Sir: Today the political, economic, growth, developmental and general life in Ondo State has remained stagnant since the exit of the then Governor Olusegun Kokumo Agagu on September 13, 2013, 13 years ago with circumstances leading to his sudden death very questionable, especially in a Nigerian world where telepathy is readily available for mobilisation.

To the issue of development and transformation under Agagu, it goes without argument that the highest in monthly federal allocation to the state during Agagu’s meritorious but brief 66 months in office averaged N5 billion during which he expended about N100 billion on salaries of public servants/political appointees, including arrears as well as payment of pensioners of all categories including arrears.

In the educational sector the former University of Ibadan teacher built 2000 blocks of classrooms for primary schools across the state, not to mention the same classroom facilities built at the state Adekunle Ajasin University, then a glorified secondary school in Akungba.

He established the state University of Science and Technology ( the first and the only tertiary institution in the entire Southern senatorial District) located it between Okitipupa (Ikale nation) and Igbokoda (Ilaje/Ese Odo nations), a project his successor did everything to sabotage it’s take off but for the strindent public outcry by people.

In the health sector Agagu’s sterling record could not be neared till date establishing General Hospitals in all the ocal government headquarters, establishing two Specialist Hospitals in each of the three senatorial districts, maternity/clinics in all the two hundred and three wards in the state, Free Festival of Surgery among many others too numerous to mention. It is also on record that he began the reactivation of the then moribund Okitipupa Oil Palm Plc, stabbed to bleeding by his successor but lucky to get a life-line under late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

The Iju Odo-born former Aviation Minister built the state’s only stadium in Akure as well the famous Dome; a state of the earth facility for all social and civic engagemens in the state. He also had his magic hand in road construction across the state, including new roads.

Agagu probably taking after the late Yoruba leader and legend, Chief Awolowo, had and exhibited uncommon vision never found among his peers which his adversaries too can never deny him.

One of the many exploits that stood him out was his role in the now globally celebrated Dangote Refinery (I guessed as an authority in science and geology technology), earlier planned for Olokola in Ondo State now relocated to Lagos State, an unpardonable disservice to the people of Ondo and Ogun states by Agagu’s successors, now giving out millions of direct and indirect jobs.

Agagu was not just a visionary leader, but also a prophet attested to by his long-unveiled Blue Economy Vision for the development of marine resources for the commonwealth of the state and Nigeria in general. Knowing that infrastructure, especially road is key to achieving this, he began with what many including beneficiaries thought was impossible as he started a road revolution in the riverine area never witnessed in the history of the state.

One of the main features of Agagu’s vision on Blue Economy contained in the Road-Map For Ondo State was the creation of a Deep Sea Port at Igbokoda, which this generation of successors owe him to actualise and lead the state to joining the Lagos and Port Harcourt Club.

Another key feature in the Agagu’s marine economic policy was to make a developed riverine area hub for tourism, hospitality and recreation to reduce the Lagos tourism-hospitality traffic-jam by giving tourism investors an equally profitable alternative for them to build Five-star hotels and resort centres for retreat of national and international dimensions in the coastal area.

Part of the design was to create the awareness and facilities where tourists and businessmen and women could take advantage of the coastal water-ways from and to Lagos without having anything to do with land roads. So just as the Deep Sea Port is envisaged to address frontally, the nightmare-cogestion the Lagos Port has become, he also had the vision to “decogest” the Lagos tourism grid-lock!

As I write today there is no road to access the entire South-South of Ondo State, home to the nearly 90 per cent source of income of the state. Agagu you have played your role no wonder you were publicly decorated The Best Governor. Thirteen years after, you still stands out as the best. Kokumo’ good night from all of us.

Abiodun Olusoga Fanoro, a media practitioner is the National President of Congress for Rights Of Yoruba Nationalities (CROYN).