Lawmaker Representing Oyo South Senatorial District at the upper Chamber of National Assembly Sen. Kolawole Balogun(PDP-Oyo South) says promise to do his best in ensuring quality representation and development of his constitents
He also said he has no choice than to perform even if it required satisfying his personal comfort.
The former Commissioner of Commerce under the administration of former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala who defeated the immediate past governor, Abiola Ajimobi in the 2019 general election in an chat with journalists in Ibadan on Tuesday said “I don’t have choice than to perform even if it requires sacrificing my personal comfort. I just have to because my mandate is a function of the grace of God.
“When I heard people say someone is bragging to take my mandate from me, I giggle. No one will take what does not belong to him or her when he or she is not an armed robber,” he said.
He assured the people that he would give his best and ensure whatever he pushed into the budget were those needed by his district, saying the mission was to make life more meaningful and better for them.
On security, he called for the restructuring of the nation’s security architecture, saying there was urgent need for the establishment of state and community police.
He said that the country was too big to operate only a central policing system, promising to encourage such through legislative backing.
Balogun said that he had co-sponsored some motions since the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, adding he had commenced discussions with SMEDAN, Bank of Industry(BoI) and Bank of Agriculture.
“I am working with SMEDAN and BoI to make loan facilities available for our traders as well as artisans. I had a meeting with Bank of Agriculture also to secure loans for our farmers too.
“We are also looking towards training them on various vocations and business management so that whatever loan taken would be judiciously used,” he said.
The lawmaker expressed discomfort with the distribution of motorcycles and other equipments to empower people, saying many beneficiaries of such items ended up selling them since they can’t use them.
He assured the people of his district and state in general that he would do all within his capacity to represent them well as well as complement effort of Gov. Seyi Makinde in transforming the state.
“I am happy with the turn of events at the state level in terms of good governance. I am happy that Gov. Seyi Makinde is turning things around for good.
“Civil servants now get their salaries on 25th of every month for the first time in a long time. I am told that pensioners are now being paid. I can also see the determination of the governor on infrastructural development.
“I know the governor is willing to do all that is required to create enabling environment for businesses to thrive. We are looking forward to a new dawn in Oyo State,” he said.
He said that the effort was to evolve a two-prone approach to the delivery of good governance to the people.
According to him, “There is no doubt that all will work together and money will be in circulation when civil servants and pensioners get their salaries regularly. Also, when government award contracts to local contractors.
“Gov. Seyi Makinde has already started it all that remains is for us to complement his efforts by making loans facilities accessible to traders and supporting him in the creation of enabling environment
