Dayo Johnson
1 August 2007
interview
Lagos — Since the April 14 gubernatorial elections, it has been a cat and mouse relationship between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State and Labour Party, LP led by Dr. Segun Mimiko.
But the Chief of Staff to Governor Segun Agagu, Deacon Femi Agagu says LP has a hidden agenda and it is different from the people's.
Excerpts:
Recently the governor initiated a peace talk with the opposition parties on the way forward after the logjam occasioned by the April 14 election, how far?.
We have achieved a lot in that respect, the tension as at today is not as it was after the election. Now it is as if the whole state is against the Labour Party, but we believe that after some time everybody would be on board. Do not forget that those people in the opposition parties were once members of the PDP and the candidate of Labour was once part of us. The gladiators were people in the PDP before they left in circumstances not particularly friendly, and therefore are reluctant to come back.
That brings us to the question that the main opponent of the governor in the last election, Dr Olusgeun Mimiko is not part of the peace agreement.
The agenda of the Labour Party is different from what people are talking about. They want to seize power at all cost. The Labour Party people have a different agenda entirely. But traditional rulers and other people in the state are already talking to them and we are not averse to talking to them. The people that are in the party have been expressing their views with venom and I do not think they care much about peace
Some governorship candidates in the last April 14 election have started withdrawing their petitions against Governor Agagu, is this part of the agreement reached with them?
As soon as the peace meeting took place, they agreed that there was no need for the continuation of their petitions. It was part of the agreement and they withdrew their petitions at the election petition tribunal. Those that have not withdrawn their petitions would soon follow suit. They have all agreed to join hands with Governor Agagu to move the state to greater heights within the next four years and I want to commend their maturity; and for putting the state first, they have proved that they are good sportsmen.
The main opposition party in the state, Labour Party, has insisted that Governor Agagu stole the mandate of its governorship candidate, Dr Olusegun Mimiko?.
It is laughable and ridiculous. The mandate that LP is talking about is imaginary. It is a mandate that they alone know about. As far as Ondo State is concerned, a governor has been elected, declared and sworn-in and is already functioning. So where is the mandate they are talking about? They do not have any mandate. The good people of Ondo State have spoken by their votes, which they cast for Dr. Agagu. So let the election take place ten times, Dr Agagu would still win squarely. I do not think they know what they are saying, there is only one mandate and the people have given it to Dr. Agagu.
With the avalanche of petitions before the tribunal against the PDP at the tribunal what if some elections were nullified?
I am optimistic that all the petitions against the party would be thrown out by the election petition tribunal. We have competent legal team that is working round the clock to defend our candidates and the party. We have no fear at all. By the special grace of God, all would be well at the end of the day.
Now that another 4-year mandate has been given to the governor, what new thing should the people of the state expect?
The people of the state should expect rapid infrastructural development than was witnessed during the first term. In addition to that, we are expecting a rapid industrial and commercial growth in the state such that the state would no longer be a civil-service-dominated economy. This we are doing by mid-wifing new industries across the state, developing an entrepreneurial pact at Omotosho and the big one, which is the OK free trade zone.
Critics say this government is at cross road following the inauguration of 230 people to review the policy of the state.
Definitely this government is not at any cross road and for a government that is determined to serve the people best as possible, reviewing the activities and policies of the last four years and fine tuning them and getting the best for the next four years to me looks like a worthwhile step. Anybody who regards that as a waste of time cannot be right.
How far has the party been able to resolve the crisis in the Southern senatorial district area of the state between Chief Olusola Oke and Senator Hosea Ehinlanwo.
The crisis is a needless one.It is unfortunate that it was allowed to happen. Our candidate in the senatorial district was Chief Olusola Oke and that Ehinlawo name got to INEC at all was a slip on the part of those who sent the name from Abuja and they tried to correct it before the election. We are optimistic that the court would do what is right in this matter. It must, however, be clearly stated that the PDP in the Southern senatorial district voted for Chief Olusola Oke and not Ehinlanwo who is presently occupying the position in the Senate. We are sure that the court case would correct the anomaly. Time will tell.
So how far has the journey been in the last four years of this administration. Could it be described as eventful or what.
We give thanks to God that during the last four years, the dividends of democracy were delivered to the people of the state and we have been able to design policies and programmes for sustainable development, put in place structures and processes for efficient and transparent implementation of programmes, focused substantially on human development aimed at attaining MDGS and laying a solid foundation for a rapid and sustainable socio-economic transformation of Ondo State (legacy).
We have received commendation severally on our programmes and their implementation including, poverty reduction programme acclaimed by UNDFP, making Ondo State a learning center for the attainment of MDGS, Millennium Village Project (Ikaram) and Millennium City Project (Akure), Healthcare Programme acclaimed by WHO. Ondo state is one of the two WHO learning centers for Heath and Human Resources Development in Africa. Local Government administration in Ondo State has been acclaimed by the House of Representatives' Committee on states and Local Governments as the best in Nigeria. Okitipupa LGA was adjudged as the best in Nigeria in terms of services delivery by Senate Committee on States and Local Governments. Administration of Derivation Fund through OSOPADEC has was widely acclaimed by Senate, House of Representatives.
