Ondo State Gov­ernor Olusegun Mimiko Clocks 61

As he turns 61 today, a book on Gov­ernor Olusegun Mimiko’s life so far would read like the memoirs of a gallant General. It is replete with victories attained on political war fronts. Perhaps, a vision of uncommon challenges ahead of him informed his being armed at birth with the names Olusegun and Abay­omi, Yoruba names signifying “God-given victory to shame ill-will”.

And true to his ‘Iroko’ sobriquet, Mimiko’s political profile has grown steadily, reaching sturdy proportions in the Nigerian political con­text. The physician turned politician has seen it all, courtesy of political tutelage through expe­riences garnered over 30 years with a beginning that can be traced back to his days at the Uni­versity of Ife, his earliest launching pad in the 1970s.

Back then, he was a member of the Pan-Af­rican and Socialist Student Organisation, the “Wantu Wazuri” and the Nigerian Young So­cialist Movement, holding sway as the Public Relations Officer. Emerging from the univer­sity a medical doctor with ideological leanings imbued with strong socialist tenets, Mimiko’s appetite for attending to people’s welfare had been sharpened. This informed the establish­ment of his MONA MEDICLINIC in Ondo town in 1985 where treatment attracted charges so minimal that the young physician could barely sustain operations. It was not in his na­ture to take advantage of the sick and under­privileged that thronged his hospital while his practice lasted.

Besides, he comes from a lineage of selfless, respectable men. His great grandfather, Chief Akinmeji was the distinguished Runsawe of Ondo, while his grandfather, Pa Famimikomi was also an accomplished man, who passed his gallantry down to Atiku Bamidele Mimiko, the governor’s father. In his day, A. B Mimiko was a notable social commentator, an accomplished manager of resources and a magnanimous leader of men. It was only natural for his son, Segun Mimiko, to adopt progressive ideas from his background, fuelling his sense of duty to the so­ciety and a further aspiration to exhibit his wel­farist tendencies through a more extensive and far-reaching avenue.

From a duty post of the Publicity Secretary of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1983, Mimiko proceeded to render service twice as Commissioner for Health, initiating the Health Rangers Scheme which delivered health services to hundreds whose means could never have sup­ported the cost of decent healthcare. His revolu­tionary approach to healthcare delivery as com­missioner during the administration of the then governor Bamidele Olumilua and late former Governor Adebayo Adefarati set him on a path towards higher responsibilities in politics.

The political intrigues that played out in the early 1990s informed his stepping down for a more senior candidate, aborting his quest to be­come Chairman of the then Ondo Local Govern­ment Council (now Ondo West and East). And when the stage was not clear in 1999 for the pursuit of his gubernatorial ambition, Mimiko, no longer willing to be a victim of an unfavour­able political equation, left his party, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) for the more promising Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a way, the move paid off, as he was compensated with the post of Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under the late governor with whom he inciden­tally shares a first name, Olusegun.

However, Mimiko’s fairly exalted seat did not result in complacency. He was not one to lose sight of his prior but still burning gubernatorial ambition. He maximised the leverage accorded him by his position as SSG to advance his politi­cal cause and influence. His efforts to break into national political prominence eventually yielded a solid result when he was catapulted to national limelight as Minister of Housing and Urban De­velopment, holding the post from the year 2005 to 2007. That particular flight marked his emer­gence as the man to watch as a most formidable candidate in the next governorship election in Ondo State.

Within and outside the PDP, Mimiko got an overwhelming public endorsement in the build-up to the PDP governorship ticket in 2006. His astute political sense informed his choice of the Labour Party (LP) platform, tossing his hat in the ring through the party considered at best a minnow at the period in a contest against the PDP, notorious for its intimidating war chest. With absolute confidence in his mandate, de­spite the results skewed in favour of the in­cumbent Agagu, Mimiko, the gallant warrior headed for the tribunal to claim his victory in the April 14, 2007 governorship elections in the state. He eventually took over his position as the rightful occupant of the Alagbaka Govern­ment House in 2009.

On recovering his mandate, the ‘Iroko’ hit the ground running, implementing projects and working tirelessly on people-oriented projects. And his sterling performance paved the way for yet another victory at the polls in the October 2012 governorship elections, making mincemeat of all opposition.

