Artisans and the entire labour force in Ondo State have been mobilising themselves for effective participation as the countdown to the inauguration of the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, for a second term in office begins.

Mimiko was re-elected for a fresh term of four years on October 12, 2012.

Poised to make an impact in the inauguration ceremony expected to be graced by about 13,000 guests, the entire labour force and the state artisans under various trade names have been putting measures in place to make the event a memorable one.

A staff of the Ministry of Works, Teju Aishida, said workers in the state have every reason to contribute their quota to the success of the event, positing that civil servants in the state have never had it so good since the state was created.

"There is nothing we are doing to make February 24 a success that would be too much, because Mimiko has sacrificed a lot for us.

"In fact we can't reciprocate his gestures enough." Aishida said.

Continuing, he said: "There have been governments in this state, without any bias, Mimiko's government has been exceptional, not only to the civil service, but to the entire people of the state as every sector have been taken care of by his government."

Aishida added that it was no mean feat to remain the only state that still pays the highest minimum wage in the entire country. "This is the real government of the people by the people and for the people. It is our government because we gave him the mandate and we are not disappointed."

In the same vein, the coalition of Neighbourhood Market Operators in the state have resolved to use the event to show their gratitude to the governor for "picking us from grass to grace"

Speaking through a representative, Dotun Alli, the coalition said it was still like a dream the opportunity offered them by the governor to rub shoulders with the best in the society.

"Before Mimiko provided these markets for us, we knew what a hash life could mean, but today, we operate in a millennium market for almost free. We have power uninterrupted and our children have crèche to themselves even with police posts, we have never had it so good, that was why we voted for him for a second term and we must celebrate the new mandate," Alli insisted.