A governorship Aspirant of the opposition People’s Democratic Party in Ondo State ahead of 2020 election, Hon. Banji Okunomo, has called on the Akeredolu led administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to stop ‘anti-people and retrogressive policies’ which according to him have brought untold ‘hardships and excruciating pains’ to the good people of Ondo State.

He made this call on Saturday while reacting to the hike in tuition fees of tertiary institutions in the State which has consequently resulted to the closure of two universities following continuous protests by students in the State. 

In a statement he personally signed, Okunomo lamented the insensitivity of Governor Akeredolu to the plight of students who were dropping out of school because they cannot afford the predominant hike in tuition fees being the children of the downtrodden.

“It is quite sad, and regrettably lugubrious that governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, a beneficiary of free education in Nigeria, is making education very difficult for indigenes of Ondo-State with the offensive and abnormal hike in tuition fees of tertiary institutions in the State.

“This is not politics, we must be frank and say the truth. It is an act of insensitivity for a government not to have feelings for students and their parents. Many of the affected students are currently shut out of schools due to astronomical and abnormal hike in tuition fees, and most of the affected students are children of the downtrodden.

“We cannot continue in this way. We need the intervention of God to touch the mind of Governor Akeredolu who has shown absolute defiance  despite the cries of students and their parents appealing to the government to reverse self.

“These students are dropping out of schools with a predominant high population. They will result to social vices moment they are at home idle.

“There is nothing Progressive about the APC led government of Akeredolu. What are those policies that constitute the Progressivesness they are laying claim to? No friendly and progressive policies at the critical sectors; health , education and other social services.

“ A government that cannot run free services in education, health and other social services to relieve her citizens is not Progressive. Any government making life difficult for the people like that of Akeredolu -APC led administration in Ondo State is anti-people and retrogressive.

“Due to my passion for humanity, I am calling on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to reverse self and return to status quo as regards tuition fees in our tertiary institutions in Ondo State. If he cannot contribute meaningfully to the development of education in Ondo State, he should at least maintain the status quo ante and not create educational barriers to the present and unborn generation, the statement added.