Former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in Ondo State Rotimi Adelola has authored a book which chronicles the achievements and legacy projects of the Olusegun Mimiko administration in Ondo.
The book is titled: Working under the Sunshine: Reminiscences on How a State Government in Nigeria Created Values for the People.
Mr Adelola, the longest-serving SSG in Ondo State, spoke with The Podium Magazine’s publisher Ademola Akinbola about his new book.
According to him, the story of Mimiko’s administration is worthy of being told by him having worked closely with the former governor.
“For one thing, the philosophical orientation of Governor Mimiko, his leadership tendency, and his vision-driven approach to governance are worthy of emulation by current and aspiring Governors and other elected and appointed political office holders. What l have done in this book is to decently reveal the underbelly of the Mimiko administration, the strategies, the challenges, and decisions, and to set the record straight about the administration by providing an accurate account of historical events, and correct misconceptions,” he said.
Adelola noted that the book is suitable for elected and appointed public servants, researchers, political science, public administration and organisational psychology students. He further said it will also inspire eminent individuals who are committed to uplifting the masses from ignorance and poverty.
Adelola, who was the director of organisation of the Ondo Study Group which was created in 1987 with Mimiko as the chairman, said there wasn’t any failed project in the Mimiko administration.
He also addressed claims about the late former governor Rotimi Akeredolu jettisoning Mimiko’s projects.
He said, “The administration of His Excellency Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (of blessed memory) implemented some of the developmental projects inherited as work-in-progress from the Mimiko administration. The succeeding Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s government is still implementing some of the inherited projects in addition to the ones his government initiated.
“For instance, the late governor worked assiduously to obtain approval for a deep sea port in the riverine south senatorial district of the State. Dr. Mimiko handed over the deep sea project in his handing-over note. Similarly, Aketi’s government followed up strategically on the utilisation of the Ore independent power plant by inviting some industrialists to commence operation at the adjoining industrial park for which the 60mw power plant was constructed by the Mimiko administration.
“However, there are other projects the late Governor Akeredolu, SAN did not follow up with continuing implementation. I have in mind the world-acclaimed Abiye Safe Motherhood project and its foundational Mother and Child Hospitals; the state-wide school shuttle for students, the Mega Schools, the bottom-up rural community development, urban renewal projects, positioning of the Medical Village as a centre for medical tourism, the Idanre Hills Tourism project, and so on.
“Of course, a succeeding civilian administration may not continue the implementation of projects inherited from a preceding administration. Differences in ideological orientation are a strong factor here.”
Adelola is an alumnus of the International Development Ireland (IDI) Dublin; London Management College, London; the Society of Neurolinguistic Programming, San Francisco, California; and the Harvard-Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA. He was trained as a film producer at the Mainframe Film and Media Institute in Abeokuta.
“My next movie is a thriller titled Deadly Game. The premise is that ‘mindless ambition leads to its destruction.’ The Yoruba version is titled ‘Itansan Oorun.’ I also have a work-in-progress movie-making project titled Omolabake with His Excellency, Dr Mimiko,” he said.
