PRESS STATEMENT
On Wednesday, August 19, 2020, Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN subtly suggested that he might consider a reduction of the exorbitant tuition fees payable in the tertiary institutions in the state. It should be noted that upon his assumption of office as governor, Rotimi Akeredolu had increased the tuition fees payable in state owned tertiary institutions to the chagrin and protestations of all critical stakeholders especially the students. All pleas and entreaties to make the governor rescind the anti-people decision were vehemently rebuffed as the governor stuck to his guns.
The public would recall that one of the major disagreements between Agboola Ajayi and his boss the Governor was on the governor's insensitive decision to commercialise education and make it unaffordable to ordinary people in a state, where education is about the only industry.
The Deputy governor had sharply disagreed with the obnoxious policy of an increase in the tuition fees and stoppage of the payment of WASSCE fees for secondary school pupils.
Agboola Ajayi is however, surprised that Mr Governor yesterday muted a reduction in the tuition fees without making reference to the efforts of the Deputy Governor overtime on the vexed and contentious issue.
The good people of Ondo State should be wary of this proposed/supposed change of heart as it does not in any way represent a genuine love for the masses. It's a a manipulative Greek gift and decoy solely intended to swindle the people of their votes (that is, their power) in the forthcoming governorship election in the state. A man who has refused to listen to the agitations of the people on the matter of excessively hiked fees for more than three years; whose wife told protesting university students to 'go to hell' cannot be trusted with dire minutes promise let alone implementation at a time when defeat at the polls has become his constant nightmare.
The Deputy Governor urges the people to be steadfast and resolute in the efforts to bring about a people's friendly government which is underway through a coalition of the people themselves. Akeredolu's proposed gift should be rejected for what it truly is, it is Greek and unnecessary now after many students had dropped put of school over hiked tuition fees.
Comrade Allen Sowore
Media Adviser to the Deputy Governor
20th August, 2020.
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