Irrespective of the sides of the divide you find yourself, it's been a year of uncommon happenings, glitz and a touch of sobriety.
As the year moves to a close, it will be interesting to look back into the year and do a review of some of the events that set shaped Ondo state in 2013.
1. Governor Mimiko's Inauguration – February 24th
The whole nation stood still on Sunday 24th February, 2013 when the Governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko was inaugurated for a 2nd term after a landmark victory at the October 2012 governorship election in the state.
The inauguration itself qualifies for a carnival of some sort. It was a first class event and first of its kind in the history of inauguration in Nigeria. The arrangement was on point, the stage was perfect, security and logistics were superb.
Give it to them, the planning committee did a perfect job, it was an excellent outing on February 24th.
2. Akure Jail Break – Sunday 30th June
Just when the state is yet to recover from the Mimiko Inauguration fantasy, a major event struck the state on Sunday 30th June, when some dare devil men of the underworld invaded the Olokuta Medium Prison in Akure at midnight. They broke the jail with substances believed to be dynamites and whisked away their target and also set some inmates free. Again Ondo state was in the news, but this time on the other side of the news.
Security within the state and across the border of the state was beefed up during this period. The security forces in the states launched manhunt for escapee inmates. Some were re-arrested, while some are still at large.
3. And the man dies, with others – Agagu's death and other deaths
On the night of Friday 13th September, while hundreds of residents were already gathered at the Adegbemile Cultural Centre for the Monthly Divine Agenda Praise Night, trickled in the news of the demise of the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Agagu. He was said to have slumped and died in his Ikoyi residence two days after returning from an overseas trip.
Just as the state has perfected plans to give the former governor a befitting state burial, tragedy struck again on Wednesday 2nd October. The Associated Airline aircraft conveying the corpse of Agagu to Akure crashed in Lagos, killing 15 people, among whom were the erstwhile Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Barr Deji Falae, and other top government functionaries from Ondo state.
It was a black Wednesday, not only in Ondo state, but also in Nigeria. The lull and sobriety that followed the tragedy in the state lasted for over two weeks before 'life' was restored to the Sunshine state.
4. Signing of agreement for establishment of Dangote Refinery – September 4th
Dangote Group of Companies and financial institutions put pen to paper to sign the $9million loan for the establishment of a refinery, petrochemical and fertilizer industry at the Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ondo state. The refinery when completed will create jobs for 85,000 Nigeria, no good news can be better than this for the people of Ondo state, a state regarded as a civil service state, where everybody depend on the government to make ends meet.
The news, which was greeted with enthusiastic reactions from both Ondo and non-Ondo state people, brought Ondo state to the forefront of the news again, on social media and the mainstream media, Ondo state and Dangote Refinery became the most talked about topic for more than two weeks.
5. Supreme Court delivers judgment on Ondo Guber Election – August 27th
After six months of fierce legal battle instituted by the candidates of the PDP and the defunct ACN against the re-election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko for a second term, the Supreme Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday 27th August, finally put an end to the 6-months of legal fireworks of the PDP and the defunct ACN.
Prior to the Supreme Court Judgment, the Election Petitions Tribunal and the Appellate Court both sitting in Akure, had dismissed the petitions of the parties for "lacking in merit," therefore upholding Mimiko's re-election, not satisfied with the rulings of the two lower courts, the PDP and defunct ACN candidates proceeded to the Supreme Court, where the 7 Justices in an unusual unanimous judgment upheld Mimiko's re-election.
It was a day of jubilation across the state, as jubilant residents throng the streets of Akure and other major cities in Ondo State to celebrate the judgement, which further bore testament to the will of the people in the stiffly contested October 2012 election.
6. The Deji of Akure Dies – December 1st
Death was so busy in the high places in 2013, it will be safe to say 2013 was the year media aides wrote the highest number condolence press statements.
