The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said that the best of all the achievements of the former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, is the young people he built through mentorship.
Tunji-Ojo said this at the “Birthday And Conversation with Dr. Olusegun Mimiko” an event held to celebrate the 72nd birthday of the former Minister of Housing in Abuja on Saturday.
The minister described Mimiko as the architect of the modern Ondo and the best governor the state has ever produced.
He highlighted the achievements of the Mimiko in the areas of free medical and healthcare, education, youth empowerment, infrastructure and several other sectors of governance, “despite always being faced with difficult situations.”
”And beyond all of that, he showed the people, over his eight years tenure, that government can work for the people. And till tomorrow, his legacies are still there; the mother and child hospital, the medical university, the records are there.
”The best of his achievements happens to be the people he built through mentorship. The reason why I have to be here today is because the young people that he mentored, decided to celebrate him. He didn’t ask to be celebrated.” Tunji-Ojo said.
He further encouraged other leaders in public service and governance to mentor and build the younger ones.
”This is a lesson for all of us in government, no matter how long, for every entry, one day, there will be an exit. But when the exit comes, who will be there to hold your hands” has asked.
”I met doctor Mimiko as an aspirant running for the House of Representatives. He mentored us and never saw us as people who were too junior to be on his table. And today, to the glory of God and courtesy of Mr. President, I’m a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But even as the minister of interior, I remain your boy. Because you have invested and deposited in our lives.
”Our present today is a reflection of your yesterday, and we are grateful to you sir. It is my prayer that God grants you good health, so that you can continue to mentor us, because we can’t learn enough from your table.
The minister also admired the reading ability of Mimiko, while encouraging young people who want to stay relevant in leadership to copy from it.
He said Mimiko did a lot of things never believed to be possible through governance in the state, while assuring the former governor that he and other younger leaders will continue to leverage on his ideology.
”Mimiko is not a magician, but he did magic through governance in Ondo State. I can assure you sir, that we will continue to leverage on your ideology,” he added.
Also present at the event was the governor of the state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who while giving his remarks, directed that the Ondo State International Center for Culture and Events, popularly known as the Dome in Akure, be renamed after Mimiko.
Other dignitaries who grace the event include former governor Kogi states, H.E, Idris Wada, the Olowo of Owo kingdom, His Imperial Majesty, Alayeluwa, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, who doubles as the chairman of Ondo state council of Obas. Former and serving elected members of the national assembly from ondo state, and several other important guests.
