WHEN MIMIKO MARKED JUNE 12 THE MOSHOOD ABIOLA WAY
June 12, 1993 presidential election widely believed to be Nigeria’s fairest election and won by Chief Moshood Kasimawo .Olawale Abiola has remained water shed in the country. On June 23, General Ibrahim Babangida, the then military leader, using several pending lawsuits as pretence, annulled the election, thereby throwing Nigeria into turmoil. Several thousands were killed (particularly in the Western region) following the riotous protest that greeted the annulment before Babangida agreed to hand over power to an interim government on August 27, 1993. He later attempted to renege on this decision, but without popular and military support, he was forced to hand over power to Chief Ernest Shonekan, a prominent nonpartisan businessman.
Nigerians continue to mark the anniversary of the annulled election annually since it was so treated 19 years ago. In Ondo State, the 2012 edition was grand. It held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade ground in Akure where school pupils from selected schools within the metropolis were on ground to be part of the epoch event.
The state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko chose a unique way to mark the date. He chose not to toe the traditional pattern of a parade and work free day. The Ondo event was unique. In fact, it was a remarkable day for primary school pupils and students of secondary schools in the state. They were the main beneficiaries of the day as the state government rolled out 10 free shuttle buses to convey them to and from schools free of charge. In the view of the present administration, led by Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the day must be celebrated with meaningful impacts on the lives of the ordinary man whose interest Late M. K.O Abiola vowed to protect event to the point of death. As a great philanthropist during his lifetime, Chief Abiola was an epitome of selfless personalities and lover of the poor and downtrodden in the society.
Dr Mimiko believes that the anniversary of the annulment of the 1993 Presidential election should not come and go without rubbing off positively on the masses whose mandate was jettisoned by the military junta with the annulment, hence the decision to make the day memorable for the people of the state whose wards attend public schools.
Having considered the agony of the school children, as many of them have to trek to and from schools everyday due to financial constraint of their parents, the Mimiko-led government, elected and defended by the majority of the people of the State, took a decision to launch free shuttle bus scheme for school children in the State. The State government launched 10 buses of 59 seating capacity to operate along 5 routes (Afunbiowo Housing to Army Barracks, Oba-Ile to FUTA Junction, Agbogbo to Army Barracks, Ijoka to Mega School Irowo and Araromi to Oke-Ijebu). This decision according to Mimiko was part of the palliative measures put in place to cushion the effect of the increase in the pump price of fuel by the federal government. With this noble idea of the government, children of the poor majority would now be able to enjoy dividends of democracy the more, thereby “putting more money” in the pockets of their parents to attend to other pressing family challenges.
It has always been the desire of the Mimiko government to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich in the State. Hence, its populist programmes anchored on its bottom-top policy. Notable example of the programes are the construction of world-class mega schools across the State so that the children of the poor could have access to quality education under conducive learning environment with the children of the rich and the abiye safe motherhood programme, which provides quality healthcare to pregnant women and children of the poor and the rich at no cost.
According to Governor Mimiko “We have decided to celebrate this year’s June 12 with the launch of the free shuttle bus scheme for school children because Late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola in his lifetime was a great philanthropist and cheerful giver. We therefore thought that the free shuttle bus scheme is a worthy legacy that we can bequeath to our children at this auspicious moment”.
“The scheme is also one of the many pronged approaches at reducing poverty level and improving the living standards of our people. Parents naturally strive, with the attendant challenges, to provide three square meals a day for their children. Added to the burden of payment of school fees, procurement of books and transportation among commitments, many children stand the risk of dropping out of school. The construction of mega schools, some of which would be inaugurated soon, is intended to uplift our educational system. The structures are designed to provide conducive learning environment for our children to be able to compete favourably with their contemporaries anywhere in the world. Today’s launch of the free shuttle bus scheme is one of the complementary actions to the new concept of primary school infrastructure intended to achieve this noble goal. Consequently, we have consciously packaged the school free shuttle to specifically operate in the major towns for the transportation of our children to and from schools.”
Nevertheless, the wind of June 12 also blew across to the inmates of the Ago Ireti Leprosarium in Akure where Governor Mimiko, accompanied by his wife Olukemi dolled out cash and food stuffs, including a live cow for the inmates to feel part of the anniversay. Governor Mimiko expressed joy over the warmth reception and encomium showered on his administration by the inmates. In his usual passion for the less privileged, he announced increment from their monthly stipends of N8,000 to N10,000 and promised to offer employment to about 12 graduates who are children of the inmates. He said “if the people in this situation could sacrifice themselves to train their children, they deserved to be assisted. “That is what Late Chief M.K.O Abiola stood for in his lifetime. We knew him as a generous man, he was a cheerful giver. That is what democracy represents. Democracy that cannot affect the lives of the people positively or that cannot add values to the lives of the people is not worthy to be called democracy”. Dr Mimiko added that soft loans would be made available for them through the State Micro Credit Agency to do their businesses. The community leader in the speech presented by Mr Tunji Oluwatimehin appreciated the state government under Dr Mimiko for the regular medical attention given to them, including regular payment of their monthly stipends. He said “Today June 12 is a memorable day as we are seeing our dynamic, purposeful, caring and God chosen Governor that has been transforming, beautifying and doing marvellous work throughout Ondo State .
This Governor will rule Ondo State for 2 terms. This is the Governor that the whole world has known and recognised. This is the Governor that has received numerous awards as the best governor in Nigeria . Sir, the whole community really appreciate your kind gesture in the way you have been helping us and making life more conducive for all the inmates in this settlement”. The Octogenarian and head of the community, Evangelist Daniel Bamigbetan prayed for the success of the Mimiko-led government and called for the support of all residents of the state for his re-election so that he can continue to transform the state.
Similarly, the children of the Motherless Babies Home also in Akure were not left out in the dividends of the June 12 celebration as the Governor presented them with foodstuffs, generating set and deep freezer to enable them feel part of the day. The Governor and his wife however expressed deep concern over the level of child abandonment in the country. As special gift from God, Dr Mimiko advised parents to always take good care of their wards as future leaders of the country.
Written By Dele Awogbami