Prioritise security, agric, education, Elder Olabode writes Aiyedatiwa
A financial expert and resource management consultant, Elder Fessy Toba Olabode, has called on the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. (Dr) Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, to focus on security, agriculture, and education to meet the expectations of the people.
In an open letter addressed to the governor, Elder Olabode congratulated him on his 60th birthday and described his emergence as a “divine arrangement” meant to serve God and humanity.
He noted that his letter was the third in a series of similar advisory messages he had written to past governors, including Dr Olusegun Mimiko in 2010 and the late Rotimi Akeredolu in 2018.
Elder Olabode emphasised that the security of lives and property must be the governor’s primary concern, urging him to take decisive steps in safeguarding the state’s highways and forests.
He argued that improved security would boost economic activities and enhance the standard of living for the people.
The consultant also recommended a structured agricultural plan focusing on mechanised farming and rapid-yield crops like maize, rice, beans, tomatoes, and vegetables.
He proposed that each local government leverage its areas of comparative advantage, creating special markets to stabilise food prices and even export to neighbouring states.
Furthermore, he urged the government to capitalise on the global demand for cocoa, cashew, coffee, and cassava, advocating for investment in cocoa and palm oil production.
He suggested the establishment of a landmark “Cocoa and Palm Oil Arena” in Ondo State, similar to the iconic Cocoa House in Ibadan.
To boost the state’s revenue and employment, Elder Olabode proposed large-scale livestock farming in designated areas such as Ore, Epe, Idoani, and Afin.
He also called for industrial development, urging Governor Aiyedatiwa to collaborate with the organised private sector to establish industries that would provide jobs for Ondo youths.
On education, he pushed for a return to the free education model of the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, including free books and even laptops for senior secondary and tertiary students. He advised the governor to set up a seven-man committee to develop a framework for implementing this vision.
Elder Olabode commended the state’s contributory health insurance scheme but urged a shift to completely free healthcare for children under five and adults above 65.
He insisted that loopholes in state finances must be blocked to increase revenue by at least 300% to fund these programmes.
The letter also recommended optimising the civil service by redeploying qualified officers to classrooms to strengthen the education sector.
Concluding, Elder Olabode reminded Governor Aiyedatiwa that the people of Ondo State saw him as “a divinely ordained leader” and urged him not to disappoint them. He pledged his availability for further discussions on the proposals.
The letter underscores the expectations of Ondo residents and sets an ambitious agenda for the governor as he continues his tenure.
