A gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo State, Adeolu Akande, has said he would create a ministry of Ibadan Capital Development when he is sworn in as the governor of the state next year.
Mr. Akande, a professor of political science, said the ministry would be at no additional cost to the state but would ensure that government activities for the development of Ibadan and welfare of its residents were better coordinated for optimal service delivery and accelerated development.
Mr. Akande said the system that is in place now is “sectorally disjointed” and cannot develop the capital city at the rate he wants for Ibadan which he says is the pride of all indigenes of Oyo State.
The politician said all government ministries, departments and agencies would take actions that would impact on the welfare of residents and development of the city in ways that guarantee accelerated and optimal growth.
He said the ministry of education is executing projects different from the ministry of health which is also doing something different from every other ministry.
The ministries, he said, work in silos as regards the development of Ibadan, whereas a ministry of Ibadan capital development will coordinate all these silos to deliver accelerated development.
Prof Akande said the initiative would not be to the detriment of other parts of the state, because apart from the fact that there is hardly any community of Oyo State that does not have full representation in the 4 million population of Ibadan, Ibadan is the epicentre of the development of Oyo State and the development of Ibadan will yield benefits to all parts of the state.
He said the ministry would also work on the integration of other towns to the delivery of goods and services that will take advantage of the population of Ibadan for the creation of wealth for people who live in those towns and communities.
