate from him, as he was only reacting to a question posed along that line by a reporter during an interview session.
He said, “I did not seek to distort facts, malign personalities or give wrong information, I was only divulging facts that were available to me.”
The committee were, however, angry with Akinterinwa, who despite the 72-hour notice of summon given him, neither attend nor send any representative, an action that the lawmakers described as “an affront on authority of the legislature.”
He was, however, asked to appear on Tuesday, alongside the State Accountant-General and Auditor-General, “with all relevant papers pertaining to the allegation, failure to which necessary action would be taken against the Ministry.”
DEAR ADMIN, THANK YOU FOR MAINTAINING THIS SITE AND ALLOWING INPUT ON GOVERNANCE IN ONDO STATE. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT WE COULD MAKE THIS SITE VERY POSTIVELY POPULAR AND ACTIVE IF WE FORM A SYSTEM OF RATING THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL OUR POLITICAL OFFICES IN ONDO STATE, STARTING FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR DOWN TO THE COMMISSIONERS. WE COULD THEN LATER, WHEN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIR OFFICES HAVE BEEN SETTLED, INCLUDE THEM TOO.
HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS COULD BE DYNAMIC, BY WAY OF INPUT FROM PEOPLE RULED AND ALSO INTERVIEWS OF OUR POLITICIANS AND QUARTERLY ADDRESS BY THEM. WE COULD ALSO HIGHLIGHT ACHIEVEMENTS, POINT OUT AREAS OF WEAKNESSES AND WHERE THERE COULD BE INPROVEMENTS. ALL THESE OF COURSE WOULD NEED TO BE DONE CONSTRUCTIVELY.
ONDO STATE COULD BE A MODEL STATE. I LISTENED TO OBAMA’S ADDRESS IN GHANA TODAY AND FELT SAD THAT MOST OF THE NEGATIVES HE MENTIONED ARE THE NORM IN NIGERIA AND ALL AREAS OF STRENGHTS ARE BEING IGNORED. HAPPILY IN ONDO STATE AT PRESENT A LOT OF THE STRENGHTS MENTIONED ARE BEING PUT IN PLACE. IN THE AREAS OF DEMOCRACY, OPPORTUNITIES, HEALTH AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT, ONDO STATE IS NOW DOWN VERY WELL.
CHANGE FROM THE BOTTOM UP SHOULD NOW BE OUR FOCUS. GOVERNOR MIMIKO IS DEFINITELY TRYING HARD TO MAINTAIN A CAPABLE, RELIABLE AND TRANSPARENT SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE, WHICH ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT OBAMA IS KEY TO SUCCESS. WE NEED EVERYONE FROM BOTTOM UP IN ONDO STATE TO SUPPORT HIM. ALSO YOUTH PARTICIPATION IS KEY TO SUSTAINING A GOOD GOVERNMENT SO THEY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO POSITIVELY AND MATUREDLY PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNANCE WITH A VIEW TO CHANGING THINGS FOR THE BETTER IN THE FUTURE OF ONDO STATE.
ONDO STATE NEEDS TO DEEPLY LOOK INTO GOVERNANCE IN OTHER STATES IN NIGERIA AND AT FEDERAL LEVEL ESPECIALLY WITH A VIEW TO AVOIDING THE ILLS AND EVILS THEREIN WHILE EMULATING THE GOOD SIDE. MY PEOPLE LET US JOIN HEAD AND HANDS AND HEARTS TO MAKE ONDO STATE A PLACE OF INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION, PRIDE &COMMENDATION.
PLEASE ADMIN, LET US DEVELOP THIS SITE. IT IS NOT THAT ACTIVE NOWADAYS AND MANY PEOPLE ALL OVER NIGERIA KNOW THIS SITE AND VISIT IT BUT ALAS, THEY WILL STOP IF THE SITE IS NOT PROACTIVE.
WE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR FUTURE (OBAMA) AND FOR POSTERITY. LET US IN OUR OWN LITTLE CORNERS IN ONDO STATE EVEN VIA THE WEB KEEP THINGS GOING. I WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING POSSIBLE EITHER FINANCIALLY OR PHYSICALLY TO GET OUR SUNSHINE DREAM GOING.
AMBITION MY PEOPLE IS MADE OF STERNER STUFF. ALLUTA CONTINUA.
PEACE.
Excerpts of Obama’s speech to the Ghanaian parliament.
Full text at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-to-the-Ghanaian-Parliament/
We must start from the simple premise that Africa’s future is up to Africans.
I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this part of the world…
In many places, the hope of my father’s generation gave way to cynicism, even despair. Now, it’s easy to point fingers and to pin the blame of these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense helped to breed conflict. The West has often approached Africa as a patron or a source of resources rather than a partner. But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. In my father’s life, it was partly tribalism and patronage and nepotism in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career, and we know that this kind of corruption is still a daily fact of life for far too many.
Now, to realize that promise, we must first recognize the fundamental truth that you have given life to in Ghana: Development depends on good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That’s the change that can unlock Africa’s potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.
And today, I’ll focus on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and the entire developing world: democracy, opportunity, health, and the peaceful resolution of conflict.
First, we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments.
