Mimiko lashes out at Agagu over spates of abandoned projects …Says Agagu frittered away his 6 years in office

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, in a rare show of anger over the legions of abandoned projects by the past administration of Dr Olusegun Agagu, on Monday lost his cool at the site of the abandoned Cassava Processing Factory at Ikoya in Okitipupa local government area of the State lashing out at the ex- governor saying his six years as governor of the State was characterised by more of motions without action.

Mimiko, who paid a visit to the abandoned factory which is a stone throw from Agagu's home town, shortly after laying the foundation stone of the N239 million Okitipupa Neighbouring Caring Heart Central Market, challenged the former Governor to point to any meaningful projects done by his government in any part of the State.

He assured the people of the local government that by December of this year, the market would not only be completed assured that he would turn Okitipupa into a city-centre before the end of his administration.

His words: “I challenge Dr. Olusegun Agagu administration to tell the whole world what it did with the billions of Naira it collected from the Federation Account because for the good six years that they spent here, there is nothing to write home about their regime.  I want them to come to Akure, the State capital and point out to one thing that they erected as a monument for the good people of the town; then they should come to Ondo, Owo and the whole Akoko and point out one single thing they did.

“Within eighteen months of this administration, despite the challenges we have, we can show that we have done a lot and even point out several things we have done in Akure alone.  We were able to contest three bye-elections and won all.   By the grace of God, go to Okitipupa by December this year you will see how we will turn the town to city-centre.

“Apart from this, look at the University they build in a hurry simply because of the election which they know they cannot win, they spent a lot of money there.  To me and to all Nigeria, we believe that if you want to establish a University, you start from temporary sites before moving to the permanent centre, that is when we know you wanted to do something but when you said because election is fast approaching and looking forward for a re-run, you started the project, you can't achieve anything but I can tell you authoritatively that we will make OSUTECH to be one of the best University in Nigeria.”

   While expressing displeasure about the state of decay at the Cassava Factory, the Governor accused the Agagu's administration started the company without any planning. He specifically disclosed that they brought all the equipments two years before looking for a place to establish the company. 

“Unlike the horrible situation here now, works suppose to have reached conclusion by now.  The truth of the matter is that we intend to add value to cassava plantation in Ondo State, but to achieve this, there are two critical areas to address, number one is that there must be cassava plantations, the Oke-Ayo Farm in Ondo that was built to produce starch did not have enough capacity to produce thirty per cent of the plantations but this one, if completed, will be producing sixty tonnes of cassava per day.  So, if we wanted to set up a cassava starch plant, this must be able to produce more than the one we have in Ondo.

”We were not happy with the situation of things at this factory but I can assure you that very soon it will take off.  We did not abandon anything, the last administration did not plant any cassava yet they are building Cassava Processing Food Company,” Mimiko lamented.

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the N239 million Neighbourhood Caring Heart Central Market Okitipupa, Mimiko explained that his administration would always focus on what would really benefit the people of the State and also create more job opportunities for the youths in other to reduce the level of unemployment in the State.

He disclosed that he awarded the contract for the building of the market as parts of his Caring-Heart programmes noting that the Market would when completed, accommodate all market women in the Area who are currently trading along the road-side, a trend which he described as dangerous.  The market, which would be made up of about three thousand open and locked-up shops is expected to be completed by December this year.