The incumbent governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, last Thursday, inaugurated his campaign for second term in office in the ancient city of Owo. Yinka Oladoyinbo, who witnessed the event, reports.THE Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, last Thursday, began his journey towards Alagbaka Government House for another four years in the ancient city of Owo in Owo Local Government Area of the state when he inaugurated his campaign in the presence of a mammoth crowd that gathered at the Methodist Primary School, Owo, to witness the event.The event again highlighted the significance of Owo in the political history of the state in particular and the country in general. Owo was the birthplace of Afenifere and the hometown of Chief Adekunle Ajasin, reputed to have drafted the policy paper of the free education programme of the Action Group (AG), a programme that popularised the government of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 1950s.Speaking on the choice of the town for the inauguration of the campaign of the governor, the Director General of the Olusegun Mimiko Campaign Organisation, Mr Akin Adaramola, said it was because of the significance of the town to the South-West. He said, 'The choice of Owo was significant. Owo is historical, it's the home of democracy in the South-West and because we have a governor who is following the footsteps of Awolowo and Ajasin, we believe there is the need to kick off our campaign in the ancient home of democracy.'As from the day preceding the inauguration, the people of Owo and its environs had started having a feel of what to come the following day as preparations went into top gear for the epoch-making event. It was, however, obvious that orange, the colour of Labour Party (LP), was going to be the colour of the town the following day as equipment and personnel were moved to the town for the campaign.Indeed, on the day of the event, orange was the colour of the town. As early as 8am on the day, the popular Oke-Ogun road was closed to vehicular traffic as members and supporters of the LP started to converge on the venue located on a hilltop in the ancient town. Dressed in orange colours, some in t-shirts and some in customised shirts announcing the second term ambition of the governor, members of the party gathered to witness the occasion that intended to make the governor enter into another round of covenant with the people of the state.Like it happened in December 2006 when the LP was inaugurated in Akure and in July this year when the governor declared his ambition for another term at the new Democracy Park, also in Akure, the crowd that attended the Owo campaign inauguration was not less in quantity and quality. To access the venue was a hectic task, as vehicles had to be parked several meters away and they had to trek for over one kilometre before they could get to the field of the Methodist Primary School. For over four hours, the party members and supporters waited, despite the harsh sun.They also danced to the rhythm of songs provided by some musicians that were invited to grace the occasion and this also added spice to the event before the arrival of the governor.Dignitaries like senators, House of Representatives members, commissioners, members of the state House of Assembly, party leaders among others were also not left out, as they came in numbers to assist Mimiko to renew his covenant with the people of the state. The governor was, however, at last ushered into the arena in an open Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), waving to the admiration of the crowd at about 1pm, signaling the commencement of the programme. After the normal protocol and the praise worship that opened the event, it was the turn of speech making and covenant renewal between the government officials and the people.The Deputy Director General of the Campaign Organisation, who is also the Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperative Services in the state, Clement Fanboyede, in his welcpme address to the people, noted that the achievements of the last three and half years by the Mimiko administration had been unprecedented and, therefore, should be given the opportunity of continuing in office. He said with the various policies and programmes of government, it had been able to touch the lives of the people of the state in many ways. He, therefore, pleaded with the people to come out on October 20 and vote massively for the LP.It was then the turn of the Commissioner for Special Duties in the state, Niran Sule-Akinsuyi, an indigene of Owo. According to him, the people of Owo would continue to be grateful to the administration of Mimiko for many developmental projects that were executed in their communities.He said that, to the people of the town, there was nothing like Owo agenda as the only agenda known to them was the Mimiko agenda meant to transform the entire state.The event also afforded a former governorship aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Dr Olu Agunloye, the opportunity of restating his commitment to the ability of Mimiko to develop the Sunshine State. Addressing the crowd, he said, 'I know you are all here because of your interest in the state, we are all concerned with the growth of the state. It is only Mimiko that is ready to better the lots of the people of the state; never will our state be run by outsiders'. Also speaking another governorship aspirant of the ACN, Mr Segun Ojo, said Mimiko had done well and deserved to be voted for a second term.He described Mimiko as an original Omoluabi with leadership qualities that should be emulated.Ojo, who left the LP for the ACN before returning to the ruling party, said 'he (Mimiiko) pursued me for over two years and eight months to settle our crisis. Today, it is settled and Mimiko is the candidate to beat in the election. ACN people came to me to join their party; I did not beg to join the party.'However, we don't want any Ajele (vassal) in Ondo State; we are beyond that level. We have passed that stage, we can determine our fate. ACN can't send district officer from Lagos. If Akeredolu has 10 per cent in the next election, that means we are not politicians again'.The National Chairman of LP, Dan Nwanyawu, said the governor wanted a second term in office to enable him finish the projects he has started. He said the last three and half years had shown that the governor had what it takes take the state to the promise land.He said, 'Mimiko wants to empower the youth. Mimiko has delivered on his promises, he has performed beyond the imagination of the people. We did not impose Mimiko, the people elected him, but in the other party, they imposed candidates from Lagos and told the people to leave if they were not okay with it.'It is not that they can do better than Mimiko; they only want to extend their territory. Don't vote for them because they are appointed by a godfather. If you allow them to come into this state, they will share the allocation. They are looking at the resources of Ondo State. This election will be decided by the people of the state and not foreigners'.The high point of the event, however, was the speech of Mimiko which, he, in his usual style, started with a Christian song which says 'Awa naa ree Oluwa, awa naa ree Oluwa, a wa dupe oore atodun modun, a wa dupe oore atosu mosu, awa dupe oore igba gbogbo, awa naa ree Oluwa (Here we are, Lord, we have come to give thanks).The governor said he was before the people of the state once again to ask for their support and votes as they go to poll on October 20. He said he would never disappoint them if given opportunity to be governor again. He asked the people to brace up for further development after February 2013.According to him, the LP government had in the last three and half years unleashed unprecedented development on various communities in the state, as the policies and programmes of government were designed to achieve unparalleled development of the people and their communities.He added that his government had, in the last three and half years, made the people the focal point in its programmes, urging them not to allow foreigners to dictate to them.The governor said, 'I have to thank the people of the state because, four years ago on my inauguration, we promised to bridge the disconnect between the people and government; we promised to work for you. Three and half years ago, we promised to give you qualitative health care, to make education available. Three years on, we are on course. And to the glory of God we are able to fulfil our promises.'We are here again to beg for your votes. If you are happy with what have done, we are here today and to ask for your votes. If you vote for us for another four years, we will continue to serve you.''We live together here, I know your pains, I know your aspirations. If your children are sick, you don't want to sell your properties to take care of them. We will continue to develop our infrastructure, we will build more mega schools, we will build markets. Our cities shall be the best in the country.'Mimiko said he was ready to serve the people and continue to develop the state, noting that some of his opponents were not ready for the challenge of leadership. On the choice of Owo for the inauguration, Mimiko said, 'Owo for us is significant in the history of democracy of Nigeria, Owo is the birthplace of Afenifere and it was in Owo here in 1951 that the Action Group (AG) was formed, so we have come to Owo to ensure that we enact good policies for our state, to ensure that pregnancy is not a death sentence on our women. We are not going to disappoint you.
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