How can you describe the six years tenure of Gov. Abiola Ajimobi in Oyo State?
I want to say, not because I am part of the present government of Oyo State, that Governor Ajimobi has out-performed his predecessors since 1999.
It’s visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that Governor Ishaq Ajimobi has performed excellently in his six years reign. He has showcased brilliant performances in the areas of infrastructure and urban renewal, excellent health care services, agricultural revolution, improving Internal Generated Revenue, employment and empowerment of youths.
On security, Oyo State can be described as the safest state in Nigeria, courtesy of Sen. Ajimobi’s zero tolerance for criminality. The governor took the bull by the horn to stamp out insecurity in Oyo State by forming and financing “Operation Burst” such that the state has become investors’ choice of destination. With the crushing of insecurity, the Ajimobi’s government has attracted international investors to the state.
On agriculture, the governor has recently launched Agric-Oyo Initiative. This is to restore, transform and reposition the sector with a view to positively drive the state economy, provides food security and a sustainable platform for wealth creation for the good people of Oyo State. I am very proud to say that the governor’s latest initiative has attracted local and international investors into the state as Numerix Development Limited recently pledged an initial investment of $30m with a promise to progressively increase the figure to $100m in the next few years. Other investors that pledged commitment to the initiative were the Winchester Farms Limited and the Psaltry International Limited.
Mr. Governor is forever aggressive in his infrastructure and urban renewal projects; no part of the state is left out. Our state is now wearing a new look; and recently, the Governor awarded N28b for dualization of four major roads within the State; the roads are currently under constructions. This is to further impact on smooth movement of commerce, infrastructure and manpower for economic growth. It is verifiable that our governor is irrevocably committed to extending developments to rural areas as a way of enhancing economic growth of the state. The governor is now focusing the revitilisation of the state’s education sector. This is because the state’s education sector has completely been destroyed, it has gone beyond decay, it has totally collapsed. Hence, the introduction of new education policy by the state government and by the time the policy is being holistically implemented, the sector will surely move from its present nadir to the apex of quality. Furthermore, the governor recently proved that he is a prudent manager of resources by slashing the salaries and arrears of its political appointees by 50% following the continued drop in Federal Allocation as the country is now in full recession.
Frankly speaking, you and I will be tired if I start to dish out what Mr. Governor has done in the last six years of administering Oyo State. I’m a fulfilled citizen of the state because our governor is busy turning every rural area into an urban centre. You can see what he is doing in Oke- Ogun, Ibarapa and other agrarian areas. In fact, he is God sent.
As an interim Chairman and staunch member of APC in Oyo State, would you say you have delivered on your campaign promises?
I have not delivered on all my campaign promises but work is in progress in Itesiwaju LGA. Glory is to Almighty God and thanks to my Executive Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for being there since my appointment almost nine months ago. When I took over the mantle of leadership of Itesiwaju LGA, the first thing I did was to tour the entire local government to see government establishments and agencies. After an assessment of the situation on ground, I came to realise that there are many things to put on ground in order to empower my people; to God be the Glory, we are making appreciable progress in the areas of agriculture, compulsory and qualitative basic education, excellent primary health care, security of lives and property, grading of local roads, sinking and rehabilitation of boreholes, adequate welfare of workers, recommendation of our women and youths for employment and empowerment opportunities, conflicts and crises resolutions; quiz competition for primary schools, essay writing and debate competitions for our cecondary cchools, monetary incentives to five outstanding staff members, 10 of our people benefited from Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture Employment Programme, five of our people were also recommended for Federal Government loan programme, and I set up Itesiwaju IGR Task Force. I can continue to count on and on. Last month, we hosted a foreign investment firm named Allied Atlantic Distilleries Ltd to commence full operations in Itesiwaju LGA, courtesy of Oyo State Government. The investor is an international agro-allied firm specialised in cassava cultivation to produce ethanol, starch, carbon dioxide and other cassava-related goods. By the time the firm kicks off, the council will not be only industrialised but our people will be gainfully employed. Once again, I give kudos to Governor Ajimobi for his unfailing determination to improve agriculture and industrialise Oyo State.
What has changed before Ajimobi took over the mantle of leadership and now?
Thank you for that question. Before Ajimobi came to office in 2011, we used to have an inglorious Oyo State but he has miraculously turned Oyo to a modern state. Oyo State does not need an introduction again as the only Pace Setter State in Nigeria.
What are your transformational efforts in Oyo State, especially in the area of entertainment and sports?
Governor Ajimobis’s administration is honestly and aggressively creating an enabling environment that promotes sports development and empowers youth with appropriate adequate skill, knowledge and attitudes to realize full potential for individual and society development.
We are currently implementing sports development model of Lagos State. The administration is focusing age-group sports development through organisation of competition at the ward, local government and state levels. Today, our state-owned football clubs (Shooting Stars Sports Club and Crown FC) are well-funded and now participating in top flight league in the country. Today, we now have Oyo State Football Academy and we are making significant progress in other sporting events.
On the entertainment scene, we are supporting and promoting our cultures and values as Yoruba. Besides, the present administration in the state has Agodi Gardens to her credit. Agodi Gardens is a tourist attraction in the city of Ibadan. Also called Agodi Botanical Gardens, Agodi Park and Zoological Gardens, and Agodi Resort and Conference, the site is a serene environment on 150 acres of land. It is usually patronised by families during festive periods and weekends. While the children’s facilities in the garden include a swimming pool with inflated balloons, grown-ups may use any of the diverse tropical trees for picnics and other social gatherings while enjoying the cool breeze. We are making significant progress in other areas of our entertainment sector. In addition to Agodi Gardens, we now have a renewed Trans Amusement Park and many more across Oyo State.
What are the challenges you have faced as council boss and how you resolved them?
It is expedient to state that our noble achievements have not come without their accompanying daunting challenges but I will make mention of just two. Firstly, we are faced with meager statutory allocation from the federal government owing to the full economic recession the country. Hence, we set up a taskforce on Internally Generated Revenue. The Task Force is not being set up only to block leakages by 90% but also help in improving the council’s revenue generation. Secondly, some politicians in the council area felt that I was young and could not perform. With all due respect to the people concerned, majority of those that feel threatened by my political aspiration are some elderly ones who do not want to leave the stage for us. Thanks to Mr. Governor for believing in the youth as agents of change; today we have proved the Doubting Thomases wrong with our performance in almost nine months in office.
What has changed about you ever since you joined politics?
My life has witnessed tremendous changes in terms of political and administrative exposure. I am mature now but I have limited time for myself and family.
What has changed about your dress sense?
I can simply say my dressing is more mature and official than before joining politics. I now have unique dress code, which so many young people are copying.
Where do you see the future of Oyo State and that of Itesiwaju LGA?
For Oyo State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi is turning to a modern state worthy of emulation. It is my fervent prayers that we have a responsible and responsive person as Governor come 2019 so that Governor Ajimobi’s legacy will not only be maintained but also improved upon.
Meanwhile, Itesiwaju LGA clocked 20 years in 2016 but the council has not lived up to her potentials. Since my appointment, we have been aggressively implementing agenda to reinvent Itesiwaju and activate all of our potentials. With our highly-fertile lands and human resources, we have no reason not to become a 21st century industrial and agricultural powerhouse of the state. With the massive supports we continue to receive from His Excellency, Governor Abiola Ajimobi especially in the areas of infrastructures, agriculture, education and among others, we shall not relent in our quest for good governance as a catalyst for quick development of our communities. It is my prayer that if God wills for us to be alive to celebrate the 30th Anniversary, the foundation my administration is laying will be a huge contribution to the new Itesiwaju of our dream.
