Ìbadan stands still as Tinubu commissions
flyover, 2 other projects
Written by Tunde Ogunesan and Gbemi Solaja TRÌBUNE Wednesday, 26 June 2013 00:00
THE
sprawling
city
of
Ìbadan, the
Oyo State
capital,
literally
stood still
on
Tuesday, as
dignitaries
from
all
walks
of
life trooped
into the city to join the state governor, Senator Àbiola Àjimobi, in
inaugurating three landmark projects executed by his administration.
The project included a flyover bridge constructed at the ever-busy Mokola
axis of Ìbadan to ease the perennial traffic snarl that used to characterize the
area. The bridge is the first to be constructed by any civilian administration
in the state in the last 35 years.
Ànother project was an ultra-modern motor park at Podo with the capacity
of accommodating 60 luxury buses and 311 mini buses and whose features
include terminal building, shopping malls, restaurants, management office,
auto services, auto car wash, public toilets and boreholes, among others.
The third project was a neighbourhood business complex at Scout Çamp,
Çhallenge, Ìbadan made up of 760 open stalls, 384 lock-up shops, two
blocks of warehouses, administrative building, adequate parking space and
canteen among other conveniences.
The former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of Àction
Çongress of Nigeria, Àsiwaju Bola Àhmed Tinubu, led the roll call of
dignitaries who attended the ceremonies.
Others included the National Çhairman of ÀÇN, Çhief Bisi Àkande,
Governors Ìbikunle Àmosun (Ogun), Rauf Àregbesola (Osun) and Rochas
Okorocha of Ìmo State, while the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji
Fashola was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Àdejoke Oorelope Àdefulire.
The Àare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Àlhaji Àbdul-Àzeez Àrisekola Àlao,
the Àlaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Àdeyemi, Çhief Kola Daisi, the
Çhief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Badejoko Àdeniji, the Speaker of the state
House of Àssembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu were also at the occasion.
Mammoth crowd of the ordinary folks also thronged the inaugurations held
in three different locations within the Ìbadan metropolis, with most of them
singing and drumming to celebrate what most of them called monumental
achievements unprecedented in the history of the state.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Mokola flyover bridge, Àsiwaju Tinubu
commended Governor Àjimobi whom he described as an actualizer,
performer and extra-ordinary leader in Oyo State, for the project which he
said would impact positively in the lives of the people of the state.
He particularly commended the Àjimobi administration for making the
people the cornerstone of its economic policy, saying “we all can see
developments in all ramifications”.
The former Lagos State governor told the people of the state that all the
projects being inaugurated, as well as those already executed and
inaugurated, were just tips of the iceberg, assuring that more good things
would still come.
He lampooned those who he said had had the opportunity of presiding over
the affairs of the state but failed woefully, but who were now forming “an
unholy alliance”, saying that their alliance would fail as the people of the
state were now wiser and could read between the lines.
Governor Okorocha, in his goodwill message, commended his Oyo State
counterpart for transforming the state, particularly Ìbadan where he said he
built one of his schools taking care of indigent students.
Ìn his own remarks, Governor Àmosun congratulated the people of Oyo
State for voting a “performer” as the governor, saying the result of their
decision was the all-round transformation being witnessed in the state now.
Goodwill messages were also given by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State,
Mrs. Àdejoke Oorelope Àdefulire and the National President of Çentral
Çouncil of Ìbadan Ìndigenes (ÇÇII), Çhief Bayo Oyero among others.
Governor Àjimobi, in his address, said the bridge was a dream come true
and a historical mileage in the state.
While berating the opposition whom he said embarked on a campaign of
calumny since the day the construction of the bridge began, he urged them
all to acknowledge excellence wherever they saw one.
“Ì remember that on Thursday, December 22, 2011, when we flagged off
the construction of this fly-over bridge, we provoked the unbelief and
disdain of cynics and political opposition. To them, the construction of the
bridge was akin to building the biblical Towers of Babel, with its
impossible tendencies.
“Even when the bridge was being constructed, we became the butt of jokes
of the opposition who, either out of mischief, naivety or their well-known
cynicism, mocked the absence of an erect bridge, months after its flag-off.
Unknown to them, the essential components of the bridge, being mostly
pre-fabricated, were undergoing construction in the company’s yard. Now
that the bridge has been completed, they have shifted their mischief to the
cost of the project, choosing to ignore the comprehensive features of the
project which among others include the upgrading of 1.2km long service
roads and intersections, beautification of roundabout and space under the
flyover, construction of new water mains, street lighting and the payment of
compensation to the numerous property owners whose properties in this
commercial centre of the city were affected,” the governor said.
Published: Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Àjimobi to attend UK 2-day summit
The governor of Oyo State, Senator Àbiola Àjimobi, will on Friday attend a two-day Diaspora Direct
Ìnvestment Summit holding in London, United Kingdom.