Party administration in the Ondo State Chapter of the PDP has also been lauded. Ondo State was among the two best-ranked states in the SEEDs bench marking Exercise and there have been commendation on performance from various segments of opinion leaders in Ondo State such as NLC, NULGE, ANCOPPSS, Council of Traditional Rulers, etc.
Briefly highlight government achievements in keys areas in the last four years?
In the area of revamping education, we put in place key intervention items to include improved welfare of teachers through prompt payment of salaries and allowances, promotion, car and empowerment loans, re-training of teachers (10,000 trained), improvement of inspectorate system, payment of running grants to all schools, supply of text books to school libraries, supply of science laboratory equipment to secondary schools, supply of science kits to primary schools, establishment of computer laboratories sin over 100 secondary schools, revamping the five government technical colleges, incentives to teachers in rural areas and difficult terrains, recruitment of additional teachers (400 for secondary and 800 for primary), introducing Examination Malpractice Law, established a reward system for performing teachers and sanctions for non-performing teachers, construction of new school buildings, provision of school furniture for pupils and teachers, payment of terminal examination fees for JSS, SSCE and Technical Colleges, payment of bursaries to all Ondo State Students in Tertiary Institutions, Scholarship granted to students on merit to encourage good performance, computerization of records in the school system, increase in the number of Adult Literacy Schools from 22 to 44 and enrolment form 2050 to 5256, Revamp of Special schools for the physically challenged, close supervision of private Nursery, primary and secondary schools and infra structural development at the state polytechnic and university.
In the area of agriculture, government has procured implements, trained 100 new agricultural extension workers, trained 800 commercial hand pollinators for increased cocoa yield, raising and distribution of 3.3 million cocoa seedlings, raising and ristribution of 206, 120 oil palm seedlings, Raising and distribution 13, 171 kolanut seedlings, raising and distribution of 122, 163 cashew seedlings, raising and distribution of 17,298 fruit tree seedlings, distribution of 20, 558 bundles of improved cassava cuttings, 13.25 metric tons of maize seeds processed and distributed, 39.58 metric tons of paddy rice seeds processed and distributed and multiplication of 500,000 plantain suckers.
Others included plantain orchards maintained in 21 locations to support steady supply of suckers to farmers, establish nursery to raise seedlings of mulberry for sericulture, provision of revolving fund for purchase of agrochemicals backed by a credit facility with accredited manufacturers, distribution of cocoa rehabilitation inputs at 50% subsidy, reduction in prices of cutlasses by 50% for farmers, establishment of 18 farm service centers, establishment of a virile Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP) with farms spread across the 18 council areas of the state . All these have yielded improvement in productivity.
In the area of industrial development, we have reactivated ailing-moribund industries such as Okitipupa Oil palm Company Plc, Araromi, Ayesan, Oil Palm Plc Oke Ayo Farms (Now Sunshine Food Processing Company), Ile-Oluji , Cocoa Processing Company (Completed ), Owena Motel limited ( Franchised ), Ondo State Afforestation Project (Franchised), Okitipupa Oil Palm Company Plc (Franchised ), Araromi /Ayesan Oil Palm Company Plc (Franchised ), Premier Metal Industries (on-going),Ondo State Asphalt Company ( ongoing ), Owena Mass Transport Company (ongoing) and Golden Ceramics (Formerly NICEPTS) (ongoing).
In the area of poverty alleviation, the skill Acquisition Programme, Entrepreneurial Development Programme, Youth in Agriculture Programme, Micro Credit Programme, Miscellaneous Empowerment programmes, palliative for increase in fuel Price, Community Empowerment industries have been put in place and the focus is to train young people in skills for self-employment and self-reliance .
There is also the Entrepreneurial Development Loan Scheme For EDP graduates, in collaboration with Nigeria Agric. Coop. And Rural Dev. Bank (NACRDB). Over N24 Million has been disbursed.
There is also Ondo State Oil Producing Development Commission Loan Scheme for Aqua-culturists, Artisans, Outboard Engine operators and Swamp Rice Farmers. In collaboration with NACRDB, over N95.34 Million has been disbursed. So also is the resettlement Loan Scheme for graduates in collaboration with NAPEP.
Under the Youth In Agriculture, we train and empower a new crop of young farmers in modern agricultural practices, Farms are on community donated land. Over 100 farms are now operational and spread across all 18 council areas. Participants are assisted with training, land preparation, farm input extension services, micro-credit and marketing and 1,254 participants are now engaged on over 1700 hectares and the investment so afar is N180m.
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