Dr. Olusegun Mimiko

We ‘ll rehabilitate tourism sites to create employment in Ondo State – Mimiko. By Wale Ojo-Lanre, Tribune

The gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party in Ondo State Dr. Rahman Olusegun Mimiko has assured the indigenes of creating abundant employment, empowerment opportunity and wealth through tourism if elected as the governor of the state.

Dr. Mimiko who was addressing press men in Ibadan at the weekend said, his government would not only develop the tourism potentialities in the state but explore them as means of poverty eradication, empowerment opportunities and wealth creation. “It is a pity that there has not been a consistently conscious and aggressive attempt at exploring the tourism potentialities in Ondo State, to create employment, wealth and empower our people despite the resources available to do so.”
Dr. Mimiko revealed that as one of the cardinal objectives of the Labour Party to create employment, his government would explore and enhance tourism for the benefits of the state and people.

“We have a blue print on tourism development in the state. And as a blue print, it is not only about the construction and rehabilitation of the tourism sites in the state but about the benefits of such enhancement for the generality of the people. Dr. Mimiko condemned a situation whereby only a tourist site in the state is being given half hearted and haphazard attention. “I am not comfortable with the non-challant and half hearted attention being given to Idanre Hills. This is one of the most valuable and important tourists sites in Nigeria which was listed among the first ten tourism sites in Nigeria by the colonial lord. But what is the state of Idanre Hill today? I am not comfortable with it.”

Dr. Mimiko said if the wish of God comes to pass, “Our government will turn Idanre Hill to the best desired tourist site in Nigeria. My people in Idanre will reap the benefits of being blessed with a natural site. We already have a developmental plan action of this site which is implementable within six-month” The Labour Party gubernatorial candidate also revealed that the Tourism blue print caters for other six notable tourism sites in the state. “We are not talking only of Idanre Hills. The blue print also caters for the Agbabu Water Front, Ebomi Lake, Iwo Eleru, OKe Maria, Ore Battle Ground, Ikaw Rock Outcrop, a Game Reserve, along Ifon-Edo border line and the Igbo Olodumare in Oke Igbo.

Dr. Mimiko said that “it will interest the world to know that the first man on earth lived in Ondo State. You people may not believe it but there are geographical and archeological evidence to this at Iwo-Eleru, there in my state, but no serious attention has been made to enhance and explore this for the benefit of the people. But by the time we are at the saddle, we will do every thing humanly possible to expose this niholitic cave to the world for them to know their cradle.” Talking about the Agbabu Water Front, Dr. Mimiko said “Ondo State is blessed with one of the most beautiful Water Front in Nigeria and we also share the coast line.

The Agbabu water front has already have a plan but one wonders why it has not yet been implemented. The Agbabu waterfront Tourism Beach Resort has the capacity of employing three thousand people directly, with a fallout of economic activities, which one can not estimate.” He pointed out that despite the fact that Oke Maria in Oka Akoko, has not yet been enhanced, this tourism sites attracts thousands of Catholics to the town every year. “You can imagine how much money these religious tourists and adherents plug into Ondo States’ economy during their pilgrimage to Oka Akoko. And also imagine what will happen if it is properly enhanced, rehabilitated and improved upon. Of course we shall do this.”

Dr. Mimiko said that it is pity that the famous Igbo Olodumare, which was internationally highlighted by the late Dr. D.O Fagunwa is lying prostrate without any value added to it for the benefit of the people of the state. “The Igbo Olodumare, is not just a fable forest, neither is it just a tourist site, it is an ecotourist enclave with rare fauna and flora, which will be conserved and protected not for this generation alone but generations unborn. But nothing is happening there. But I assure you, by the time we are voted in, we will ensure that Igbo Olodumare will be listed in the UNESCO, World Heritage List. And you know what that means.

The Labour Party flagbearer said that though. “We have the Museum in Owo, but we are going further to create the Ore Battle Ground as a tourist centre. Ore is very significant in the history of the civil war. The Ore Battle Ground will be re-created for posterity and for tourism purpose.” These tourism projects he said would be undertaken in the first six month with active participation of the private sector who would be the direct “co-driver of our economic driver. It shall be well with Ondo State through tourism.”
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