A former governor and gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, has said that no segment of the state including its people, geopolitical zones and important sectors would suffer any neglect or discrimination should he become the next governor for his last term in office.
Otunba Alao-Akala, in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. YSO Olaniyi, and made available to journalists in Ibadan at the weekend, said that the size and population strength of the Pacesetters State would be made an advantage in the efforts to move it to an enviable height among the comity of developed societies in the global arena just as the precedent was laid between 2007 and 2011.
“It is important for me correct an impression that a non-Ibadan person would not prioritize the further development of the state capital if given the opportunity to rule as governor. It is very wrong for anybody to think along that line because Ibadan belongs to all the Yoruba race and it remains the capital city of the South Western Nigeria. This we demonstrated during our first term in office when so many monumental projects were executed in the state capital as it deserved.
“To a large extent, the Sage (Chief Obafemi Awolowo) did not allow any sentiment to derail him from registering Ibadan on the world map when he was the Premier of the Western Region and Ibadan was the capital. This obviously spurred me to carry out many projects for the ancient city such as; massive renovation and upgrade of Mapo Hall, construction and expansion of roads across the eleven local govern areas, renovation and upgrade of Adeoyo State Hospital.
“And apart from being the best global practice, capital cities deserve good attention as they serve the purpose of showcasing the depth of good governance. Ibadan, just like any other big or small city in Oyo State, is the responsibility of the government of the day and any serious minded governor would never toy with its development for whatever reasons.
“However, no parts of the state would be abandoned for another to develop because the state belongs to all and every resident and indigene should be given a sense of belonging by those at the helms of affairs. Without necessarily hinging my aspiration to succeed Gov. Ajimobi on the agitation for rotation of governorship among the geopolitical zones, I am in support of merit above sentiments.
“By the Grace of God, our administration will leverage on the vast human and natural resources in the state as well as the possession of required experience and passion to transform every nook and cranny of our dear state without allowing this to have negative effect on the socioeconomic life of the people. Resources of the people shall be made to serve them all and nothing is going to derail us.
“Meanwhile, it is now imperative for all voters in the Pacesetters State to cast their ballots for all the candidates of the ADP in the 2019 general election and thus put paid to the reign of hunger, deprivation and poverty induced by official recklessness, impunity and indiscipline on the part of the current administration.” Alao-Akala added.