Despite Mimiko’s obvious political sagacity, he is still humbled by taking cognisance of the positive role of fate that seemingly pivots him through a trajectory of victories. This informed his party’s programme being aptly tagged “A Caring Heart”. For Governor Olusegun Mimiko, it was a matter of fulfilment in his political life not just to run for the office of governor of the state but to truly deliver the dividends of democ­racy to his people in full measure through accel­erated development.

Mimiko is constantly aware of the burden that his being tagged the people’s governor carries, driving him to eradicate poverty while making Ondo a model state in the country. He developed the CARING HEART “12 point “ urban devel­opment agenda to make Ondo towns and cities conducive dwelling places to work and ideal for recreation, following a roadmap of physical im­provement of the environment, bringing about economic empowerment and social transforma­tion.

Thus far, the Mimiko administration has re­mained true to its earlier pledge in the maiden broadcast in 2009, when he vowed to provide first grade leadership. “Your struggle will be my struggle, your joy will be my joy and your as­pirations will be my aspirations. I will strive at all times to take decisions that will benefit the greatest number of our people. In all seasons, we will work for you” the governor pledged.

Evidently, he is yet to go back on his vows. Key healthcare programmes embarked upon by the administration have been targeted at the vulnerable groups in the society, especially preg­nant women and infants through the Abiye -safe motherhood- programme and others. According to Mimiko: “We have targeted these segments and the results has been such that has been rec­ognised even beyond the shores of Nigeria as a template. We are creating an emergency med­ical system that would be like no other on the continent of Africa. So, again, we can show that we promised that we would work for you, that your concerns would be ours, that we would make choices on behalf of the people.

In terms of urban renewal, the administration has also remained on track. A 30-year urban re­newal programme, starting from the capital, Ak­ure is ongoing. This is being carried out in line with the party’s mantra.” We don’t just destroy shanties and send people to the streets and deep­en poverty. We have taken people off the streets; but we have taken them into a more commercial­ly conducive world-class environment, especial­ly the downtrodden,” Mimiko attests.

The government has also built three agro cit­ies. The one in Ore covers about 800 hectares of land, with cassava on 80 hectares and maize on 47 hectares. The place boasts of oil palm seed­lings, 300 fish ponds and mushroom demonstra­tion farms. There is also an extensive and mas­sive poultry farm section which has over 15,000 birds producing tonnes of eggs daily. The farm in Auga, in Akoko area, covers about 4,000 hect­ares, providing youths the opportunity for train­ings in animal husbandry and fish farming. Such farms are also in Epe, near Owo and in Isua Ada.

Mega schools have also been built to ensure learning for those unable to afford private ed­ucation. In fact, private sector elites have also been taking advantage of the schools. And an “Incentivisation” package has been provid­ed for the teaching staff of the schools. They are paid relativity allowance, and have also received 27.5 per cent salary increment. The teachers are also being trained and re-trained. As expected, these special incentives have started yielding positive results. The only Qual­ity Education Assurance Agency in the country, established by the state government, is involved in maintaining standards and setting parameters in all the agencies and departments of govern­ment in the state. This is where he has made the greatest impact.

The governor has, to date, built close to 50 neighbourhood markets. The markets were de­scribed by a tourism magazine’s editor as Ondo’s 5-star market. The facilities include 24hrs solar light, crèche, clinic, toilets, police post, a bank, boreholes and a mosque. The market is divided into two phases, each with its own manager who sits in a truly executive office. The manager is no other than one of those women who used to display their wares, mostly foodstuff, under the sun and in the rain.

On June 12, 2012, he rolled out the free shuttle scheme whereby students in prima­ry and secondary schools in the state ride to school in luxury buses dedicated solely to that purpose, a deliberate effort aimed at highlight­ing the essence of social justice and good gov­ernance in the collective quest for a just and egalitarian society. The scheme, meant to im­mortalize the memory of Nigeria’s departed Icon, the late Chief MKO Abiola who paid the supreme price in his efforts to claim the man­date freely given to him by Nigerians, started with 39 buses in 2012 and, by 2013, the fleet increased to 90.