As the tussle for the governorship seat of Ondo State gathers momentum, without doubt, the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun MIMIKO, CON whatever maybe recorded for and or against him, has made his marks in the annals of the history of the sunshine state.
Hence, whoever must seek to succeed him must be ready to continue from where he will stop, raise the bar and project the state along the path of accelerated development trajectory. As expected, agitations have already begun with various agenda and twists in the scenario and louder than ever, sectional division, unfortunately has begun to eclipse certain factors, a scenario where the less consequential takes precedence over the most consequential.
Now that the cloud still appears thick and murky and interests have begun to surface as aspirants have been showing interest across the three senatorial districts of the state, certain factors must be diligently scrutinized as we align interests, coalesce our decision into crystallizing the occupier of the exalted Alagbaka, the sacred seat of the governor of Ondo state, come Nov. 2016.
Such factors includes but not limited to: Cultural, Constitutional, Historical, Competence and general acceptability.
DIVERSITY OF ONDO STATE
Ondo State is indeed a broad and diverse state with three senatorial districts, each with six Local Government Areas to make up for a total of 18 Local Government Areas. Within Senatorial districts are arrays of ethnic and dialectical compositions of dynamic people.
The Akoko’s spread across the North in their diversity occupying four (4) Local Governments, in the same Northern district, we have the culturally endowed and rich Owo people as well as the Ose people occupying one local government each.
The South is made up of the Ilajes in one Local Government, the Ikales in two, the Ile-Oluji people in one, the Apoi and Ijaw people occupy one, while the none indigenes and commercial settlers majorly reside in odigbo local government.
In the Central, the Akure people have two local governments, the Ondos with two, while the peoples of Idanre and Ifedore have one apiece.
Emphatically, each local government has its uniqueness despite the fact that many similarities in cultural, historical and economic underpinnings exist.
Why I classified this factor as cultural is the salient fact that agitations for the exalted seat has lately transcended senatorial and we have now arrived at a more divided phase in which almost each ethnic or dialectical group within the state now lay claim to the exalted seat.
ZONING VS ETHNICITY
From this understanding, zoning or rotational senatorial arrangement now seems to have another baby under the banner of ethnic agenda within senatorial districts. Owing to the fact that the incumbent is from the central senatorial district, pundits have been postulating that the seat should now shift to either the South or Northern senatorial districts.
However, with the latest ethnic twist, the floor has been thrown open to vitiate senatorial agenda and thus, crystallize and advance ethnic agenda. This is a factor that many have dubbed as a qualification based on and entrenched in pre-colonial and archaic sentiment.
And often times, qualification based on these criteria have not produced the best. it is also worthy to emphasize that this is the bane of our national development. As such, antagonists of this ethnic certification for leadership may therefore be justified.
In fact, it is evident in our experience as a nation, that the fact that the president is from your state doesn’t mean he will focus on your state or region than others. In cases where that has been sensed, it has often been met with rejection, criticisms and condemnation and have often been described as unpatriotic.
CONSTITUTIONAL IMPERATIVES
Constitutionally, every citizen of the state, irrespective of ethnicity or religion has a right to contest the seat, provided other constitutional requirements such as age, etc. are met. This in a reasonable sense cements the arguments of the proponents of ethnic agenda.
With this, the floor has always been opened from the theoretical point of view for any qualified citizen to become the governor of the state.
Arising from this, it is now left for various political parties to decide which internal criteria to use in picking their candidate.
However, the Constitution equally does not empower any political party to bar any qualified citizen from contesting the party’s primaries based on sectional or ethnic factor.
VINTAGE ONDO STATE
Going down memory lane, the old Ondo State that existed between 1976 and 1996 existed as a broader and diverse configuration. It is on record that tolerance and mutual understanding have dominated our consciousness most times than we have disagreed.
It is worthy of note to draw this fact from our archives that despite the fact that the Ijaw ethnic nationality in Ondo state that occupied a bit more of a ward in the wider old Ondo State in the Second Republic was able to produce Chief Richard Jolowo as the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly during the tenure of Chief Micheal Adekunle Ajasin.
From a personal experience, it is worthy of note that I was at a relatively young age given an Honourary Chieftaincy title of Bamofinlewe of Akure Kingdom by the Deji-in-Council as far back as 2008, in the City of Akure, several miles away from my hometown, Ifira-Akoko in the northern senatorial district.
This further comfirms the Progressivism and inclusionary spirit of the people of Ondo state, in recognizing and appreciating my competence as a lawyer and contributions in the service to humanity, irrespective of my ethnic origin.
Our history is also replete with demonstrations and manifestations of local, national and international progressiveness and excellence, by our incomparable breeds of eminent sons and daughters in every field of human endeavour, many of who have contributed in many ways to state, national and global development.
One major blessing from our diversity is the richness and vastness of our reservoir of intelligentsia, credible, competent and capable human resources with national and global relevance. It is on record that so far, Ondo state has produced the highest numerical strength of citizens with the national merit award, among the 36 States of the federation. It is therefore relevant if arguments are advanced in favour of competence, ability, leadership metus, exposure, experience and general acceptability rather than ethnic certification and qualification.
From this point of view, it is not only senatorial or ethnic compositions that have capable hands. Rather, I say with certainty that every family lineage in the state has a governorship material.
DESIRABLE FLAG-BEARERS
It is therefore important for us to stress and press for competent, rational and dynamic candidates from our prominent political parties. We should look beyond today, the past, party slogan and logo, ethnicity or sectional sentiments.
What I urge my fellow citizens of the dynamic sunshine state to look forward to in the forthcoming elections are candidates with experience and competence to lead us with modern and pragmatic economic development agenda, masses oriented programmes, visionary and dynamic flag-bearers with global insights on how to transform our state. Ipso facto, those who postulate that only candidates that are short of the above qualities will hide under ethnic or senatorial agenda may easily win the heart of many.
Conclusively, the next race to the seat of the Executive governor of Ondo state should no longer be seeing as a game, for lives are at stake, it should no longer be a tussle for power at the expense of the masses, but a humble aspiration by patriotic citizens for dynamic and quality service.
The seat of the Governor of Ondo state is the governor of all the citizens of Ondo state, not of an ethnic or senatorial group, it wasn’t built on prejudice and sentiment, I speak for the entire state if I submit that in Ondo State of today, the people will forcefully reject, an Akoko governor, Ilaje governor, Idanre governor, Owo/Ose governor, Akoko governor, Ikale governor as well as Akure governor foisted by any pro-zoning/ethnic warlords.
Consequently, the governor of Ondo state is and must be the governor of all, and not of his Local Government, ethnic nationality or senatorial district.
God bless Ondo State.