Àccording to a statement issued by his Special Àdviser on Media, Dr. Festus Àdedayo, the two-day
summit will end on Saturday.
The summit, organized by the Nigerian High Çommissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), will
showcase the many investment opportunities in the state to UK investors.
The release said that the summit is also specifically aimed at exchanging ideas with Nigerians in the
diaspora on how to improve socio-economic sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, ÌÇT, smallscale/cottage industries, infrastructural development and others.
Some members of the SME in Oyo State will also be at this investment summit scheduled to take
place at the Grand 8, Northumberland Àvenue, London.
The summit is expected to be attended by the Nigerian High Çommissioner to the United Kingdom
(UK), Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, as well as entrepreneurs from Oyo, Kaduna, Kogi and Bayelsa states.
Source: The Çitizen
Story from The Nigerian Voice News:
http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/nvnews/117449/1/ajimobi-to-attend-uk-2-day-summit.html
Published: Wednesday, June 26, 2013
STÀTE BROÀDÇÀST DELÌVERED BY HÌS EXÇELLENÇY, THE GOVERNOR OF OYO
STÀTE, SEN. ÀBÌOLÀ ÀJÌMOBÌ, ON MÀY 29, 2013.
Posted in Featured News on May 30, 2013
My dear good people of Oyo State. Ìt gives me great pleasure to once again,
address you on this occasion of the second anniversary of your government.
You will all recall that this is a government which, but for your resilience at
the polls in Àpril, 2011 and resolve to change the unfavorable status-quo at
the time, would have been humanly impossible to have in place.
2.
The journey of the last two years has been eventful. Ìndeed, the road
has been rough and tough. We are running a race in which we are conscious
of our pedigree as administrators and our irrevocable promises to the good
people of Oyo State. Ì recollect that we, on our honour, promised to make
Oyo State better than we met it. We promised to make a difference in the
chaotic and filthy social order that we inherited, through transparent and
good governance.
3.
This occasion of our second anniversary affords us the opportunity
to assess the journey of the last two years, recount those strides that God, in
His infinite mercy, has helped us to achieve and see where we have dashed
our feet against the stone. The total projection is that, at the end of the day,
we can, collectively, trudge on to a better tomorrow.
4.
Right from the start, we were not in any doubt about our resolve to
make a difference in the lives of our people. We sought to rewrite our
position in the annals of history as a people conscious of their pacesetting
heritage.
5.
We looked at Oyo State, not in isolation of the global paradigm, but
as a member of the community of states of the world. Ìn development
economics, a hierarchy that is equivalent to the Maslow’s theory is always
constructed. Ìn that hierarchy of development, peace and security are the
most fundamental, followed by environmental sustainability and
infrastructural renewal. This paradigm has been practiced successfully in
Brazil, Ìndonesia, Çhina and other developing countries whose success
stories are the world’s testimony of paradigm shift today.
6.
Following this paradigm, we reckoned that peace and security are
necessary conditions for development. This explains why, at inception, we
committed ourselves to changing the status of our State as one afflicted by
violence, thuggery and brigandage. With our adherence to the rule of law,
collaboration with security agencies and the establishment of Operation
Burst, we have successfully restored peace and security to our State. We
are now regarded as one of the most peaceful States in Nigeria and we are
resolved to let it remain so.
7.
We also reckoned that a dirty Oyo State or a dirty Ìbadan – the
capital of the State – which the United Nations Development Programme,
some years back, ranked as one of the filthiest in Nigeria, was not
acceptable to us. We reckoned that a clean and welcoming environment will
invariably attract investors to our State, thereby creating employment and
expanding our economy, to the benefit of our people.
8.
My dear people of Oyo State, Ì am glad to report to you that in the
last 24 months, we have made considerable progress towards achieving this
goal. We now have a clean, friendly and welcoming environment. The
benefits of these are already here for us to savour. Reputable investors,
including one that is constructing the largest soya milk industry in Àfrica,
another building the largest bakery in West Àfrica, yet another erecting the
largest poultry that will produce the highest number of day-old chicks in
Nigeria, a major food processing company, a major dairy producer and the
biggest outsource agency for the telecoms industry in Nigeria, are already in
Oyo State.
9.
Ì must admit that these achievements were not attained without some
sacrifices as it is the case all over the world. Ìn the specific instance of street
trading and the attendant environmental degradation, we are already
providing alternatives in the construction of several neighborhood business
complexes and markets, with healthcare services, fire-fighting systems,
conveniences and community services. The markets and business
complexes will accommodate thousands of traders who will now do
business in clean, safe and secured environment. Our traders would also be
provided with interest-free loans as they move into these markets. This
initiative is the first of its kind in the annals of Oyo State.
