Professor Adeolu Akande, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Oyo North Senatorial Aspirant, has said he will ensure that the federal government’s presence and support increase in the senatorial district, if elected.
Akande, who is contesting under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC decried the inadequacy of federal government facilities, initiatives and projects, particularly in Agriculture, in the Oyo North Senatorial District, despite Oke Ogun being the food basket of the state.
He stated this while speaking with journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday.
The Otu-born Professor of Political Science and Lawyer said he would love to be remembered for facilitating the highest number of federal government projects, initiatives and facilities to the senatorial district, if elected.
His words: “Let’s start with the mainstream economy of Oyo North, which is Agriculture. In fact, Oyo North, or a larger part of Oyo North, is regarded as the food basket of Oyo state. So, if we are the food basket of Oyo state, we deserve federal attention to promote agriculture and food security, to support our farmers, to move Agriculture from what it was in the past to the Agriculture of the future, by attracting young people, by stopping rain-fed agriculture, by attracting all those incentives that the federal government gives to agriculture.
“If you travel to the length and breadth of Nigeria, you will be amazed at the level of federal presence in terms of facilities and all that the federal government has constructed to support agriculture to enhance food security.
“My vision is that we need to replicate that federal support in Oyo North, being the food basket of Oyo state. I want people to look back and say, if not for this person, we wouldn’t have had this level of federal presence in Oyo North. That’s what we need; we don’t have much of a federal presence.”
Akande, a former Chief of Staff to Late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, also highlighted some other plans he has for the people of the senatorial district. He spoke about mining, tourism, commerce, security and so on.
He said that the largest supplier of labour is okada riding, adding that most young people, including university graduates, are into okada riding.
He promised to facilitate federal government initiatives on youth employment to the doorstep of the youth of the senatorial district.
His words: “The federal government has a lot of initiatives; I want to bring these to the doorstep of our youth so that they can benefit maximally and optimally from what the federal government is offering to support youth development.
“Also, when I talked about agriculture, we need to bring our youth into agriculture by addressing the issues that made agriculture unattractive to our youth. We have certain projects that can transform the lives of our people in Oyo North if we are able to attract sufficient federal government attention.”
While speaking on what he has done for the people of the state while he was the chairman of NCC, he noted that his footprints are evident across Oyo State, ranging from ICT centers in tertiary and secondary schools, internet access for schools and markets, donation of a sophisticated ambulance to UCH, training of youth, and distribution of laptops and internet access, among others.
“If you go around Oyo North, or in actual fact, if you go around Oyo State, my footprint is all over the place, such that I don’t need much effort to convince people that if I have the opportunity, I’m going to be an efficient representative of the people,” he said.
