Osun Govt, APC To Electorate: Only Oyetola Is Competent To Run Osun For Steady Development

The state Government of Osun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have asserted that only the governorship candidate of the party in the September 22, governorship election has capacity to continue the developmental strides of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

According to the government and the APC, there is need for continuity and consolidation of the Aregbesola’s endurance legacy of good governance and effective service delivery to the people of the state of Osun, hence it is important for the people of the state to vote Oyetola in the election.

They stated this in a joint press conference addressed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adelani Baderinwa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Alh. Semiu Okanlawon, Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr Sola Fasure and Director of Research and Strategy of the APC, Mr Kunle Oyatomi on Wednesday in Osogbo.

L-R: Media Adviser to the Governor, state of Osun, Mr Sola Fasure, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Alh. Semiu Okanlawon, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adelani Baderinwa, and APC Director of Research and Strategy, Mr Kule Oyatomi at the press briefing.

Baderinwa who spoke for the government stated that Aregbesola’s administration is a success; the governor himself is the architect of the modern Osun and the APC is the party that is propelling and encouraging the government on the series of people’s friendly and popular programmes, policies and projects.

He said it is heartwarming that Aregbesola is handling over to a competent, reliable and development driven Oyetola who is part of the transformation of Osun, who understands all the issues and will continue the good works.

The commissioner said: “In eight years, Osun has been witnessing tremendous developments. Osun has since moved far from where it was when Aregbesola took over on November 27, 2010. All parts of the state are being given attention in terms of infrastructural growth.

“All the sphere of governance and each of the sectors of the society at large have had its own share of Aregbesola’s innovation, passion and dedication to societal wellbeing.

“About 2000 kilometres of road has been constructed and rehabilitated by the Aregbesola’s administration.

“There is no part of Osun that is left out in the infrastructure development, the little of which is standard drainage construction and channelization of erosion paths, which has helped in preventing flood in the state.

“We have recorded success in both infrastructure and content delivery in the education sector. It is a fact that Aregbesola has undauntedly given priority to education. He had embarked on the construction of state-of-the-art 100 Elementary Schools, 50 Middle Schools and 11 High Schools. Presently, 28 Elementary Schools, 26 Middle Schools and nine High Schools have been completed while the Government High Schools in Ikirun and Iwo would be commissioned by the end of this month.

“More than 6,000 teachers have been employed by the Aregbesola’s administration to boost manpower in the school system.

“Over 50,000 students have benefited from ‘Opon Imo’ in Osun since inception in 2013 to 2017. Less than N3billion has been spent on procurement, installation, distribution and maintenance of ‘Opon Imo’ since inception till 2017.”

Speaking further, Baderinwa said 60, 000 youths had been empowered by the Aregbesola’s administration through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), while 3,007 food vendors were engaged and trained to cook healthy and hygienic food for the pupils in elementary school under the Osun school feeding programme tagged ‘O MEAL’.

He dispelled the insinuation that the state started paying full salary to all category of her workers due to the coming election, emphasizing that only workers on level 13 above and all political appointees were paid 50 per cent of the salary during the financial crisis that brought about modulated salary structure.

Baderinwa stated: “It is noteworthy to state that the payment of the full salary was made possible by the increase in the price of crude oil in the international market which in return increased the revenue of the Federal Government and raised the accruable allocation to the states.

“It is necessary to state categorically that the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola has always given priority to the prompt payment of salaries to its workers. We hold workers in high esteem and always appreciate their efforts and contributions to the development of the state.”

On pension payment, Baderinwa said: “The government is very committed to the payment of pension and gratuity of its retired workers. The current administration met a N50 million monthly pension payment in 2010 and increased it to N150m in 2011 and later to N500m in 2012 and it has been paying pension same time with salary.”

Speaking for the APC, Oyatomi maintained that the party’s candidate, Oyetola is the only competent person to run the state for steady development and progress, urging the people to vote for him, in a bid to have more dividends of democracy, continuity and consolidation of legacy of good governance

Oyatomi stated: “The electorate, through their votes, should not allow the progress of the state to be stalled. Aregbesola brought to the fore, the conflagration of good governance predicated on progressive ideas and practical solutions to the problems of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“There is no credible opposition. One is an over pampered child that wasted his youth in riotous living and cannot even boast of a secondary school education. He is known at best obscene street dancing.

“The APC is the party of the masses that believes in egalitarianism and equal access by all the people to societal resources and privileges.

“We are urging you therefore, on behalf of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the entire State Executive Council to vote for Gboyega Oyetola, one of us, who is part of the transformation of Osun, who understands all the issues and will continue the good works.”