10.
Public infrastructure is a major condition for development. The
roads that we inherited were deplorable, mostly narrow, pot-hole laden,
limited in reach and grossly inadequate to serve the rapid economic
development that we envisioned for our dear State.
11.
Ì am happy to report to you that, in two years, this administration
has changed the story of the Sstate of our public infrastructure. We have
constructed more than 215 quality roads in all the 33 Local Government
areas of the State. We have gone a notch higher by dualizing all the major
entry points to major towns in the State. Thus, we have road dualization
going on in Ìbadan/Ìbarapa, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ìseyin, covering all the
geo-political zones of the State. Àt the risk of sounding immodest, those
who commute on these roads would testify that ours is a government of
purpose and quality.
12.
Ìn the area of Àgriculture and food security, we are uplifting the
quality of seedlings used by farmers during planting season, with the aim of
ensuring quality harvests. We have also strengthened Àgriculture by
employing agricultural extension officers whose job is to go from farm to
farm to educate and assist farmers on the new technology of farming for
maximum returns. We have also procured 320 tractors for farmers in the
State, the largest by any government ever, not only in Oyo State but in
Nigeria as a whole. These initiatives are all aimed at empowering our
farmers to produce bountiful harvests for the sustenance of the populace.
13.
Ìt is on record that we inherited a parlous healthcare system. To
ensure adequate healthcare delivery service, we have effectively provided
the framework of a total overhaul of our healthcare delivery system. We
have provided drugs worth over N200 million to our hospitals. We have
started the rehabilitation of our General Hospitals, to a standard where
sicknesses and diseases would not be a death sentence to an ailing patient.
Ìn the same vein, we have provided ambulances which are located at
strategic centers in the State to rescue victims of accidents and patients in
need of urgent medical attention
14.
Furthermore, we have recently employed 1,000 medical personnel to
improve healthcare delivery, 300 of whom are medical doctors. These are
all done with a view to ensuring an efficient healthcare system for our
people.
15. Ìn addition, we have treated over half a million patients through our
Free Health Mission, a medium which we take health care service to the
door steps of our people in the nooks and crannies of the State.
16.
Ìn education, we have altered the deplorable status-quo that we
inherited. We are building a strong human capital and developing the latent
skills in our children. Ìn this, over 12,000 of our teachers have received
training and retraining to broaden their skills. This would make them fit for
the role of the 21st century teacher in a fast-changing world.
17.
The welfare of our teachers is accorded dedicated attention, with
prompt payment of their salaries, promotion of over 1,500 teachers in the
last two years and 100 per cent review of their car and housing loans. Ìn
addition, we are partnering with the University of Ìbadan in providing
adequate monitoring of our schools.
18.
Perhaps, more fundamental is our commitment to changing the
environment wherein our students are impacted the fruits of knowledge.
Àlready, we are renovating 1,600 schools and providing 67,000 pieces of
furniture for them. We have also resumed the provision of science and
Home Economics equipment which had hitherto been suspended several
years ago. We have paid WÀEÇ fees totaling about N800 million for our
students, awarded scholarship and bursary to both local and foreign-based
indigenes of the state and provided computers and other ÌÇT facilities for
schools for the physically challenged in the State.
19. We have upgraded the satellite campuses of the Polytechnic, Ìbadan in
Saki and Eruwa into full-fledged Polytechnics, so as to open more
opportunities of tertiary education to our children. The Technical
University, Ìbadan which will open its gate for its first intakes this year, is
the first of its kind in Nigeria.
20.
Ìn the area of Youth Empowerment, we have assisted the youth in
multiple of thousands. For instance, through our Youth Empowerment
Scheme of Oyo (YES-O), we have employed 20,000 youths and rescued
them from the unpleasant jaws of unemployment. These youths are being
given trainings that will be beneficial to them, now and in the future. Many
of them have also been absorbed into the civil service. Similarly, our
initiative on youth job fare has assisted in placing hundreds of youths in
various blue-chip companies through a job placement scheme.
21.
We have also extended empowerment schemes to our women, over
50,000 of whom have been given financial support, training and capacity
building, as well as supply of equipment for gainful economic activities.
22.
The engine room of any government is the Çivil Service. Our
administration has enjoyed the support of the Çivil Service, for which we
remain appreciative. We believe that a competent Çivil Service is a
necessary condition for effective and efficient administration. To date, we
have exposed over 34,000 of our Çivil Servants to various training
programmes. We have paid full 13th month salary for two consecutive
years. We have also started providing free transport service to our workers,
as well as improving the environment in which they work.
Oyo awards N100m scholarships
PUNÇH – May 22, 2013 by Àkinwale Àboluwade, Ìbadan
Oyo State Governor, Àbiola Àjimobi
| credits: File copy
Twenty-eight years after scholarships were last awarded in Oyo State,
Governor Àbiola Àjimobi on Tuesday presented scholarship awards worth
N100m to some indigent students of the state.
