By Lucky Aiyedatiwa
BEING THE INAUGURAL SPEECH OF THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY DR LUCKY ORIMISAN AIYEDATIWA AT HIS OFFICIAL INAUGURATION AS THE SEVENTH DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE HELD AT THE ONDO STATE SPORTS COMPLEX, AKURE ON MONDAY, 24TH FEBRUARY, 2025
PROTOCOL
Today marks another incredible milestone in our democratic journey as a people with a shared vision and united for a common purpose. The vision and purpose for greater greatness and a brighter future for us, our communities and our children.
2. It is a great honour and delight for me to stand before you and to address you today having just taken my oath of office as the seventh democratically elected Governor for a dispensation of four years. This moment signals a new chapter in our democracy and collective resolve to take our dear Sunshine State to her rightful place under the sun.
3. I must state with all sense of responsibility that this moment is very pivotal in our history as a people. It is a compelling moment that reminds us of the struggles of our past, the sacrifices of our heroes and the resilience of our people. In celebrating this significant milestone, I pay glowing tributes to all the founding fathers and former Governors of our great State, who have contributed immensely to her growth and development over the past 49 years of its creation. Their selfless service, vision and leadership have laid the groundwork for the progress we enjoy today.
4. Permit me to express special gratitude to my immediate predecessor, our visionary leader, the late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, who worked tirelessly to develop our State for about seven years before he took a glorious bow to join the Saints Triumphant. We must not forget this courageous and personable leader who literally emptied himself in the service of Ondo State and Nigeria as his legacy continues to inspire us to continue to build upon the foundations he laid. I am particularly indebted to him for choosing me as his Deputy and for his public and undisguised prophetic declaration at about this time, on this same podium, four years ago, when he was being sworn-in for his second term as Governor and my humble self then as Deputy Governor. That declaration must be appreciated for setting the tone for me as his successor to the office of Governor. I must say that I am deeply pained that this great leader who saw tomorrow is not here with us to witness and servour this auspicious occasion which marks the fulfilment of what God spoke through him. May the gentle soul of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, continue to rest in peace (Amen).
5. Precisely on Saturday, 16th November, 2024, the good people of our Sunshine State came out en masse to exercise their constitutional right of voting leaders who would be their Governor and Deputy Governor for a new dispensation of four years on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). This bold and unequivocal historic act was performed in a peaceful, free, fair, credible and conclusive election, conducted by an impartial umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In that groundbreaking and unprecedented election my humble self and Dr Olayide Adelami, mni were returned as duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor respectively. We must continue to appreciate God for the victory of our great Party in all the 18 Local Governments in Ondo State, which political enthusiasts across the land have described as 18-0 Promax.
6. We, therefore, wish to express our profound gratitude to the good people of Ondo State, men and women, students and youths, artisans and traders, political and traditional rulers, religious leaders; and other numerous stakeholders who supported our election bids with great enthusiasm for a better Ondo State. From Ilaje, Ese-Odo, through Okitipupa, Irele to Odigbo, Ondo, Ileoluji-Okeigbo; Idanre, Ifedore, through Akure to Owo and Ose to Akoko, our people, men and women, young and old, sacrificed time, energy and resources standing on the queues to cast their votes for us. That incredible show of love must never be taken for granted. We remain eternally indebted to you all.
7. Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, you would recall that in the last four years, part of which I was in the saddle as Governor for about 14 months, our administration had been able to restore the confidence of the people in government. Despite the political division and crisis brought about by the sickness and the eventual death of the then Governor within the period, we have demonstrated utter commitment to the development and welfare of the people. Our dear Sunshine State has witnessed tremendous progress in infrastructural development, provision of social amenities and public buildings, while we have kept on the front burner the social well-being of the people. We have impacted the State positively in agriculture, health, revenue generation, urban renewal, rural roads construction, education, employment, investments promotion and entrepreneurship. We like to assure you that the overwhelming renewed mandate you have freely given to us has further placed on us a huge burden of leadership and we promise never to rest on our oars. We make a solemn pledge this day that we shall lead and govern with the fear of God and utmost dedication to the progress of the State. We will prioritise the welfare of our people, particularly the most vulnerable among us – the poor, the sick and the marginalised.
8. My dear people of the Sunshine State, today, with a heart full of gratitude we have accepted on oath with all humility and sense of responsibility to be your Governor and Deputy Governor. We are in a hurry to justify this fresh mandate entrusted to us. In the next four years, we will work with interested investors and our development partners in ensuring that our Port Ondo becomes a reality. We will also facilitate investors to explore our large deposits of bitumen for local use and export purposes, thereby generating huge revenue to the State. This has been the vision and goals of our founding fathers. There is no doubt that this would not be an easy task but we are prepared to frontally confront these challenges and succeed.
