Adeniyi Adeagbo is the caretaker chairman Itesiwaju Local Government area of Oyo state,in this interview with our reporter, the APC Chieftain explains how he has been able to move his administration forward and x-tray six years of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Executive Governor of Oyo state. Excerpts;
How has been the administration of your council area so far?
Within the two months of our administration, we are making appreciable progress in the areas of agriculture, compulsory and qualitative basic education, excellent primary health care, security of lives and property, 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 Secondary Schools, ten (10) of our people benefited from Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture Employment Programme, five (5) of our people were also recommended for Federal Government loan programme, and we setup Itesiwaju IGR Task Force. I can continue to count on and on…
Mr. Chairman, can you please elucidate on the IGR Task Force?
Thank you for that question. We setup Itesiwaju IGR Task Force due to the dwindling federal allocations and to drive ourselves to success as a Local government, we must think outside the box to succeed. Our end goal is to block leakages, drive our motivated team of indigine to result which is ultimately significant increase in our revenue.
We learnt that you hosted a foreign investor recently; can you please shed light on the event?
First of all, we want to thank Governor Ajimobi for successfully striking an agreement with a foreign investor named Allied Atlantic Distilleries Ltd to commence full operations in Itesiwaju LGA. The investor is an international agro-allied firm specializes in cassava cultivation to produce Ethanol, Starch, Carbon Dioxide and other cassava-related goods. Now, in response to your question. Few days ago, we hosted Oyo State Government Delegation Led by the Son of the soil, commissioner for Land, housing and survey,Hon Ajiboye Omodewu, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, the representatives of the company, the landowners and other stakeholders to conclude arrangements for commencement of operations by the foreign investor. By the time the firm kick off, the council will not be only industrialized 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.
As Governor Ajimobi exits Agodi Government House in 2019, do you see APC retaining Oyo State?
I can confidently say that APC is very popular in Oyo State. The beauty of democracy is to enthrone good governance and qualitative leadership, which we’ve found in APC under the competent leadership of Governor Abiola Ajimobi. It is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that there is no other living political party in the state other than the APC. The opposition parties in the state have died to the extent that almost 70% of their members have already joined us. So come 2019, APC is sure to retain Oyo State.
Based on insinuation out there, some people seem to have mixed feelings about the government of Governor Ajimobi; what can you say about it?
Let me take you on with your word, “some people ” It is normal for some people to have mixed feelings about any government because everybody cannot be satisfied. However, I want to say, not because I am part of the present government Oyo State, that Governor Ajimobi has out-performed his predecessors since 1999. For instance, there existed an atmosphere of insecurity, political instability and lack of enabling incentives before Governor Ajimobi came to office. On assumption of office, he made some bold and decisive interventions, which now give relative peace for massive developments across the State.
Six years down the line, Mr. Governor is keeping to his campaign promises of revamping the agricultural sector; accessible, affordable, high quality healthcare is available to citizens of the state; he has surpassed the past governments in terms of Internally Generated Revenue. One of the benefits of peace and business-friendly environment in the state is that both local and foreign investors are already coming to invest in our tourism, solid minerals and agriculture sector.
Frankly speaking, you and I will be tired if I start to dish out what Mr. Governor has done in the last 6years 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.
What’s your take as to the news making round that the Military is likely to thwart democracy in Nigeria?
It’s just a mere rumour to unnecessarily hit up the polity.After 17 years of uninterrupted democratic government, it would be difficult for the military to topple our democratically-elected governments. I advise those who are using military coup threat to desist in the interest of Nigeria Unity and Soverignity. I must emphasise that democracy is the only fashionable, peaceful and friendly system of government in the world today and any attempt to deny us that will be vehemently resisted. In the same vain like I always said, Our Leader are meant to be prayed for at all time, even taken from our National Anthem, “giude our leaders right ” . I pray that Almighty Allah grant President Buhari quick and excellent recovery and continue to bless Our Governor, Senator Ajimobi renewed strength to continue to do great development in Oyo State.
