Former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Dr Tayo Dairo, on Friday lambasted former governor Olusegun Mimiko for being careless in handling issues surrounding the establishment of multimillion dollars Dangote Refinery which the state lost to Lagos.
The party chieftain attributed the loss of the Refinery to Lagos state to what he described as carelessness of Dr Mimiko.
It would be recalled that Dangote Refinery was initially meant to be set up in Ondo State before it was later moved to Lagos State under the immediate past administration under unclear circumstances.
Dairo also bemoaned lack of continuity in government programmes during Dr Mimiko -led Labour Party government in an interview he granted a local tabloid, The Hope Newspaper in Akure, the State capital.
The PDP chieftain applauded Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for not abandoning any of the projects of his predecessor, Dr. Mimiko, despite party differences.
Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had earlier lamented the loss of the multimillion dollars Dangote Refinery to Lagos State, saying such rare opportunity must not be lost again in the state, even as he encouraged community leaders and the people to always encourage and support projects that can develop their areas.
He explained that the refinery would have created jobs for thousands of youths and greatly contributed to the socioeconomic development of the state.
But reacting to the development in the interview, Dr. Dairo concurred with Governor Akeredolu just as he disclosed that it was part of Olokola project which was started during the administration of late Dr Olusegun Agagu but was abandoned by his successor and immediate past Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
According to him, Mimiko’s disagreement with Dangote led to the loss of the refinery to Lagos state.
“Definitely, it was Mimiko’s carelessness that made us lose Dangote refinery to Lagos state. I quite agree with Akeredolu.
“There was no continuity in government programmes during Dr Mimiko -led Labour Party government, and this is not good. Mimiko abandoned all Agagu’s projects. So, Dangote Refinery going to Lagos has definitely brought some disadvantages”, the PDP chieftain added.