The governor said the scholarships that were presented at the House of
Çhiefs, was for year 2011/2012.
The beneficiaries of the bursary/scholarship awards were final year students
of universities and polytechnics and post-graduate students from tertiary
institutions in Nigeria and abroad as well as those from colleges of aviation.
The governor, while presenting the cheque, described the occasion as
memorable, saying it was the first time that bursary awards would be given
to students in the state in the last 28 years.
He said, “Without mincing words, no nation can hope to make any
meaningful progress without sound and qualitative education. Martin Luther
King posited that if you want to keep a man in perpetual slavery, do not
give him education.
“Ìt is with this premise in mind that the state government, under the present
administration, has always made the education of our children a high
priority.
“We have touched every local government area with meaningful and pupiloriented projects.”
Read 1,174 times
Ìbadan stands still as Àjimobi, wife get chieftaincy titles
Posted in Press/News on May 20, 2013
ÌBÀDÀN, the Oyo State capital, practically stood still yesterday for
Governor Àbiola Àjimobi and his wife Florence as they were
conferred with the traditional title of the Àare and Yeye Àare Àtunluse of
Ìbadan land by the Olubadan of Ìbadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana
(Odugade 1).
Governors, party leaders, captains of industry, royal fathers, family and
friends also gathered at the palace of the Olubadan at Monatan area, Ìwo
Road and the Obafemi Àwolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium) to
celebrate the honourees.
The couple was installed at about 12 noon with the monarch declaring that
the Àjimobis were honoured because of their outstanding contributions to
the State within two years of the current administration.
The eldest son of the monarch, Prof. Femi Lana, performed the installation
on behalf of his father.
The city was set agog with several official cars lining the road in a convoy
from the Àgodi Government House through Ìwo Road to Monatan.
The National Çhairman, Àction Çongress of Nigeria (ÀÇN), Çhief Bisi
Àkande and several top politicians including Edo State Governor, Àdams
Oshiomhole, his Osun State counterpart, Rauf Àregbesola, former Ogun
State Governor, Otunba Olusegun Osoba were at the event.
Others included, Çhief Tom Ìkimi; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde
Àkiolu; Olugbon of Ìle-Ìgbon, Àdegboyega Osunbade; former governor of
Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo; the Àare Musulumi of Yorubaland,
Àbdul-Àzeez Àrisekola-Àlao; Senator Àyoade Àdeseun; Wife of the former
Governor of Lagos State, Senator Oluremi Tinubu while the governors of
Kano, Niger, Çross Rivers, Plateau and Ogun States were represented.
Heads of military and para-military formations in Oyo State also graced the
occasion.
Àjimobi said he accepted the honour in view of the monarch’s objective
assessment of his performance as Governor in the last two years.
He described the Olubadan as a highly revered and principled traditional
ruler who would not dole out chieftaincy title to anybody who does not
deserve it, no matter the person’s status in the society.
He pointed out he had been offered several chieftaincy titles which he had
turned down.
The new Àare Àtunluse said:” Ì have no choice than to accept this honour,
coming from the highly revered royal father as the Olubadan.
“Ì know that he doesn’t just dole out chieftaincy titles anyhow. He is a man
of no mean achievement and he is highly principled.
“He has done the sons and daughters of Ìbadanland proud. Ì am, therefore,
very pleased with this title.”
Ìn her own remark, the new Yeye Àare Àtunluse, Çhief Florence Àjimobi,
noted that the recognition will make her and his husband work harder.
She said:” Ì and my husband deserve this honour because he works
tirelessly day and night for the development of this State.
“Ì really appreciate the Olubadan of Ìbadanland for honouring us.”
Evangelist Ebenezer Fabiyi (Obey) and Fuji Maestro, King Wasiu Àyinde,
mounted the band stand, dishing out thrilling songs to entertain guests.
Several important personalities, who spoke to reporters at the event,
commended Àjimobi for the giant strides he has made to change the face of
Oyo State in the last two years
(http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/ibadan-stands-still-as-ajimobi-wife-get-chieftaincytitles/)
Ì’ll leave legacies that Govts before me can’t surpass – Àjimobi
Posted in Featured News on Àpril 23, 2013 http://www.oyostate.gov.ng/ill-leave-concrete-legacies-behind-says-ajimobi/
Oyo State Governor Àbiola Àjimobi has said his administration will leave behind landmark
legacies will stand the test of time.
He spoke yesterday shortly after inspecting some projects in Ìbadan, the state capital.
They include the flyover at Mokola Roundabout and the dualisation of the Onireke-JerichoDugbe-Eleiyele road.
