His Excellency, the Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Rahman Mimiko, I hereby write this letter to you sir, on behalf of Ondo State Students across various tertiary institutions in Nigeria to show how we feel at this time and what we are subjected to by your administration.
To start with sir, I must sincerely appreciate your good works so far at transforming the regional leading state to a developmental bench mark for other states in Africa. This is very laudable! This can be said was obvious in the resounding victory you had in the 2012 Gubernatorial Poll during which you were given a return mandate to serve our darling state for a second term by the good people of Ondo state. This definitely shows how much the people of Ondo state love you.
I will not bow to the call of nature to continue to enumerate many good things you have done to our state, hence, turning this open letter to an appreciation letter. I know beyond this letter, the great people of Ondo State have their various yardsticks to measure your performances and appreciate you in their hearts and beyond. There is a purpose for this letter, so I will be quick to declare.
Sir, the main purpose of this letter is to draw you attention to some contentious and grieving issues on the 2013 Bursary and Scholarship Award to Ondo State students. It is quite unfortunate that since we applied for this award around March this year, no credible information has been passed to the students on when the payment will be made and most importantly, why it is been delayed.
It will be recalled that same thing happened last year but the bursary award was eventually paid into the beneficiaries' bank accounts on November 10, 2012 which is more than a month calculating by that this year. This is not good and accepted. Many of us have budgeted one or two things we wish to realize with this token before this year runs out.
Mr Governor, a rumour was around the media credited to the newly appointed Director of the Ondo State Scholarship Board, Mr Awude sometimes last month. He said the State Executive Council has approved the money meant for the Bursary and Scholarship payment. So if this is anything to go by, then we do not know why the payment should still be delayed! If Mr Awude is not capable of discharging this simple task at this time, then we do not see reasons why he should still remain in that position.
Honourable governor, the continued delay we are experiencing on this bursary and scholarship payment has brought a lot of doubt on the sincerity of your promises to us. Infact, most of us have been forced to conclude that the 2012 Guber Poll that was so close then was what forced you to pay our 2012 Bursary and Scholarship Awards at that time.
We are pleading with you sir to please intervene in our cause yourself and mandate the Ondo State Schorlarship Board irrespective of any barricade or Union propositions to pay us before Christmas this year. We applied ourselves directly to the Board and not through any student association and we also payed with our own money a sum of N500 for application processing, hence, any extreme or irrelevant consultation is uncalled for. At least, we can have something to cheer about and settle our educational bills before new year if you accede to our plea. We believe you listen to your people and that has earned you the title, The Caring Heart Governor. We know our own case will not be an exception.
Sir, permit us to also use this medium to wish you a Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year in waiting. Iroko joo, ko ma lo beee...
For: Concerned NAOSSites.