9. From this day, our State will transit from the REDEEMED AGENDA of the last four years to a new Development Policy Thrust, O’DATIWA O’ DIRORUN, which was our electioneering campaign mantra to the people and which literally translates to “OUR EASE”
. This 7-point pillar shall propel our development agenda for the next four years as carefully designed to drive sustainable development and improve quality of life for our citizens.
10. The various components of “OUR EASE” are:
a. Order, Security and the Rule of Law: We shall strengthen the capacity of our security agencies, improve intelligence gathering and sharing, enhance community policing and engagement; and address the root causes of crimes. The ultimate outcome of this component is to ensure that our security agencies respond timely to security concerns and challenges towards ensuring that our State is safe and secure for all citizens, investors and visitors. We will consolidate on our enviable record as one of the safest and most secure States in Nigeria. We shall continue to uphold the Rule of Law and promote an Independent Judiciary and efficient administration of justice in our State. Our courts must remain a beacon of hope and justice for the common man.
b. Urban and Rural Development through Agriculture and Blue Economy: We will improve agricultural productivity, enhance access to markets and credit for farmers, invest in rural infrastructure and promote the development of the Blue Economy. We shall be intentional about our urban renewal policy in a manner to instigate influx of more investors. There is no better time than now to unlock and explore the abundance of economic opportunities around the sea for the benefit of our people. What we will strive to achieve through this pillar is to transform our State into a major agricultural hub and a leading player in the blue economy, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth. The blue economy boasts of diverse components, including established traditional ocean industries such as fisheries, tourism, and maritime transport; and also new and emerging activities, such as offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive activities, and marine biotechnology and bioprospecting. The Almighty God through providence has blessed us with huge ocean resources, these we shall leverage, for economic growth and improved livelihood for our good people in Ondo State. We shall provide enabling atmosphere for private citizens and willing investors to promote these marine activities in a sustainable way for the economic prosperity of our dear State.
c. Revolutionary Technological Advancement and Industrialisation: We will invest in research and development, enhance access to technology and infrastructure for businesses, promote the development of special economic zones and industrial parks and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. This is with a view to repositioning our State as a hub for technological innovation and industrialisation, creating new opportunities for businesses and jobs for our citizens, especially the teeming unemployed youths. We shall refocus more on the five Technical Schools in the three senatorial districts of the State. These schools will produce reliable, supportive and mid-level skilled manpower to service the labour requirements for all categories of industries in the State.
d. Efficient Healthcare and Socio-economic Welfare: We will prioritise investment in healthcare infrastructure, enhance access to quality healthcare services, improve the quality of healthcare services through training and capacity building and promote health education and awareness. As a deliberate policy, our administration will invest in our social investment scheme to reduce the level of poverty in the State and also to ensure that the most vulnerable in the State are taken care of, in order to feel the impact of government. This component of our policy thrust is to ensure that our citizens have access to quality healthcare services and that our State becomes a model for efficient healthcare delivery. Recently, we have extended the Ondo State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme – ORANGHIS beyond the public servants to accommodate people in the informal sector such as artisans, traders, market women, farmers, commercial transport operators and private sector workers. We hope to consolidate more on this valuable and beneficial health scheme.
e. Adequate Power and Affordable Energy: We shall focus on power generation and distribution, promote the use of renewable energy and enhance access to affordable energy for our citizens. We will ensure that our State has a reliable and efficient power supply, driving economic growth and improving the quality of life for our citizens. We will also work assiduously to ensure that our ongoing Independent Power Plant Project at Omotosho is completed in record time for the benefit of our people. Already we have launched a programme of O’DATIWA MASS METERS in which our people across the State are being supplied with prepaid meters at government -subsidised rates to enable them enjoy electricity supply and eliminate the incidents of overbilling by electricity providers. We are excited at the huge patronage which this scheme is enjoying across the State. We promise to keep the scheme going for the good of our people.
f. Sustainable Infrastructural Development and Tourism: This administration aims to transform our State into a leading tourist destination while promoting sustainable infrastructural development. We intend to achieve this by investing in eco-friendly infrastructure, developing tourist facilities, and promoting cultural heritage preservation. Our focus will be on creating an enabling environment that supports the growth of the tourism sector, while ensuring that our infrastructural development is environment friendly, sustainable and socially responsible. We shall ensure that all the on-going infrastructure projects across the three senatorial zones of Ondo State are completed within the tenure of our administration. The ultimate outcome of this pillar will be to create a thriving tourism industry that generates employment opportunities, stimulates economic growth, and enhances quality of life for our people. We envision a future where our State is renowned for its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality. By achieving this vision, we will not only improve the livelihoods of our citizens but also preserve our cultural identity and protect our environment for future generations.
g. Education, Human Capital Development and Entrepreneurship: Huge investment in education and skills development shall be prioritised, while also promoting social protection programmes and enhancing access to social services for our citizens. We will ensure that our citizens continue to have access to quality education and vocational skills training, enabling them to compete in the global economy and drive economic growth in our dear State. Our administration shall invest more in critical infrastructure in our primary and secondary schools, ensuring there are functional libraries and laboratories. We shall equally invest in the human resources in our schools, ensuring that qualified tutors are recruited and are regularly trained from time to time. In addition, we will ensure that our tertiary institutions in the State continue to maintain their heights and records as the best State tertiary institutions in Nigeria by investing in their critical infrastructure.