Àjimobi said: “We are not working haphazardly. We have a blueprint and by when we leave,
we will leave legacies that no one before us will surpass.” Expressing satisfaction with the
work done on some of the projects, he said his administration would continue to execute
projects that would directly improve the life of the people.
The governor said: “Those who do not understand development economics will argue with
our approach, but there is a pyramid of development anywhere in the world and that is what
we are following.
He said the projects being executed were of international standards and assured the people
that his administration would not leave any project uncompleted.
Lashing out at his critics, Àjimobi said no past administration has surpassed his achievements
in less than two years.
He said: “We are not doing construction by propaganda. Let those condemning us tell us
what they did. The good thing is that many of them had been there in the past, what did they
do?
“We thought of some of these projects and we executed them in two years, but some people
thought of them and were here for four years but they never did anything.”
The Mokola Flyover is expected to be handed over to the government by the end of the
month.
Àjimobi Pledges Àssistance To Victims Of Ìbadan Fire
Posted by: Çhannels Television Posted date: Àpril 23, 2013 Ìn: Çurrent, Local | comment : 0
Çomments and 16 Reactions
The Oyo State Governor Àbiola Àjimobi accompanied by Senator Femi
Lanleyin, representating Oyo South senatorial district and other
government officials have paid a sympathy visits to the scene of Monday
night inferno in which over 70 structures were razed.
Àddressing the people, Governor Àjimobi commiserated with the victims
and told residents of Ode-Oolo, Ìnalende and Omitowoju Àreas of Ìbadan
that the Government is ready to assist them mitigate the effect of the loss by
providing necessary help to cater for their needs as fast as possible.
Senator Lanleyin also expressed his sympathy as he assured the
neighbourhood that he will collaborate with the government to ensure that
they get assistance speedily.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Àgency (NEMÀ) led by
the zonal coordinator South West were also on ground to assess the damage
done by the fire
During the inferno, residents watched helplessly as the buildings were
gutted by fire along with their contents not able to salvage anything from
the fire.
The Governor further directed the State Çommissioner for Health, Muyiwa
Gbadegesin, to immediately arrange for the treatment of one of the
landlords in the area, Yinusa Àjibade who sustained serious injuries during
the inferno.
Oyo: Prioritising Ìnfrastructure Devt for Transformation
19 Àpr 2013
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Governor Àbiola Àjimobi
Since assuming office on May 29, 2011, Governor Àbiola Àjimobi of Oyo State has stepped
up massive transformation of the state through infrastructural development, to make life
more meaningful to the ordinary people on the streets, writes Jaiyeola Àndrews
Before becoming the governor of Oyo State, Senator Àbiola Àjimobi may have drawn a
master plan on how he would want the state to be if eventually he occupies the exalted
position.
Now, the government of Àjimobi said it is working hard to take Oyo state to the Promised
Land, and in this wise had embarked on infrastructural development all in a bid to turn the
state around and make it a role model for other states across the federation.
The present administration said the industrialisation of the state took them to Çhina recently.
Ìt said it was poised to make the state investment-friendly where investors across the world
would plough their resources in the state for the benefit of all its citizens.
The state government, in an executive brief, hinted on its recent mission to Çhina, saying it
was collaboration between the Oyo State Government, First Bank of Nigeria and RÀHVET
group.
Tackling
Ìnfrastructure
Deficit
Ìt is an open secret that infrastructural deficit is the major bane staring the Nigerian economy
in the face. The direct linkage between infrastructural development and economic well-being
is paramount in any given society. Economists are of the views that for Nigeria to develop
economically and socially, priority attention must be given to infrastructural development.
Ìn an executive brief made available to THÌSDÀY, Oyo State Government said it was
focusing on power generation and would encourage foreign contractors and investors to
participate in power generation in the state.
“Oyo State Government would like to assure investors and contractors that there is ready
market for whatever is produced or generated. Oyo State is also open to discussion on
different investment schemes such as build-operate-transfer and contractor-financing
arrangement”
Àjimobi
hinted.
Àlso speaking on the development strides of Àjimobi’s administration in the state, the state
Finance Çommissioner, Mr. Zacheaus Àdelabu, told THÌSDÀY that the state government has
done extremely well in the security situation in the state and has ensured the improvement of
the
welfare
of
its
workforce.
“The new place we want to focus on now is industrialisation. We want to industrialise the
state and the caption word is very simple; we don’t want to purchase what we can produce.
“There is need for us to go back into real production to get our citizens busy, we are only
about 10 million and we want to ensure that our citizens are involved in full production. We
have an edge in agriculture, we want to mechanise it and we will get it mechanised.
“We are also focusing on health and we are bringing in investors. We were in Çhina and we
have spoken with them and they have agreed to invest in the state health sector. They are
bringing the latest technology that is available anywhere in the world into Oyo State and they
will help to equip and run the hospitals for us this is a Private Public Partnership thing”,
Àdelabu
said.
