Seeking the MKO Spirit

The Ondo State Government celebrated three years of unbroken operations of its free school shuttle as part of activities to mark this year’s anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief MKO Abiola. James Sowole writes

June 12, 1993 means different things to different individuals, groups and societies. Politically, it was on this day that what many people believed to be the fairest and freest election was conducted in Nigeria.

It was a day when majority of Nigerians decided to vote for a particular candidate and his party irrespective of ethnic or religious differences.

The date was significant not because that was the first election to be held in Nigeria but because of the characters of the man at the centre stage, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola simply called ‘MKO’ who many people believed would have solution to many problems bedeviling the country.

To the people, MKO Abiola represented, hope for the masses, fairness, equity, the bridge between the rich and the poor and care for the indigent people.

Indeed his philanthropic gestures to the people that cut across ethnic, religious and social status was a big deal for the people.

So the events that followed the annulment of the election were enough testimonies to tell the whole world that the action of the military government actually dashed the hope of the common man.

Among different groups, societies and government particularly, state governments in Nigeria’s South-west consider June 12 as a historic day to be observed.

In the past monuments have been named after MKO Abiola and the day has since been declared a public holiday in the south-west part of the country since the advent of current democratic dispensation.

To immortalise the day, Ondo State Government commenced the ‘Free School Shuttle Scheme’ for pupils and students in primary and secondary schools in the state.

The Free School Shuttle Scheme, launched on June 12, 2012 has been providing needed support to school children in primary and secondary schools in the state.

The Ondo State Government during the launch of the programme said it was in line with the principle of taking care of the indigent people, which Abiola lived and died for.

Moreover, the programme came as part of measure to cushion the effect of that time when the federal government suddenly removed the fuel subsidy and which increased the burden many parents had to bear to send their children to schools because of hike in transport fares.

Three years down the line, the programme that started with 39 buses in few local governments had not failed for one day despite the high cost of diesel and had spread other local governments having 90 buses in its fleet.

Elated by the success of the scheme which is still up and running three years after its formal launch, the Ondo State Government celebrated the 2015 anniversary of the June 12, election reeling out the success of the scheme that had been helping in alleviating the burden of the teeming school children and their parents.

It was a testimony galore at the event which took place at the State Cultural Centre, Adegbemile in the state capital. The hall located at Oke Eda area of Akure was filled beyond capacity as parents, teachers and students from several primary and secondary schools, human rights activists came in their hundreds to celebrate the success of the scheme.

There were several performances of dance, callisthenic display and drama by the children while remarks were made by parents, teachers and other stakeholders who commended the scheme.

In his testimony, a teacher, Mr Olamiposi Adelanwa said the government has demonstrated a caring attitude with the scheme, which had been very beneficial to all stakeholders in the education sector.

According to the teacher, most of the students in his school that used to come late and thereby missed the first and second lessons now come early because they do not need to trek to school.

For Joke Adesina, a student of Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Akure “the free bus service of has bridged the gap between the children of the rich and the poor parents because all of us now ride in the same bus to and from school. Some of us that used too trek to school and get tired during the first period now have time to settle down before the lesson starts.”

Also, Bode Akinola, a student of St Mathias Secondary School, Akure said: “This bus service helps us in many ways. We do not trek to school again like we used to do before. My mum used to spend N100 per person daily before and we are five in number. I want to say that he (Mimiko) should continue the good work and God will continue to bless him.’’

Mr Rasheed Adewunmi, a parent said the scheme had brought a lot of relief to many parents because the cost of transporting students to and from school had been removed by the scheme.

“It is very good; it helps people in saving money. Those that are poor and do not have money to give their children for transport to school now have a respite. Some people have four children in school and do not have enough money to give their children for transport, but this one will save them, to and fro. This is a new agenda and everybody is pleased with it, even the old men and women”, he said.

