PDP ’ll retain Ondo, says Gov’s aide

Ondo State Information Commissioner Kayode Akinmade spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on the preparations for the governorship election and chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the poll.

What will be the Pre-occupation of the Mimiko Administration in this last year?

This year is for consolidation. It is a consolidation on the achievements that have been recorded in the last seven years which have stood out as development benchmark not only for sister states but also the developing world. These efforts would also form the take-off point for the incoming administration.  You will recall that the Mimiko administration has recorded a number of firsts, not only in Nigeria but beyond, such that the projects were endorsed by the World Bank and the United Nations as a benchmark for the continent.  For instance, the various health initiatives like the holistic intervention in Maternal and Infant mortality (Abiyethe Safe Motherhood Programme), and the apex tertiary health facilities Mother and Child hospitals now operational in Akure and Ondo are testimonies.  Don’t forget that we have the Orirewa programme, and the recent, is the conglomerate of tertiary   health institutions at the Medical Village, a health tourists centre,which is now University of Medical Sciences in Ondo.  You will also remember that the state won the Bill-Melinda Gates award in the fight against Polio among others.  The list of firsts in health is endless just as the present administration blazed the trail in Urban Renewal Initiatives that fetched, Governor Olusegun Mimiko the United Nations Scroll of Honours award.

Let me equally inform you that the creative ingenuity, doggedness and commitment of Mr. Governor has brought a new lease of life into the Education Sector with the Caring Heart Mega Schools, a novelty in Education that breaks class and strata barriers by delivering quality education to the doorsteps of both the urban and rural poor where they live and play.  The Mega Schools have quality manpower and are equipped with facilities of the 21st Century as obtained in advanced countries.      Therefore, there will be a consolidation of all these projects to emplace them on sustainable footing.

How are the party and the Governor managing the succession battle?

Of course, the succession battle has kick-started in earnest.  You can see that aspirants have started showing up and proving their mettle within the various political parties.  One thing to be statedclearly, is that no matter how fierce a succession plan is, the decision ultimately resides with the people.

The thinking, as it stands, is a dispassionate one.  The desire is for the emergence of a people-centric government that will continue with people oriented programmes.          This is to sustain the achievements already recorded in Education, Health, Agriculture, Urban Renewal Initiatives, and much more.  It will be a calamity for somebody to come on board and reverse the transformation programmes, for instance in Education, by turning our pupils out of the Mega-Schools and converting them to something else on account that the schools are too good for primary education.  It will indeed be a disaster for the School Free Shuttles to be turned to Molue and the students deprived of the comfort of free commuting to and fro school while the burden of transport fare from which parents had been relieved are brought upon them again.

As it were, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is leaving no stone unturned to put forward its best.  Though Mr. Governor is the leader of the Party, he has refused to meddle with internal democracy of the Party and as such everybody is being given the opportunity of fair contest, so that nobody with interest is cheated and nobody is given undue advantage.  A level play ground is what obtains in the party and that is why some people have continued to bombard Mr. Governor asking from him where they should go and who to follow, but Mr. Governor, being a democrat, will not abuse his power, and therefore has left everybody to make up his/her mind and when a consensus emerges through a democratic process, the governor can then throw his weight behind the Party Candidates.

Even though we are inching towards the eve of the gubernatorial elections in Ondo State, the government does not want to be distracted from its development trajectory as it wants to finish strong and vibrant, so the business of politics of succession is not being allowed to becloud the business of good and responsive governance and that is why there are no noise about Mr. Governor supporting A or supporting B.  The fact is that there is no choice candidate as we speak, because the work at hand is still enormous and there is barely enough time before handing over.

What is the position of government and the PDP on zoning?

You must understand that zoning is for administrative convenience and balance in the body polity.  The most important issue is the quality of leadership.  Merit ought not to be sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity.  Leadership must have a large heart, good following; must be a rallying figure who will not sacrifice progressivism and good governance on the altar of nepotism and favouritism.  Having said all these, the PDP and the government are on the same page on the need to consider all the issues including zoning and quality leadership.  The issues must be mutually inclusive for Ondo State to get nothing but the best.

What are the qualities you expect from the next Governor of Ondo State?

