Osun @ 31: Oyetola presents scorecard as Adeleke promises restoration of good governance
TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
As Osun State marks its 31st creation anniversary on Saturday in a very low key, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola unveiled some of the successes recorded by his administration and maintained that he didn’t disappoint the people of the state.
For the Governor-elect of the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the dreams of the founding fathers of Osun we’re yet to be realised and therefore promised to deliver better dividends of governance to the citizens once his administration takes over in November 27, this year.
Nonetheless, Oyetola and his potential successor paid tributes to the founding fathers of the state and also felicitated the citizens on the anniversary.
The state was created from the old Oyo State on August 27, 1991.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, the governor noted that having celebrated the 30th anniversary in a grand style last year, it was reasonable for the government to make this year’s celebration a low key.
While paying glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the state, including his predecessors in office, for laying what he called a “solid foundation,” upon which successive administrations have continued to build on, Oyetola said “we have kept faith with the vision of our founding fathers to sustainably build Ipinle Omoluabi – State of the Virtuous.”
The governor added that the administration’s policies and programmes are driven by citizens’ needs, which were harvested during the Thank You Tour/Town Hall Meetings, where the people presented their yearnings and aspirations to the government. He said that the exercise was further validated by the United Kingdom Department for International Development’s (DFID)-funded Citizens’ Needs Assessment exercise in the State.
He explained that every responsible government must make people’s demands the basis of its policies and implementation, insisting that this was responsible for some of the reforms the administration carried out by taking the bull by the horns.
The governor noted that so far, the administration has demonstrated that it is one government that could be trusted by the people of Osun both at home and in the Diaspora, since it has been able to fulfil most if not all the promises made to the people, despite the initial legal distractions that lasted about eight months, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Endsars challenges that took another one year plus as well as the prevailing economic challenges.
Oyetola said, “We promised to pay full salary to all our workers, we have not defaulted. We promised to pay our pensioners, we have also not defaulted. We promised to build Olaiya Flyover, we have done that. We promised to diversify the economy, it is already in work in progress. We promised to reform the mining and education sectors, we have done that as well. We promised to renovate one PHC per ward, we have done 320 out of the 332 and we shall complete the remaining soonest. We promised to build, remodel and, in some cases, carry out total rehabilitation of existing roads. That too, we have done, and some other road projects are on-going. We will ensure completion of all on-going road projects.
“We also promised to revive the airport project without inflicting additional burden on the finances of the State. I am glad to report that work is on-going at the project site by the Nigerian Air Force and soon, Osun will be home to Africa’s first Aviation City. We promised to deliver Ilesa University. Only three days ago, we inaugurated the Implementation Committee.
“Let me restate here that the University is not a product of mere fanciful effort, but rather a product of thorough and rigorous interrogation, characteristic of the culture of deep engagement which our administration is noted for.”
Meanwhile, Senator Adeleke maintained that the dreams of the state’s founding fathers were yet to be met as conceived, and has promised to restore good governance where peoples’ welfare, accountability and effective service delivery will be guaranteed.
In a statement he issued to mark the anniversary, Adeleke, who paid tributes to the founding fathers and previous governors of the state, opined that Osun was heavily challenged in all sectors, promising to restore citizens’ faith in government through responsive leadership.
30th anniversary: We remain resolute to revitalising Osun’s economy – Oyetola
“I felicitate with sons and daughters of Osun State on this auspicious occasion of the 31st anniversary of the creation of our dear state. Our state has come a long way. We pay tributes to the founding fathers and praised them for their invaluable contributions to the struggle culminating in the making of Osun. I applaud previous leaders of the state, both military and civilians as the cumulative outcome of their labour accounted for the successes recorded so far in state building.
“I however dare say that the dream of the founding fathers are yet to be realised as conceived. Our infrastructures are in bad shape. Osun just recorded 36th WAEC grade among the 36 states and Abuja. Youth unemployment is deepening. Insecurity is a fact of daily life. Our state remains heavily indebted. We must change the narrative and I am set with God and our people, to take up this consecrated assignment.
“I re-commit myself to the sacred task of state revival. We must meet our people at the point of their needs. Government must be returned to the people. In serving the state as your Governor, accountability and transparency will be my watchword. In my first month in office, I will commence “IPADE IMOLE”, to meet and rub minds on governance policies and issues with the people.
“As a Governor, I will not shut the door against our people. I will not act and govern as all knowing. At ‘Ipade Imole’, we will take monthly inputs and ideas from our people. On my table will be a “Citizen Interactive Platform” for real time interface with our people. I will be a true peoples’ Governor,” Adeleke assured the people of the state.