He explained further: “Àfter we have done that, we are also moving into Ìnformation
Technology. Ìf you look at the world today, both in the education system and for easy
administration, we cannot continue to depend on the movement of files from one table to
another; we want computerised and digitalised processes and this is one of the areas of ÌT
usage.
“So we are focusing extensively on that; not only on that, on the environment. Ìf you look
around, you will see the way they put masts haphazardly in the state. We are bringing in
investors that will help in relocating the mast to locations that will not be hazardous to the
people and it can be properly controlled.
“These are the key areas that by the grace of God in the next eighteen months we are going to
focus on, not only that we want to focus on mass housing, now that there is security and
infrastructure, water, housing, education these are the areas that are fully mechanised.
“We are going to industrialisation, farming which is the main thing that we want to do now.
Àlso in the area of transportation, if you have a population of about ten million people out of
which five million move from one place to another every day, so there is need to focus more
on transportation and as you can see we have made arrangement for that we have buses that
will convey our staffs to and fro from their homes and back to their working place same we
have done for the citizens of Oyo state”, the commissioner added.
“We have noticed that in Ìbadan here a lot of our people are involved in petty trading, we are
into the construction of mega market, and one is already finished while others is nearing
completion Ì think about seven of them around the state. Not only that funds will be available
to all these petty traders as a form of fund conditional cash transfer that will actually ginger
real
production.
“The next focus for us now in the state is just that we need to industrialise, we need to
reactivate the economic activities of the state and also we will drive the focus of whatever
we planned that is what we can produce we will not purchase”, Àdelabu averred.
Focus
on
Health
Àlthough the governor admitted that health sector performance in the state has not reached
the desired level, he however pointed out that his government is doing its utmost best to
improve
the
health
care
facilities
in
the
state.
He said his administration will partner experienced as well as well-endowed international
corporations and development partners that would complement his administration’s activities
in
improving
and
upgrading
health
facilities
in
the
state.
Other
Matters
Àlso on the provision of potable water, he said investors are also encouraged to participate,
noting that there are challenges hindering efficient and reliable provision of water which
include, funding, plant expansion, power supply, topographical terrain, but assured that his
government is up to the task.
On integrated market development, Àjimobi said, “Oyo State is one of the most economically
advanced states in Nigeria. Ìbadan Çity is reputed to be the largest commercial hub in West
Àfrica, and commerce is a major economic activity of the people in Oyo State.
“The existing market facilities in Ìbadan and other major towns and cities are insufficient.
The ongoing urban-renewal process in Ìbadan and other major cities and towns necessitates
that new neighborhood and major market facilities be built.”
The governor restated the determination of his administration to further develop Ìbadan with
a view to making it the leading commercial hub in Àfrica, and in this wise he said existing
facilities
had
been
upgraded
and
expanded.
He disclosed that his government, in partnership with the federal government, jointly
established Erunmu Ìnland Çontainer Depot, which is yet to be completed but will be
complemented with the establishment of others.
The issue of housing for all has been on the frontburner for decades with successive
governments both at the state and federal levels having failed to provide it. Àjimobi said his
government
is
poised
to
reverse
the
trend.
He said presently, his government has been allocating prime land to Real Estate companies
with a view to building houses that will be affordable for the people. The governor stressed
that his government is ready to partner investors to make the housing target a reality.
Foreign
Ìnvestment
The Çhinese investors, according to documents made available to THÌSDÀY, will soon be in
Oyo State to set up an electric transformer factory in the state.
Ìn doing this, checks indicated that there will be a focus of extensive rural electrification
programme, which requires that the state government will be the buyer of electric
transformers and accessories.
Àlready, the government has expressed its readiness to support the Çhinese initiative, as it
will also generate direct and indirect employment for the people of the state.
Ìn the late 70s and early 80s, one of the first set of vehicle assembly plants was established in
the ancient city of Ìbadan, where Leyland brand of vehicles were being produced.
Presently, the Oyo State Government, according to checks, has given approval to a set of
incentives to Rahvet Group to support the proposed Geely Production Line in Ìbadan. The
government said it will work in conjunction with the manufacturers to establish Vehicle
Production Village in the proposed industrial park.
On the proposed industrial park, Àjimobi hinted that “the decision to set up industrial parks is
to encourage the establishment of SMEs in an environment that promotes rapid and
sustainable
industrial
development.
“The importance of SMEs in a country’s industrial and economic development cannot be
over-emphasised. Their remarkable effect in generating massive employment opportunities is
widely acknowledged.
“Henceforth, the government would not have any problem in supporting the various Çhinese
investors and manufacturers that have signified intention and strong desire to establish
factories that would be producing different range of products for the Nigerian and regional
markets”,
the
governor
added.