Our vast army of able, energetic and willing youths and adults are capable of putting this State on the path of prosperity if properly directed. We shall create a conducive environment for them to unleash their potential and talents. To achieve this, therefore, they must be stimulated through employment, capacity building, sports and income generation. We will promote youth entrepreneurship, encourage innovation and creative economy among the populace.
11. My fellow citizens, we have no illusion that the task ahead of us is daunting, but we are confident with your continued support, cooperation and loyalty, we can navigate this journey together, we can overcome any obstacle. We have a duty to pursue your welfare vigorously and to work tirelessly to sustain peace and security, to revitalise our economy and to cause accelerated infrastructural development of the Sunshine State.
12. It is imperative to acknowledge the whole aspects of support and goodwill which propelled our journey to this point. I, therefore, wish to express our profound appreciation to His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the confidence reposed in us and for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to evolving a new Nigeria. We are particularly delighted and grateful to Mr. President for the on-going construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway which is designed to pass through the coastal communities of Ondo State. This road when completed is bound to impact heavily on our socio-economic growth in the State. I must also thank the Vice President, His Excellency Alhaji Kashim Shettima, GCON for being ever supportive to our State, the National Chairman of APC, His Excellency Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje PhD, CON and Members of the National Working Committee for nurturing our great Party to this enviable height where we enjoy the trust and confidence of Nigerians. Our profound appreciation and gratitude also go to the State Chairman of our Party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and Members of the State Working Committee, leaders and stakeholders of the Party for your tireless efforts at ensuring our victory in the last Governorship Election. It is no surprise that you also reaffirmed the popularity of our party, the All Progressives Congress by replicating the victory in the recently conducted Local Government Election which ushered in democratically elected Councils at the grassroots level. We cannot thank you enough.
13. Let me also, thank the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a credible, free and fair Governorship Election in our State. You have demonstrated for the umpteenth time that the future is very bright for democracy in Nigeria. I must also thank ODIEC for the Local Government election that was free, fair and credible. All security agencies are well appreciated for their impartial and professional conduct which enhanced peace and security before, during and after the 16th November, 2024 Gubernatorial Election and also during the recent Local Government election. To the people of Ondo State, we thank you, once more, for trusting us with power and the leadership of the Sunshine State. This is our moment; together we have a chance to make a difference. I urge you to rededicate to a just, equitable and prosperous Ondo State, a State with a lasting legacy for generations to come.
14. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, our administration will continue to foster a harmonious working relationship with the legislative and judicial arms of government, recognising that our collective success depends on collaboration, mutual respect and a shared commitment to the well-being of our populace.
15. Permit me to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation to my trusted deputy, Dr Olayide Owolabi Adelami, mni. Over the past one year, Dr Adelami has demonstrated unwavering industry, loyalty and support, not just to me, but to the entire people of Ondo State. His tireless work ethic, wealth of experience and dedication to our shared vision have been invaluable assets to our administration. As a seasoned politician and retired technocrat, Dr Adelami has brought his expertise to bear on various initiatives, driving growth, development and progress in our beloved State.
16. As we embark on this journey together, the importance of peace and stability in our State cannot be overemphasised. Development, as we all know, can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace. I, therefore, urge all residents of Ondo State to work towards this goal. We must strive to eschew violence, promote understanding and foster a sense of community and shared purpose. We will work tirelessly to ensure that our State becomes a model for sustainable development and good governance. We will be transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of our people. We shall govern with integrity and the fear of God.
17. We shall provide a level playing ground for all to maximise their God-given potential, while creating an enabling environment for all to optimise the countless opportunities that abound in our State. Let me assure you that nobody will be discriminated against on account of political, cultural, religious, gender or ethnic propensities. By the same token, I like to appeal to our friends in the opposition parties to join hands with our administration to develop the Sunshine State. We have no need for unnecessary political distractions which are costing us time, resources and energies that could be redirected and gainfully utilised for accelerated development of the State. There is room enough for all.
18. I thank you for your continued support and for making this event colourful and memorable. God bless you all.