As I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to democracy in its own way, and in line with its own traditions. But history offers a clear verdict: Governments that respect the will of their own people, that govern by consent and not coercion, are more prosperous, they are more stable, and more successful than governments that do not.
This is about more than just holding elections. It’s also about what happens between elections. Repression can take many forms, and too many nations, even those that have elections, are plagued by problems that condemn their people to poverty. No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves or if police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there. And now is the time for that style of governance to end.
In the 21st century, capable, reliable, and transparent institutions are the key to success — strong parliaments; honest police forces; independent judges; an independent press; a vibrant private sector; a civil society. Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in people’s everyday lives.
Now, time and again, Ghanaians have chosen constitutional rule over autocracy, and shown a democratic spirit that allows the energy of your people to break through. (Applause.) We see that in leaders who accept defeat graciously — the fact that President Mills’ opponents were standing beside him last night to greet me when I came off the plane spoke volumes about Ghana ; victors who resist calls to wield power against the opposition in unfair ways. We see that spirit in courageous journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report the truth. We see it in police like Patience Quaye, who helped prosecute the first human trafficker in Ghana. We see it in the young people who are speaking up against patronage, and participating in the political process.
Across Africa, we’ve seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny, and making change from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, where civil society and business came together to help stop post-election violence. We saw it in South Africa, where over three-quarters of the country voted in the recent election — the fourth since the end of Apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the Election Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the principle that a person’s vote is their sacred right.
Now, make no mistake: History is on the side of these brave Africans, not with those who use coups or change constitutions to stay in power. Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions. ..
With better governance, I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a broader base of prosperity. Witness the extraordinary success of Africans in my country, America. They’re doing very well. So they’ve got the talent, they’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit. The question is, how do we make sure that they’re succeeding here in their home countries? The continent is rich in natural resources. And from cell phone entrepreneurs to small farmers, Africans have shown the capacity and commitment to create their own opportunities. But old habits must also be broken. Dependence on commodities — or a single export — has a tendency to concentrate wealth in the hands of the few, and leaves people too vulnerable to downturns.
So in Ghana, for instance, oil brings great opportunities, and you have been very responsible in preparing for new revenue. But as so many Ghanaians know, oil cannot simply become the new cocoa. From South Korea to Singapore, history shows that countries thrive when they invest in their people and in their infrastructure — ; when they promote multiple export industries, develop a skilled workforce, and create space for small and medium-sized businesses that create jobs…
Let me be clear: Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at perpetual war. But if we are honest, for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.
These conflicts are a millstone around Africa’s neck. Now, we all have many identities — of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st century. Africa’s diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division. We are all God’s children. We all share common aspirations — to live in peace and security; to access education and opportunity; to love our families and our communities and our faith. That is our common humanity.
That is why we must stand up to inhumanity in our midst. It is never justified — never justifiable to target innocents in the name of ideology. It is the death sentence of a society to force children to kill in wars. It is the ultimate mark of criminality and cowardice to condemn women to relentless and systemic rape. We must bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur and the dignity of every woman in the Congo. No faith or culture should condone the outrages against them. And all of us must strive for the peace and security necessary for progress.
Africans are standing up for this future. Here, too, in Ghana we are seeing you help point the way forward. Ghanaians should take pride in your contributions to peacekeeping from Congo to Liberia to Lebanon — (applause) — and your efforts to resist the scourge of the drug trade. (Applause.) We welcome the steps that are being taken by organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS to better resolve conflicts, to keep the peace, and support those in need. And we encourage the vision of a strong, regional security architecture that can bring effective, transnational forces to bear when needed…
As I said earlier, Africa’s future is up to Africans.
The people of Africa are ready to claim that future. And in my country, African Americans — including so many recent immigrants — have thrived in every sector of society. We’ve done so despite a difficult past, and we’ve drawn strength from our African heritage. With strong institutions and a strong will, I know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos, Kigali, Kinshasa, Harare…
You know, 52 years ago, the eyes of the world were on Ghana. And a young preacher named Martin Luther King travelled here, to Accra, to watch the Union Jack come down and the Ghanaian flag go up. This was before the march on Washington or the success of the civil rights movement in my country. Dr. King was asked how he felt while watching the birth of a nation. And he said: “It renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice.”
Now that triumph must be won once more, and it must be won by you. And I am particularly speaking to the young people all across Africa and right here in Ghana. In places like Ghana, young people make up over half of the population.
And here is what you must know: The world will be what you make of it. You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities, and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease, and end conflicts, and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes you can — because in this moment, history is on the move.
But these things can only be done if all of you take responsibility for your future. And it won’t be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and setbacks. But I can promise you this: America will be with you every step of the way — as a partner, as a friend. (Applause.) Opportunity won’t come from any other place, though. It must come from the decisions that all of you make, the things that you do, the hope that you hold in your heart…
@ Omotaylor:
Thanks for the interest…
I’m all ears and ready to explore ideas that will improve governance in Ondo State. However, you may want to refer to my last email for an appraisal of the constraints and challenges involved.
Nonetheless, there is always room to to explore possibilities, and this is best done offline, via the usual channel.
Many thanks for your support!
Best,
Cograt Doc on your Birthday.
We wish above all things, God divine wisdom upon you in steering the ship of Ondo State to The Glorius Land.
Amen