Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has urged the Governor elect Rotimi Akeredolu SAN to imbibe political tolerance criticisms, abuse and bashing by the opposition, as necessary sacrifice to create the desired atmosphere that engenders peace
He also urged him to work earnestly to ensure sustainability of the prevailing peace in the state by taking it as his topmost priority when he assumes office.
.He spoke in Akure, during an official meeting he held with the Governor-elect since the conclusion of the November 26 Governorship election.
In Mimiko’s words: “I want to just make the point that the way we have handled this transition, even the election up till now is borne out of our firm belief that the greatest legacy we can bequeathe to this state is peace.
“And I keep telling the people, and I want you to know this. You go all out to do an opinion poll. Most people would not say that my best accomplishments are infrastructure, Health, Education. Most of them would say peace.
“So I think that your Number one responsibility is to ensure that the peace that we have enjoyed in this state in the last seven and half years goes untruncated.
“Knowing your pedigree and where you are coming from, I have no doubt in my mind that you would work for the peace of this state.
“Working for peace also includes a lot of political tolerance. I am perhaps one of the most abused Governors by the opposition in the history of the country.
“I just take everything in my stride because tolerance is a very important ingredient if you want to create the civil atmosphere that would engender peace.
“I recommended this to you Like I said, knowing you fully well, I am sure that you are a man of peace.
“I cannot see any reason why you would want to go through the hazzles of getting elected, unless you really want to serve the state”.
He promised Akeredolu a seamless transition and a colourful inauguration that would make history as the first civilian to civilian transition of such in the state.
He said: “Our promise is that we would have a seamless transition.
“You would also have perhaps the most colourful transition in the history of governance in this state.
“I believe that we need to do this for history, for this state. We must break the jinx of hostile take-over as it were in the state. And I thank God Almighty that your mindset and mine in this regard are the same.
“…. Very soon, I would also officially invite you. We are working on our documentation and our hand over notes.
“We are going to give you a fairly detailed account that would help you to be able to start running from day one and it involves a lot of work.
“ I think that the easiest of this is the inauguration. We would surely do the proper thing”.
He assured that he would always be around at any stage during the transition and even beyond, to offer whatever necessary advice to the incoming government.
According to Mimiko: “ I think that you would do exploits for the best of our people and state.
“The fact that our transition is seamless on its own would douse whatever tension in this polity. And it could help you to generate the necessary movement for moving forward.”
He thanked Akeredolu for his elegant and generous words on his administration, which he described as unusual for an incoming Governor.
Earlier, Akeredolu had praised Mimiko, for devoting his life to the service of the state and Nigeria in several capacities as two time Commissioner for Health, Secretary to the State Government, Minister and Governor.
According to the Governor-elect: “I think that we all owe you a debt of gratitude, Mr Governor for your service to this state and to Nigeria.
“Whether we like it or not , you have a track record that I am not too sure many people can surpass.
“I am sure that you should move and walk shoulders above others. With your head, walk tall because you have served with the best of you own abilities.
“The early part of your life, you have devoted to this state.
… I know that since you left Ife ( University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University), it has been this politics, this service, one time in, another time out.
“You have devoted your life, unlike some of us who have been in private practice, as lawyers and have spent much of our time for ourselves.
“But I think that most of your time has been in the service of this state. Commissioner for Health (two times), SSG, Minister, Governor”. It is not something that is common. And all of us must be able to accept it.
“I am one person that would go by these facts and I hope that I would have the opportunity of repeating this because I want to do it while you are there standing or sitting for all of us in the state to give the recognition and thank you for your service to this state.
The Governor-elect said: “I believe that we are making history. We are having no doubt a rare transition. and I believe that it is one that every other person in the country would try and copy by the time we are through.”
Said Akeredolu: “All we are here to do Sir, is to let you know and meet some of our members, and say that we are prepared for us to work together particularly in this transition period; as we will set up transition committees for them to work together, as we will both set up inauguration committee for the two committees to meet and work together.
“I believe Sir, that it is something we are able to do by next (this) week so that we would have ample time, and give yourself and me time to rest from all these campaigns.
“So that by the time we come back, they would have completed their job and we would now go all out and do what we need to do by February 24”.
Akeredolu told the Governor: “You have spoken with me on phone to congratulate me. Also I must note that the candidate of PDP and I have spoken. He has congratulated me.
“And I believe that we are making history. This would be a transition that is not normal. It would be one between brothers in this state.
“And I would make sure that it goes that way and ends that way, because all you have done is to serve this state and all I want to do is to serve this state”.
