Coastal NEWS

Ikale Youths under the auspices of lkale Youth Movement have warned the Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko not to trivialise Ondo State University of Science and Technology, OSUSTECH, Okitipupa but to go ahead to ensure it's immediate take-off of academic programmes. The coordinator of the group, Mr Lasisi Akindehinde gave the warning when spoke with repoter in an exclusive interview recently.
Q: Can we meet you?
A: I am Lasisi Akindehinde the coordinator of lkale Youth Movement. I am a teacher of Language and Literature.
Q: Tell us a little about your academic background?
A: I attended Methodist High School, Okitipupa and also Federal School of Arts and Science, Ondo both in Ondo State. I did my first degree (B.A in English Language and Literature at the University of Benin.I equally obtained my Post-Graduate Diploma in Education ( PGDE) and later Master of Education, both from the University of lbadan.
Q: Why do people call you Prof?
A: I think many people have reasons for it. What I know is as a student, people recognized me to be brilliant I attended I left my mark. I always felt the little I knew was nonsense even though it was sensible to others. My contributions to issues gained the attention of fellow students and a particular one among them commented that I talked like a prof.
Q: What is IYM about?
A: IYM is a movement which actually is what I will a beacon of light which is actually to show the way to youths in lkale land and the whole world. Put differently, it's a union of progressive youths who believe that life must be life and nothing else. We believe that mankind should be treated equally irrespective of background, educational attainment and geographical location.
Q: How and when did IYM come to being?
A: The organisation was found in year 2002. We may call it a child of necessity. It was formed to challenge the ill done by the Adebayo Adefarati- led government of Ondo State by robbing Ondo south Senatorial district for the Northern Senatorial district. The government stole the people of Ondo South the exclusiveness of owning the state university which was formerly in Ado-Ekiti in the old Ondo State.
Q: why did you say that Ondo south had the exclusiveness of owning the state university?
A: It happened that when the Adefarati-led government came on board and need to have a state university arose, ideally, the university should come to Ondo South because it was the only senatorial district without any higher institution of learning.
Q: What are the objectives of IYM?
A: Like I said before, we are the vanguard correcting societal ills and injustice done to any man anywere especially within our area, that is, lkale area and Ondo State at large. We are out to show what an ideal society should be. We are the voice of the helpless and the voiceless in the world. We are out to educate both the leaders and the led, because our leader too need education. Unfortunately, majority of our leaders are complete illiterate'. Apart from that, IYM is a laboratory were youth are tested, where they are given the education they require to qualify as liberators  of the masses.
Q: You seem to project IYM as an organisation whose scope and operatonal coverage is beyond lkale land. Why then is the name, 'lkale in lkale Youth Movement?
A: Though, the name of the organisation is lkale Youth Movement, IYM the nomenclature is simply a tag, a means of identifying the location where the organisation could be found. Just like where Jesus was born, Nazareth made Jesus to be call Jesus of Nazareth. But Jesus does not belong to Nazareth alone, he belongs to the Occident, Orient as well as the Black African race. He is a common property of all. Same for IYM.
Q: So, everybody in the world is eligible to be a member?
A: Yes. For example, I am the coordinator of the organisation and I am "Osundo" (dual-nativity of Osun and Ondo State). My father is from Osun State and my mother is from Ondo State. By geographical placement, l'm a complete Ondo man but biologically I have a place in Osun. So, in IYM there is no restriction to eligibility of membership. It is open to all but not every youth can belong to us. Those that are accommodated are those youth who have conscience, who  are educated (not in the sence of western education) are who are masses- oriented, that is, they are concerned with the plight of common man and are ready to do things about it.
Q: What is your advice to the present Mimiko- led administration in Ondo State?
A: Dr. Olusegun Mimiko since he came on board has been doing the business of governance the best way he knows. I am not to praise or condemn the government but what we expect of him is what is expected of him. We see him doing some laudable things which could be applauded but we equally see him failing woefully in certain aspect, glaring to everybody who can see beyond their nose. For instance, one wonders why the people's governor could trivialise a matter which is prime to the welfare of the people of not less than six (6) Local Government Areas of the state - Ondo State University of Science and Technology, OSUSTECH, Okitipupa - simply because he is trying to outwit his predecessor. That was an Achillles' heel of Agagu administration himself. So, let not the governor - Dr. Mimiko sacrifice duty on the altar of politics. History is there to mark him and give him a reporter card.
Q: Thank you, Mr. Lasisi. We enjoyed your company and hope to call on you again?
A: You are welcome.