By Friday Omosola
Ondo State government under the leadership of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has said the State main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) latest misadventure in respect of an Executive Order signed by the Governor manifested that the Party lacks knowledge about public governance.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo said the inferences are uncanny and connote ignorance, adding that the response requires subtly educating the opposition on the essence of institutional frameworks for good governance.
Ojogo said: “Yes, the Executive Order in reference is an official document duly signed by the Governor. But was it signed with the Governor’s son in mind? NO. Will PPIMU commence and end with the Governor’s son? NO. Was there an institution like PPIMU as presently enunciated before now? NO.
“Does PPIMU form part of an enduring Government legacy intended to engender and deepen good governance in tandem with the ever changing governance environment? YES. Are there other bodies in the mould of PPIMU in various states across Nigeria? YES, of course.”
He said the churned mischief assaults logic similarly carries the burden of a self-kill that the PDP admits the existence of such institutions under previous administrations.
“This is agreeable, only to the extent that indeed, Due Process Offices (what is now called the Bureau for Public Procurement) existed and under the current administration, it still suffices with defined roles with unfettered responsibilities within its areas of operation,” Ojogo added.
He further added that it appears illogical to consider improvements aimed at strengthening public governance capacities within the prism of challenged political confines, saying what the PDP said mean the state should remain static and not run with the changing times.
According to him, “As a responsible government, we will not solve today’s problems, especially in public governance, with yesterday’s solutions. PPIMU has come to stay. It is not the baby of an individual. It is an initiative to drive service delivery and enhance efficiency in public service.“
He reiterated that with PPIMU serving as a warehouse for quality service, excellence and efficiency, the Government has set a marketable standard for Peer Review and cannot afford to play the ostrich in an ever changing and dynamic world.
However, he enjoined the public, especially the Ondo State Public Service to ignore the fruitless effort of the PDP at incitement, noting that the party has misfired.
“A political party that does not know the difference between ‘process for approvals through’ and ‘seek approval from’ has no business in the affairs of men,” the commissioner said.
