Osogbo Agog, As Oyetola Becomes Governor Of Osun
Osogbo, the Osun State chapter was agog on Tuesday, as Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola was formerly inaugurated as the governor of Osun State in the presence of thousands of people who besieged the Osogbo township Stadium venue of the event.
Oyetola dressed in white flowing gown and his wife Kafayat Oyetola who was equally embroidered in white wrapper and immaculate headgear arrived the venue along with his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and wife at about noon.
The governor was sworn in along with his deputy Mr Benedict Alabi by the state Chief Judge, Justice Adeleke Ojo at about 1:00 pm amidst thunderous ovation from the crowd.
In his address delivered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed delight in the fact that Nigeria has come of age in democratic transition of governance.
As the general election approach, the President charged Nigerians to shun violence and conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the general elections.
He enjoined politicians to harp on issues rather than engage in hate speech during electioneering campaigns adding that Nigerians should build upon Democratic norms already established.
Buhari who urged Nigerians to come out in large numbers to vote for candidate of their choice however noted that a vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) will take the nation to another level.
The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to fight corruption, rejuvenate the economy and give Nigerians good governance that will change the fortune of Nigerians.
In his maiden speech, Governor Oyetola extended his hand of fellowship to all stakeholders pledging an all- inclusive government, saying he would create 30,000 jobs on assumption of office.
His words: “Let me affirm before you fellow citizens witnessing this historic moment that the mandate to govern this state will be held in close trust by me.
“This trust will not be abused. Today, I state clearly that this is our commitment. We will build on the progress already achieved and we shall do so farm by farm, industry by industry, village by village, school by school, person by person, until everyone in this state feels the beneficial influence of progressive good governance in the most important aspects of their lives.
“We rest not and quit not. We forge ahead because progress is all we know. Neither defeat nor retreat is for us. We shall learn from the past, yet we shall never be stuck in the past, we shall forge ahead to sustain the hope and greatest good of the greatest number of our people.
“Let me, at this juncture, point out what will become the defining hallmark of our intervention in governance, in the next four years, namely; a social partnership between government and the people based on the execution of a social contract.
“We will combine the sagacity of Obafemi Awolowo, the vision of Bola Ige, the wisdom of Bisi Akande, the dexterity of Bola Tinubu and the innovative capacity of Rauf Aregbesola to make our State even greater.
“We will ensure that workers’ salaries are paid promptly bearing in mind the financial inflow of the state. We shall resolutely defend, extend and prioritise the welfare of workers and pensioners.
“To reposition the economy of our great state, we shall organise the Osun Economic Summit within the first quarter of our first year in office. The multi-stage, multi- stakeholder summit will dissect and recommend strategies which will drive meaningful youth employment, enhance food security, agricultural development, activate mining prospects and boost tourism potentials of this state. We will showcase Osun as a strategic location for industrialisation.
“We are convinced that the peaceful atmosphere, a welcoming people, low crime rate, communal peace and the relative stability of electricity supply (particularly in the capital city) will attract local and foreign investors.
“We will develop the free trade zone while strengthening Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a way to enhance their productive capacity to generate jobs and create wealth. To further boost our local economy and increase the revenue base, we shall make Osun a cultural destination and a tourism enterprise zone in the Southwest.
“We shall improve on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state in ways that do not bring additional burden to the people. We will make health and education more accessible. Employment opportunities will be created through industrialization and expansion of agricultural activities through appropriate incentives.
“To boost agriculture and food security. Our administration will consolidate on the agricultural land expansion programme (the Land Bank), with additional target of 20,000 hectares to the Land Bank. We will establish nine (9) new farm settlements (one each per federal constituency) while we push forward on our promise to establish agro-industrial parks and produce markets.
“It is time to create jobs for our youths. We will upgrade our vocational technical institutions to make them more vibrant with the demands of a technology-driven, fast-paced world. We will in partnership with the private sector, establish light manufacturing industries in the major sectors of the economy to create at least 30,000 jobs.
“We will seek the full development of the proposed mid-regional market hub and establishment of Osun Dry Port through public-private partnership. We will refurbish and expand existing markets in major towns.
“Our administration recognizes the importance of intra and inter-city roads to facilitate movement of goods and people. We will continue to muster resources to build strategic roads across the state.
“As we promised during the campaign, the era of a mono-cultural economy must end. We will do all within our capacity to explore and fully utilize our stock of solid minerals. We shall re-position the Omoluabi Minerals Company for resource mapping and exploration of minerals.
“My people of Osun, our administration will promote equitable and value-based developmental education that emphasizes competence and character as reflected in the principle and philosophy of Omoluabi.
“We will sustain the massive investment in school infrastructure development.
As we said in our Declaration of Intention speech, we already have a governance paradigm, a restorative template, through which our state can be made greater than it already is.
“What we bring to the table, therefore, and promise the people of this state is the determination to run a people-friendly government which focuses on growth, creation of jobs, social protection, inclusive governance and sustainable upgrade in the standard of living of our people.
“A healthy state is a wealthy state. Our commitment to primary health care in particular will be given impetus as highlighted in our campaign manifesto.
“We will encourage our people to key into the social health insurance scheme started by the immediate past administration. Our vision is to transform primary health care facilities to centres where our people can access basic health care services including routine immunization, family planning and screening for non-communicable diseases.
“We are committed to the environment, to ensure that Osun achieves the Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation for all. Suffice to say that this sanitation campaign will put Osun in the lead following President Buhari’s declaration that Nigeria will be open defecation-free by 2025.
“We will provide financial support and other incentives for start-ups that will employ a minimum of ten (10) other workers. We will also leverage innovation, science and technology to create jobs in the knowledge economy and ICT. It will be a central pursuit of our administration to assist every able-bodied person to be gainfully employed.’’
Oyetola expressed his appreciation to the immediate past governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola whom he described as an innovator.
He assured President Buhari that the people of Osun State are ready for the next level adding that by the special will of God (Ileri Oluwa), he would deliver Osun for the Buhari-Osinbajo re-election on February 16, 2019.
In his goodwill message, APC National leader, Senator Bola Tinubu assured President Buhari that the entire South West will vote for President Muhammadu Buhari come 2019.
While commending Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for delivering dividends of democracy to the people of Osun State, Tinubu told the gathering that Nigerians are not ready to go back to what he described as dark days of the past.
Dignitaries at the inauguration included National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, the first National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, Governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state, Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos, Abdullah Ganduje of Kano State, Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo and others too numerous to mention.
