*AGAINST ALL ODDS AND PREDICTIONS FROM OPPOSITION, AKETI WON’T OWE SALARIES LIKE DR. MIMIKO IN SECOND TERM*…. *Dr. Akeredolu O.N* *Ondo state civil servants should turn deaf ears to the messages of prophets of doom; Aketi feels their pains* *INTRODUCTION* The opposition members in Ondo state are the typical examples of probably cats with nine lives, if you kill them now, they quickly resurrect. Though we may not see anything bad in criticizing state government policies constructively, it is the beauty of democracy but it must be constructive, devoid of character assassinations and mudslinging. The present opposition in Ondo state lacks technical know how on effective opposition. Having failed to prevent Arakunrin’s re-election despite all their shenanigans, they have started poisoning the minds of civil servants against Arakunrin’s government saying he won’t pay them their salaries regularly in his second term tenure. This is another lie that must be refuted by the lovers of good governance of Aketi in Ondo state. From Arakunrin’s styles of action in the state, it is obvious that he doesn’t possess the typical deceptive nature which is synonymous to an average politician in Nigeria. Arakunrin is among the few politicians in Nigeria who don”t give a damn , he will do the right things that are better for the people irrespective whose ox is gored, his goals of governance are to make lives better for the downtrodden in Ondo state. He openly said he wants to be remembered like the great sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was the premier of old Western region, who died more than three decades ago but his legacies are still staring at us all over Western part of Nigeria. For Arakunrin to have chosen this great Yoruba man and leader as his mentor means he is ready for good governance and no amount of propaganda from opposition parties in the state can derail our Arakunrin from giving meaningful governance to the people of Ondo state. It is true that some state workers have not received some months’ salaries but this can be blamed to the great fall in monthly allocation from federation account. This is one of the reasons that Arakunrin’s led government is trying to improve the IGR of the state, so the state can be viable enough and not depend on federal government for survival. Aketi is a good man, feels the pains of civil servants in the state and will do everything to satisfy them. He prioritized the payment of salaries backlog owed by Dr. Mimiko’s administration. This alone has shown where his interest lies, state and local government workers in Ondo state should pray for Nigeria economy and we shall smile again. *EXPERIENCES FROM PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS* When Chief Adebayo Adefarati took over the reign of governance in Ondo state, the salaries of civil servants never witnessed any delay, the people of the state enjoyed the good days of Baba peace, they were paid as at when due, this great Akoko man was not able to survive the big hammer of Agagu led *PDP* which defeated *AD* of Chief Adebayo Adefarati. Dr. Agagu took over the leadership of the state in 2003, his government which had comrade Alaba Isijola as head of service, over pampered Ondo state civil servants. The economy boom of that era was felt in all strata of Ondo state economy, despite this, most of them betrayed him for Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu was forced to call them evil servants at the end of the day. Dr. Olusegun Mimiko who took over after 6 years of meritorious reign of Dr. Agagu, ruled the state for eight years , he came up with culture of owing civil servants and ended with backlog of seven months unpaid salaries which the government of Arakunrin inherited and paid six months of these huge debts. *EXPERIENCE WITH ARAKUNRIN’S GOVERNMENT* Arakunrin led government came on board in the midst of economy meltdown, he has done his best to ensure the economy of the state is stabilized by increasing the state *IGR* to this present enviable status. Six months’ salaries out of the seven months of Dr. Mimiko’s administration were paid. The global economy is presently under threat, Aketi led government ensures that no sector suffers so far in his first term in office that comes gradually to an end early next year. The salaries of some members of staff of state owned institutions are not regular, including the teaching hospital in Ondo town, that is the fact on ground in the state, but this cannot be blamed on Mr. governor but on their CMD and boards of management. Some of them are not sincere enough to the Arakunrin led government, they are only doing the bidding of their leader, the immediate former governor of the state who appointed them. The ex governor later showed himself as bogus enemy of his age long friend (Aketi) in last election in which he supported the estranged deputy governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi. Thank God, they both failed together woefully. Now that the good people of the state have agreed through their votes that Arakunrin should continue to lead them for next four years, he will continue to make lives meaningful to the downtrodden in the state. *IN CONCLUSION* The civil servants of the state and entire Ondo state people should not entertain any element of fear in their hearts, their friend and brother, the Arakunrin of the universe won’t let down the trust reposed in him by the good people of the state. Aketi by birth and training as a lawyer, human rights lawyer for that matter, will not do anything to tarnish the good name he has built for almost four decades. They should turn deaf ears to messages of prophets of doom. The entire good people of the state should not stop praying for the entire nation, that God should restore our economy to good old days. They should be assured of the regular payments of their salaries. In second term of Aketi, it will be well with Ondo state and Nigeria, amen. *Dr. Akeredolu O.N, vice chairman, Aketi/ Aiyedatiwa Medical Committee, 2020 campaign*
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