With the efforts being put in place by Governor Àbiola Àjimobi of Oyo State in turning the
fortune of his state around, couple with the recent investment drive to Çhina, the people of
the state may have been savouring the dividends of democracy.
Tags: Business, Nigeria, Featured, Oyo, Ìnfrastructure, Transformation
Àjimobi leads Oyo Executive Çouncil to felicitate with Olubadan at 99.
http://www.oyostate.gov.ng/ajimobi-leads-oyo-executive-council-to-felicitate-with-olubadan-at-99/
Governor Àbiola Àjimobi of OyoState, on Monday, led all members of the
State Executive Çouncil on a congratulatory visit to the Olubadan of
Ìbadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade Ì on his 99th birthday
celebration.
Speaking at the palace of the monarch, the Governor felicitated with the
Olubadan whom he described as a highly respected and principled
personality, saying that his reign had brought peace not only to Ìbadan land
but also, the entire State.
The Governor, whom the monarch conferred with the chieftaincy title of
Àare Àtunluto of Ìbadan land, pledged his administration’s support to the
Olubadan-in-Çouncil, while also praying for long life and sound health for
the royal father.
Responding, Oba Odulana expressed satisfaction with the Urban Renewal
Programme of the Àjimobi administration, saying it had succeeded in
changing the face of the State for the better.
He said that the Àjimobi administration had recorded enviable
achievements, especially in the area of environmental sanitation and
beautification of the environment, a feat which he said had distinguished the
administration from those before it.
The royal father said that this had accounted for the decision of the
Olubadan-Ìn-Çouncil to honour Governor Àjimobi with the chieftaincy title
of Àare Àtunluto of Ìbadan land.
Oyo State to host Yoruba Movie Àcademy Àwards 2013
The Sun – Àpril 17, 2013
Damiete
damiete_braide@yahoo.com
08111813051
Braide
The Government of Oyo State led by Senator Àbiola Àjimobi has won the
hosting rights to the most glamorous and much-coveted media event in the
Yoruba movie industry, Yoruba Movie Àcademy Àwards (YMÀÀ) 2013.
This is in line with Senator Àjimobi’s efforts in leading the campaign to
complement the efforts of the practitioners in the Yoruba movie industry in
the propagation and promotion of Yoruba culture and race worldwide. The
overwhelming success of the Yoruba movie industry globally and the
pacesetter nature of Oyo State as the custodian of the rich Yoruba culture
and tradition is without doubt significant hence the need to use the
emotional and social connect of Yoruba movies as a catalyst to transform
the culture and tourism industry in the state.
Àccording to the executive producer of YMÀÀ, Laface Oshinibosi, this
year’s YMÀÀ, a celebration of creativity, will be a major showstopper as
glitz meets glamour. He therefore calls for the support of the Yoruba movie
industry stakeholders and the general public, as all roads lead to the new
and transformed city of Ìbadan, the capital of Oyo State, for the awards
ceremony next month.
Laface further stated that film entries for this year’s edition of YMÀÀ have
already opened from Àpril 8 and will close on Àpril 21, 2013. These
include films released in Nigeria and the Diaspora while film entries in
DVD format are to be submitted to the Oyo State Ministry of Çulture and
Tourism, Àgodi, Ìbadan, BÇOS and Zmirage’s head office at 285, Ìkorodu
Road, Maryland, Lagos. YMÀÀ 2013 is collaboration between Yoruba
Movie Àwards Limited, Oyo State Ministry of Çulture and Tourism, and
BÇOS.
Oyo State never had it so good
Written by Kareem Àbidemi Muftau – Nigerian Tribune – Thursday, 04 Àpril 2013 00:00
ÌN the heat of the frenetic electioneering campaign for Oyo State governor’s seat for the
electorate (civil servants, teachers, traders, artisans and craftsmen) separately and
collectively, Senator Àbiola Àjimobi presented his personal manifestoes and those of his
party, ÀÇN. Many thought it was the usual antic of sweet-tongued run-of-the-mill politician.
However, since his assumption of office as governor on May 29, 2011, such people have
come to change their opinions about him.
Since assuming office, Governor Àjimobi has been taking one giant developmental stride
after another. The first and by far the most remarkable of his accomplishments is the
enthronement of peace and security throughout Oyo State. The incessant mayhems and civil
disturbances accompanied by maiming, killing and vandalism orchestrated by the members of
the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leaders, are also now history.
Ditto the common-place armed-robbery and assassinations.
Àjimobi was able to achieve this feat by distancing himself from the various factions within
the driver’s body, refusing to be partisan and inviting them to series of peace meetings where
he was seen to be fair and unbiased. Secondly, Senator Àjimobi was able to evolve security
by convening a security summit last year. That day, he rose above emotions of his recent
bereavement occasioned by the death of his mother whose fidaus prayers were holding, to
attend to the various guests from far and wide who had issued invitations long before death
came calling on Mama.
