Probe Mimiko on abandon projects, group tells Akeredolu

Osagie Otabor, Akure

A sócio-political group, the Congress for Rights of Ondo Southern Nationalities (CROSN), has called on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to commence a probe of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s administration especially on allegations of diversion of funds meant to complete capital projects across the state.

It said the projects were awarded by the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu.

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Other areas of probe demanded by the group are the management of funds that accrued to the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

The group hailed Akeredolu for speaking the truth about Mimiko on the abandoned projects started by Agagu.

A statement issued by the National Chairman of the group, Mr. Abiodun Fanoro, alleged that over N100 billion were supposedly used to award the projects.

Fanoro said the projects would have turned around the fortunes of the people as well as the economy of the state if they were not abandoned.

READ ALSO: Akeredolu blasts Mimiko, Ajayi

He listed the projects to include the Akure Water project meant to serve about six local government areas, the multi-billion naira Akure Sports Complex, the multi-billion dollars Olokola Export Processing project, with all its link projects designed to service the main project, several abandoned bridges aimed at opening up the riverine area of the state and provide unhindered access to Olokola.

Others were the Okitipupa multi-million naira Cassava Factory, aimed at providing jobs for over 2, 000 people, a road project to link, Ode-Aye with Igbotako, the Oloto-Igboegunrin bridge meant to link two local government areas also suffered a similar fate.

“The greatest casualty was to be the then OSUSTEC, Okitipupa, whose licence; the National University Commission was about to revoke Mimiko allowed its take off. This however did not take place until after many of the structures which were at different completion stages, had gone into ruin. It was these ruins that Akeredolu saw during his recent visit to the university that drew tears from him.

“Most of these projects had reached advanced stages of completion of between, 60 and 80 percent, while the Agagu had set aside funds for their completion, yet they were never completed by Mimiko.

“As if these onslaughts were not enough, Mimiko forcefully seized the only industry in the area, the Okitipupa Oil Palm Company, where Chief Mobolaji Osomo’s firm, Easterpot owns the majority share of 34 percent, sacked the Board of Directors, drove away from the management and appointed a sole Administrator who sent the company into comatose.”