Also commending the scheme, Adenifesi Jacob of  Oyemekun Grammar School said: “At least, dropping and picking us children is a good thing and everybody is happy with it. Even if our parents give us money for transport, we save it and use it for other things. Parents are saving what used to be transport money to buy other things.

“My advice to Governor Mimiko is that he should keep on doing good to us and any other governor that is coming after him should make this continue. You know, if another governor comes now, he may stop this. We do not want this to stop.”

Highlighting another benefit of the scheme, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Steve Awosika said the scheme has increased school enrolment since its commencement three years ago.

“Before the scheme started, school enrolment in our secondary schools stood at 211,223, but one year after, it rose to 223,241 and has now risen to 250,000. The enrolment has been increasing every year. Many parents that could not send their children to school, because of accessibility can now do so.

“We want to ensure that education is accessible to all our children. We thank Governor Mimiko for making this possible for us. The school enrolment is growing in geometric progression from year to year”, Awosika stated.

In his remark, a human rights activist and the Publicity Secretary of   a Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin said the unbroken operation of the scheme in the state showed that there is a proper leadership in the state.

Odumakin said the government must be commended for the success of the scheme because project like this in the past don’t last because of sharp practices.

“It had happened in the past that government will take money for new buses but will go for used ones that cannot stand the test of time. It is commendable that this did not happen in the case of this free school shuttle in this state for the past three year and the buses are still in good condition

“Those of us who came from a privileged background will not appreciate this scheme. But if you trek two or three kilometres to and fro school, you will appreciate this assistance. The scheme has created multiplier effect.

“If you look at students of public schools in Ondo State, you can see them neat, it is not so in some states because many of  these students trekked long distance to and fro schools”, he said.

Speaking at the event, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who could not hide his delight about the success of the scheme, said he was elated to see that the scheme has exceeded all expectations in its success at alleviating the transportation burden of the teeming school children and their parents.

“It is indeed a thing of joy that since the formal launch on 12th June, 2012, the scheme is still up and running three years after,”Mimiko said

Mimiko said the decision to inaugurate the scheme was a deliberate effort aimed at highlighting the essence of social justice and good governance in the quest for a just and egalitarian society.

He added that the scheme was also to help immortalise the memory of the departed icon, late Chief MKO Abiola, who paid the supreme price in his efforts to revalidate the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election in which he was the acclaimed winner.

“Let me restates here that regardless of the present socio-economic situation in the country, our administration here in Ondo State shall never allow the efforts of our heroes of democracy, whether dead or alive to be in vain.

“We shall continue to give governance content to June 12. We shall continue to honour these patriots, not just in rhetorics but by seeking too actualise the noble values of good governance and democracy which many of them lived and died for.

“We shall continue to consolidate on our numerous programmes targeted at improving the livelihoods of the people and residents of our state”, Mimiko said

Congratulating the students and parent and also appreciating their testimonies about the scheme, Mimiko said the administration is more determined and feel encouraged sustaining the programme even beyond his tenure.

“Let me assure you that regardless of the general economic downturn confronting governments across Nigeria, we shall sustain the funding of the scheme. We have also taken bold steps to institutionalise the programme through a bill to the Ondo State House of Assembly which will ensure that this laudable programme outlives the present administration. With this legal backing, successive administration will have to continue to sustain the scheme”, he said.

The governor who also promised to fulfill the administration’s pledge to extend the services of the buses to the remaining four local governments that are currently not enjoying them stated that the riverine areas of the state would soon be provided with free boat shuttle services.

Mimiko, who commended the school children for their orderliness while boarding the buses, said the scheme has also helped to inculcate the spirit of orderliness to the children. He also commended the drivers and other workers operating the buses.

The governor also commended the state Commissioner for Transport, Otunba Nicholas Tofowomo for his commitment and dedication too duty which he said contributed in no small measure to the success of the scheme.

“Tofoowomo has not only demonstrated effective leadership by example but has shown tremendous passion and commitment to the job. I commode him and his team for a job well done”, he said.