As if the death of Agagu, Hon Raphael Nomiye, Deji Falae and 14 others who died in the associated airline plane crash was not enough, death came knocking in Ondo state again, but this time it knocked at the Palace and took away the agile and humorous Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, Afunbiowo II. Oba Adesida, at the age of 63, 3-years after ascending the throne. Though his reign was very short, it was a remarkable one. During his reign, Akure under him witnessed a massive transformation, and became what a true capital city should look like. Governor Mimiko while reacting to the Deji's death said:
"The tiger has fallen into a deep sleep. This elephant has fallen,"
7. Kidnappers storm Ondo
The palpable peace Ondo state has enjoyed since the inception of the Mimiko-led government in 2009 was put to a litmus test when kidnappers decided to extend their service to the state that has been adjudged as the most peaceful in the Southwest and in Nigeria.
Their first point of call was the abduction of an NTA-Akure Reporter, Olubunmi Oke on 14th March along Oba-Ile road in Akure. She was abducted after reading the 7pm news on the local station, she was however released four days after.
It didn't stop there, the kidnappers with the tag of 'unknown gunmen' began a monthly routine of high profile abductions, on Tuesday 23rd April, a nonagenarian ex-president of the Master Bakers Association of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter, Alhaji Musa Adisa, popularly known as Labaika was kidnapped on his way to the Mosque in Akure. On Sunday 12th May, Madam Olufunke Olatubora, the Octogenarian mother of the Commissioner for Adult, Technical and Vocational Education, Remi Olatubora, was abducted from her home in Irele Local Government. The 90-year-old mother of a PDP Chieftain, Madam Rachael Ibidapo was not left out of the kidnapping spree, as she was forcefully abducted from her home at gunpoint on Friday 15th November.
8. Ile-Oluji Crisis – May 28th
All hell was let loose on Monday 28th May when Ile-Oluji youths under the aegis of National Association of Ile-Oluji Students went on rampage. Lives were lost, properties were not spared. The Jegun of Ile-Oluji, Oba Suulade Adedugbe was chased out of his palace by the angry youths, but for the timely intervention of the Police, the Palace of the Monarch could have been torched. The motive behind their violence was hinged on the alleged refusal of the Jegun to allow the siting of a higher institution in the town, the state government however debunked the report of any plan by the Federal Government to establish a new tertiary institution in the state.
At the end of the 2-days crisis, 7 died, some were hospitalized and 47 arrests were made, the state government also set up a judicial committee of inquiry to look into the crisis.
9. President Jonathan commissions Omotosho Power Plant – October 19th
For Ondo state, it's been a year of landmark developmental projects, from the signing of agreement for the construction of Dangote Refinery to the commissioning of the Phase II of the 534 megawatts Omotosho Power plant.
Earlier in the year, the state government also took delivery of its multi-billion naira turbine power plant for its ongoing 30 Megawatts power plant project also sited at Omotosho in Okitipupa Local Government. By 2014, Ondo state people can be rest assured that power will no longer be a challenge in Ondo state with the commissioning of the power plant. This will further drive the much-anticipated industrialization in the state to create employment for the teeming youths in the state and neighboring states.
10. Ondo Lawmaker suspended for fetish activities
"He who is not guilty of the same offense, let him cast the stone first!" What is special about what she's alleged to have done? Asked a social media user while reacting to the report on the suspension of a member of Ondo State House of Assembly representing Ose Constituency, Fola Olasehinde. The news of her suspension generated a lot of controversies at different quarters, we are Africans, some argued.
Olasehinde was suspended for her alleged involvement in fetish activities when her landlord raised the alarm that some items, which include amulets, cow horns, miniature coffins, photo images of humans and animals were found in her apartment, this, the House said "ridiculed and brought embarrassment to the entire House" and suspended her indefinitely, setting up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the allegation.
The lawmaker however denied being in possession of the items as alleged by her former landlord. She dragged the House of Assembly before an Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, demanding her re-instatement. The court however upheld Olasehinde's suspension as she promises to fight on and appeal the judgment.
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