On the N300M Accident & Emergency Trauma Centre :Ondo state government replies Sonala Olumhense...

Few weeks ago, SaharaReporters columnist, Sonala Olumhense threw a request to the Ondo state government of Olusegun Mimiko, asking him to speak up on his government's announced  N300M accident and emergency trauma centre.

Here at allOndoState.com, we forwarded the write up to Information Commissioner, Ranti Akerele. 

Here is his response verbatim:.

The Government is committed to fulfilling its promise to building the Accident and Trauma Centre and the process have commenced with the Public advertisement of the Tender and as at now the papaers for the award of the Centre is already undergoing the consideration of the State Tenders Board who will recommend to the Executive Council after due consideration of all parameters of award,the awar of the contract for the physical structures.However I can in all authority inform you that equipments have been otdered and preparation of site have begun at Laje road Ondo.

The Mimiko administration is known for its committment for liberating Ondo state pple from pverty and preventable dearth.We cannot celebrate or Mother and Child Hospital enough,(he Gani Fawehinmi Diagnostic Centre in Ondo is ready.Thank u for your intrest in Ondo State.The State of Pride."

Needless to say, we will be following up on this response with an analysis soon.  

Meanwhile, we recognise and commend Commissioner Akerele for the visibility of his office now on the world-wide-web. 

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Spain denies Ondo govt officials visas

Some government officials of the State Government were expected to accompany an 11-year old winner of the 2009 MARE International Mountain Climbing Expedition, Master Akinwunmi Sunday Edward to Spain.

Those billed to travel with the boy included the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Tola Wewe, Chief Press Secretary to Ondo State Governor, Mr. Olabisi Kolawole Edwards,  Chairman, Idanre Local Government Area, Mr. Sunday Taiwo Ayodele.

As reported in the Vanguard here.

Without having access to the actual rationale of the Spanish embassy for visa denial, the most potent question here is:

How fundamentally jobless can three (3!) state officials be, if they have to follow an 11-year old to Spain  for  an exhibition ?

And, the way it works, in Nigeria, possibly in Ondo state, their PA's, wives and mistresses (as is usually the case) would be expected to be part of the team. 

Right ? You can see why Visa officials are raising eye-brows.

Commissioner Akerele's statement, in response,  reeks of fire-power, without any hit:

“In our opinion, this is a mundane, lame, absurd and laughable excuse adduced by the Spanish Embassy that officials of a State Government who, the State had expressly stated in its letter that it would be sponsoring would either bolt away or have no means of sponsoring their trip!

“Again, it is an affront to aver that these State officials who have subsisting and valid Visas to other very advanced nations and who have equally travelled to several countries and have returned home would now abscond in Madrid!

Affront ?  No, its not. Even if it is, what are you going to do ?

The reality remains its a waste of resources, for any more than one Ondo state official to be billed as accompanying the kid in question here to Spain.

It invites questions. Questions about motive. It simply feels outrageous, in a global economy where other serious governments are looking to save costs. 

And to the extent that the right to grant entry Visas or not, remains with the embassy 100%, the Ondo state government should eat the humble pie.

The real affront here, is quite simply what it says about us, that three state officials see the  need to follow an 11 year old all the way to Spain.

It's a glowing shame!

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Q & A with he Ondo state commissioner of Information, Ranti Akerele.

A citizen apparently wrote the Ondo state government via the Information commissioner's facebook page.

The commissioner's  response is instructive  and commendable. Here is the full text of the exchange:

Isola Oluwasina Adenle November 22 at 5:16am  

Sir,let our caring heart Gov,Remove d disparity in salary of state health workers and deir counterpart at the LG levels.thanks

 Commisioner's Response. 

Noted! Message will be passed to the appropriate quarters. It is your govt; therefore anything that is doable will be done to make the long suffering of Ondo state people happy. I however will say at this rate when everyone is asking for a salary increase, I speak as a Nigerian who is concerned not as a govt official, the time will come when people should not expect govt to provide any amenity in form of healthcare,roads,education,etc for all the money would have been used to pay salaries, as at now as many as about nine states in the federation cannot meet up with wages and salaries as at when due.Solution.Let us get our politics right, vote in credible people into all political offices and let us re appropriate that which belongs to all of us at the Federal level, then get our economy right because if minimum wage is 50,000 and a tin of milk goes for 1000'what has the Average Nigerian gained? Less than 20percent of Nigerians earn salaries of any form, so no increase in wages for them “but if we get the politics right and consequently the economy right, then shall we expect the living standards of the average Naija man to improve even on a minimum wage of 5,000.Pls the above is my personal view, I invite Nigerians to debate this?

The real challenge for the commissioner is to take the debate he asks of Nigerians to the public.

And speaking of salaries, it is curious commissioner Akerele  does not make references to the salaries of  public office holders as it compares with the slant of his argument. 

We would like his thoughts on that. 

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Court of Appeal, Akure begins work...

“I want to warn that in fulfillment of every desire, there is an obligation created. It is our duty to lay proper foundation for the new Court of Appeal division in the state, but to do that better, we seek the co-operation between the Bench and the Bar.

“It is going to be joint responsibility. I urge you to be diligent in your work, and you should not file frivolous petitions and applications. Moreover, be honest in your dealings and in doing that, you owe the court a higher duty,” the presiding justice stated.

There goes the presiding judge in Akure, as the Federal Court of Appeal begins service.

Wishing them a long spell in the expected qualitative delivery of service to the people of Ondo state and environs. 

The full report is at 234next.com

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Speak up! governor Olusegun Mimiko...

LAST March, in Ondo State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko declared that the state government would spend N300 million to establish an emergency medical service and trauma centre.

The announcement followed a horrendous road accident in Ore where 40 pupils of Arisent Nursery and Primary School were killed as they tried to cross the highway.

The 40 kids and their families did not deserve their fate; they were the victims—and further proof—of the government irresponsibility that defines our nation. In 1990, during a stop in the same area in Ore, I had wondered how on earth those kids could be made to cross that road twice each day, and for how long they would be successful.

In 2010, the horror that had long been placed on the calendar by the state and federal government, as well as the Federal Road Safety authorities, destroying 40 families and an entire community in one afternoon.

As I observed here last March, an emergency medical service such as Governor Mimiko's is always welcome, but it is no substitute for good roads or a responsible medical care scheme. And there is always room for a people-sensitive government.

In any event, was Governor Mimiko even serious? If so, the public would like to hear his progress report. Speak up, Mr. Governor!

There goes Sonala Olumhense's commentary as published on SaharaReporters here. (emphasis ours )

Here, at allondostate.com, we have written to the commissioner of Information - Ranti Akerele, via his facebook page 

We eagerly await the government's response.