This to me is a personal and direct question, and I answer this also as a critical stakeholder in the project, Ondo State.  I am in my middle age and have young children.My expectations like the average indigene of Ondo State is very high considering the current  economic downturn, which stare Nigeria in the face.  All these and many more dictates that the next governor must be God fearing.  He must not rely on the arms of flesh because that will certainly fail.  He will definitely require inspiration from the Supreme Being to be able to navigate the current challenges on our country.  He must be able to inspire and challenge the people to dream, have hope and work assiduously towards taking Ondo State to Eldorado, giving the quantum leap which the state has experienced in the last seven years.  The next Governor must be a bridge-builder who will take every indigene as his own, without undue favouritism to any group of people.  The next Governor must be able to leverage on the gains achieved by this administration. For instance, the Power Plant embarked upon by this administration must be made to function; Commerce and Tourism mustreceive great impetus; Community developmentwhich has come a long way with  massive Quick Win Projects otherwise known as Confidence  Building Projects which are dotting the landscape of the State must be sustained; while Peace and Security which are now taken for granted must be further promoted. Governor Olusegun Mimiko does not maintain thugs and groups and therefore, we do not  want a return of thuggery and insecurity as the order of the day in our state.

The opposition has alleged that the Governor has incurred a  huge debt for his successor to inherit, what is your reaction?

Huge debt? There is no truth in that claim.  It is a frivolous allegation.  We are constantly and consistently meeting our obligations to our creditors.  Ondo State is one of the least indebted States in Nigeria. Without casting aspersions, there are some big states in the Southwest owing 100 times more than Ondo State.  The allegation is very far from the truth; we are the least borrowed in the whole Southwest. If you take a look as the bailout, salary arrears, loans etc.  you will see that Ondo State is doing well.  As we speak, we are credit worthy in banks as we are able to access loans from banks unlike other states who are unable to access such facilities any longer.

Why is harmonisation between old and new PDP member difficult in Ondo State?

You are probably talking in the past. That was at the teething stage of the merger when strange bed fellows began to work at cross purposes.  To still talk about harmonisation problem now is a figment of imagination.  The PDP as presently constituted in Ondo State is one.  The composition from the grassroot to the state is solid and  without division.  The PDP is poised to win election in Ondo State.The problem of the past at the early stage of the merger was the problem of one leg in and one leg out, that has been resolved with the Presidential election.  The party is harmonised right from the ward level and today I make bold to say un-equivocally that the PDP is one big and united family in Ondo State.  It is not possible for someone to sit in Lagos and do political permutation as to what is happening or what would happen in the political landscape of Ondo State.  This kind of permutation is being done by such individuals to secure patronage from their benefactors and sponsors.

There are speculations that the governor is grooming an anointed candidate. Could you clear the light on this?

Simply, let me say I am not aware of any anointed candidate being groomed by Mr. Governor.  What I however know is that Mr. Governor would always want the best for his people, someone that will build on what has been achieved, someone that will help the people achieve their dreams.

The APC is saying the power will shift from the PDP next year. How do you react to this?

Well, if wishes were horses, beggars will ride.  In 2012, the boasting was more and they finished distant third, so lets see and wait.  But you must know that the people of Ondo State are politically advanced and educated.

What is the motivation for the plan to hold local government elections now, despite the fact that the governor had ignored this agitation for the polls in the past?

Mr. Governor had at no time ignored the agitation for local government polls. The court litigation by the old PDP as it were then prevented the conduct of the local government polls.  The coast is now clear the Labour Party and the PDP in Ondo State had fused and now the election can be held.  But wait, the opposition APC which says its been agitating for this long ago, why have they suddenly developed cold feet.  After all they were not party to the litigation.  This is the time to test their popularity instead of doing otherwise.

What are the conditions that will guarantee free and fair governorship polls in Ondo?

INEC should be an unbiased umpire. No political party should get undue advantage. The Federal Government must create atmosphere for peoples’ vote to count.

Will the defections from PDP to APC not affect the chance of the PDP at the governorship poll?

Defection is not a new thing and in any case, defection is both ways from PDP to APC and from APC to PDP.  You will recall that, when some people infact those being regarded as big wigs defected from PDP to APC in the last Presidential election, the PDP surprisingly rose to its feet and trashed the APC in the election of the following week.

It is the people that will decide, the market women who were formerly trading under the scorching sun and rain but now trade under conducive and befitting structures.  It is the pregnant women who had their lives endangered but now have access to free quality health care facilities for them and their babies. Those who will decide are car dealers who now trade in beautiful environment, the artisans who have been empowered, the youth who now fair better and could dream of a better future; parents whose children are in better schools and who have been relieved of school transport fare because their children now enjoy free school shuttle.  The election is for the masses and they will decide.