How two governors “clashed” over governorship poll

– El-Rufai, Mimiko rally their supporters ahead of the November 26 guber poll in Ondo state

– Prominent Nigerians honour  late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his late wife Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo

– Governor Amosun says he is struggling to do what late Awolowo did while alive and in government

What can be regarded as a mild drama recently occurred at the 2016 Awo commemorative birthday symposium to honour the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his late wife, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.

The drama which unfolded at the Ikenne residence of the late Premier of the Western region, erupted after two governors, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Olusegun Mimiko decided to briskly campaign for their parties ahead of the November 26 governorship election in Ondo state, The Vanguard reports.

El-Rufai who was the chairman of the occasion had fired the first shot, as he boasted that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) would dislodge Mimiko’s party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the coming Ondo governorship election.

But this however didn’t go down well with Mimiko as a swift reaction from the governor through his representative was witnessed.

Speaking through his representative, Mimiko took an exception to the statement, vowing that the PDP was prepared for the APC at the election.

He said: “You said you are going to take over Ondo state, we are going to resist all attempts of APC’s onslaught. Ondo state is not going to fall for APC onslaught.”

Both however took time to eulogize the late Obafemi Awolowo.

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In his remarks, El-Rufai said it is conventional to salute the execution of the free education policy of the Awolowo.

He said: “When in 1979, some of his political opponents sought to propose a wooly notion of qualitative education in opposition to free education, the people of the West gave them short shrift, and rejected them at the ballot box. After his ministry as Premier of the West, Chief Awolowo gave the nation a taste of his acumen and capabilities as civil-war era finance minister. He managed the resources so well that the country emerged without debt from the war.

“In Kaduna state, we embrace the Awo formula for education. A year ago, we campaigned against the dismal state of most of our schools, with many lacking furniture, doors, windows, roofs and water. After the election, the things we railed against became our problems to solve.

“We have 4,254 public primary schools in Kaduna, and many are in very poor shape. Between September 2015 and January 2016, we have spent more than N6billion on school rehabilitation, and the provision of water and toilets to our schools. In our 2016 budget, the education sector has by far the highest allocation accounting for more than a third of the budget.

“We have therefore started the journey, but we have a long way and lots of hard work ahead of us to complete our programme of school repairs, provision of furniture and tools, students’ feeding and teacher training in an era of declining revenues. What no one can doubt is our commitment to expand access to education, and to deliver nine years of free, compulsory basic education with well-trained and incentivized teachers.

“The outcome of the 2015 elections is both our present and our future, as it is our collective burden and opportunity. As the inheritors of the progressive legacies of Awo, we, the leaders and members of the APC, must strive as he did, to meet the expectations of our people for a peaceful, secure and corrupt-free nation that delivers social services to all, and rewards ingenuity and hard work.”

While giving his own goodwill message, Mimiko said he had rebuilt all the schools built by Awolowo when he was Premier of western region.

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The Ondo governor said, his government has ensured access to quality education by making education affordable.

On his part, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state said if the legacies of Awolowo who died 30 years ago were still the reference point, the progressive governments have a lot to do.

According to him, he was still struggling to do what the late premier did while alive and in government.

On hand to welcome the dignitaries, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, the executive director of the Obafemi Awolowo foundation explained that the organiser decided to hold the programme at Ikenne to honour both papa and mama Awolowo.

Awolowo-Dosunmu explained that the event was not the first one the foundation would hold in honour of the late sage, adding that when her father was serving as Premier of the Western Region, he allocated 28.7% to education, while 10.7% went for medical services and 5.7% went for Agriculture.

Those who were at the conference include; former Military governor of the state Gen. Oladipo Diya, Senators Adegbenka Kaka and Olorunimbe Mamora, former Permanent Secretary, Ahmed Joda, former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili among others.

28 years after the passage of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, his wife Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo was buried beside him in the family compound in Ikenne, Ogun state.

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