By Isijola Kikelomo
The first four years of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as the governor of Ondo state were glorious; there were unprecedented and tremendous life-changing projects across the state.
The achievements were not a coincidence but a result of a well thought-out economic blueprint designed to redirect the sunshine state on the path of progress.
On assumption of office as the 6th democratically elected governor of Ondo state, Akeredolu called out the people of the state on a redemptive mission in all sector of the economy as encapsulated in his five point agenda of JMPPR
Job creation through agriculture, entrepreneurship and industrialization; massive infrastructure development and maintenance; provision of functional education and technological growth; provision of accessible and qualitative healthcare and social service delivery; rural development and community extension services
No doubt, the agenda recorded significant success. This, unarguably accounted for the renewals of his mandate by the people of Ondo State on the 10th of October, 2020 when they went to the poll to reelect him.
Aware of the expectations attached to the mandate renewal, the governor redefined policy trust and redirect his programmes christened REDEEMEED focusing on eight key areas of growth and development that will guide the conduct of government business in the next four years.
With the agenda, achievements in the last four years look like a child’s play. The manifestation of the agenda is evident in the monumental achievements lined up to mark the governor’s 100 days in office.
In line with the agenda of rural and agricultural development, the government in his 100 days performed ground breaking and commissioning of garri processing factories, piggery and poultry farms among others.
The massive infrastructure drive of the agenda is also manifesting across the state with road projects and other infrastructure being executed.
Among the projects achieved in the first 100 days, infrastructure takes the large chunk. For instance, the groundbreaking of the 2000MT Inland Terminal and the launch of the Red Gold Project (Ondo State Oil Palm Development Initiative), 5.44km Araromu Obu township roads, 6.539km Ijapo road network, Ade-Tade Street, and Dapo Aniyikaye in Akure among others.
To address the challenge of teachers deficit in public primary schools in the state, the state government employed over 1,200 and deployed them to their places of assignment.
The government is also strengthening Amotekun with over 500 new recruits and 20 operational patrol vehicles to further equip the corps especially at this time that insecurity has spread its long hand to all the States of the federation.
Water they say is life. Potable water was a luxury in Ondo State occasioned by neglect and non functional state of water facilities in the over 3000 towns and communities in the state.
And to tackle this challenge, Arakunrin came up with water revolution programme tagged Kamomi Aketi water scheme which has in no small measure changed the story of 4% water supply in the state in 2017 to about 30%.
The commissioning of the kamomi Aketi accelerated water scheme in Owo and the water treatment plant at Ile-Oluji Okeigbo, Oba Akoko, Idoani further signposts the commitment of the state government of ending acute water scarcity in the state.
No doubt, the feat recorded within 100 days in office out of 1,460 days of the four years is a clear indication that Aketi is on a mission to leave the state better than he met it.