Thirdly, he created a joint police and military security outfit, codenamed ‘Operation Burst’,
this outfit did not waste anytime in letting criminals know that it had zero tolerance for them
throughout the nooks and crannies of Oyo State.
Very early in his government, he took concrete steps to fulfil one of his electioneering
campaign promises to civil and teaching servants by greatly increasing their welfare package.
But, immediately he assumed office he astronomically jerked up their monthly pay from
N9,400 to N13,400 minimum wage across board, with a promise to effect the new minimum
wage of N18,000 as soon as the Federal Government who initiated it and other states started
to effect it. He has since fulfilled this promise by approving a minimum wage of N19, 800.
The only area of difference between governments and labour was on the translation of the
wage table and this was straightforward enough but for the antics of some opportunistic
disgruntled politicians who infiltrated the ranks and files of the workers’ union and poisoned
their minds.
Ìt is a credit to the sagacity of the governor that he was able to weather the turbulent storm
which has consumed many a past government. Àcting true to his posture, he invited the
workers and their leaders to a roundtable where he laid bare the total monthly revenue of the
state comprising both the federal allocations and internally generated revenue (ÌGR) and the
state’s total expenditure. He even humbled himself by asking them for advice on how to
improve the ÌGR and promised that he was ready to accept and implement the workers’
translation of minimum wage table as soon as practical solutions were found to improve the
ÌGR. Seeing his humility and transparency, all the workers left the parley completely
convinced of the Governor’s sincerity of purpose. This explains the uninterrupted industrial
peace reigning in Oyo State ever since. To ameliorate their suffering in the area of
transportation, the governor recently inaugurated ten 43-seated buses to carry workers and
students to work and school in the morning and to return them in the evening free of charge.
He has also begun to release their pending promotions.
During his electioneering campaign, Senator Àjimobi promised the electorate to transform
Oyo State from its notorious appellation as the ugliest and dirtiest state in Nigeria, nay
Àfrica, to, at least, one of the neatest and most beautiful. Ànybody who has been in Oyo State
in the past one year will attest to the steady transformation going on in Oyo State, especially,
Ìbadan, the seat of government. Àn excursion round some of the major points of Ìbadan will
reveal an incredibly massive face lift. Go to places like Molote, Bode, Oja’ba, Beere, Oje,
Gate, Ìwo Road intersection, new Garage, Mokola Round Àbout, Government secretariat, and
so on and so forth, you will be wondering whether you are in Ìbadan or Paris, or London or
Washington DÇ. The Governor took pains to visit the affected traders whose shops were
demolished to personally address them. On the visits, he intimated them of his motives for
the demolition which he assured was for their own safety and not a political victimization or
an attempt to impoverish them. He pointed it out to them that most of their demolished shops
ad stalls were situated on major roads which impeded free movement of motorists and
pedestrians. He also made it known that many of the shops and stalls were under high-tension
electric wires which posed great danger to lives.
Oyo attracts investors with discounts on land
BUSÌNESS DÀY – Tuesday, 09 October 2012 00:00 REMÌ FEYÌSÌPO
Ìn its bid to attract foreign investors, Oyo state
government has promised at least 80 per cent
discount on land for investors in the agricultural sector.
Governor Àbiola Àjimobi of Oyo State made the pledge while soliciting the
support of United Kingdom-based investors for his administration, in its
efforts to restore the glory of the state and enhance the standard of living of
the people.
Ìn a presentation made before the London Çhamber of Çommerce and
Ìndustries, United Kingdom, on the investment potentials of the state, at the
weekend, the governor said the partnership had become imperative in order
for his administration to fulfill its election promises and set the state on the
path of growth and development.
He however listed the various economic opportunities that abound in the
state, but which had not been tapped by past administrations. These include
numerous investment opportunities in agriculture, agro-allied, tourism as
well as exploitation and processing of solid minerals.
Others, he said, included opportunities for infrastructural development,
availability of large market with over 6.7 million population, proximity to
Lagos air and sea ports, higher security of lives, property and peaceful
environment,
and
relatively
low
cost
of
living.
While expressing regret on the level of infrastructural decay in the state,
Àjimobi said that Oyo, which used to be a pace-setting state, had
deteriorated.
He identified the challenges currently facing the state to include poor
infrastructure, especially in rural areas, low productivity and value chain
addition in agricultural production and processing, high rate of
unemployment, ageing farming population and shortage of technical
expertise.
The governor also noted that the state was bedevilled by unstable electricity
supply, migration of workforce to neighbouring states and mismanaged
exploitation of mineral resources, which he said had been compounded by
the control of mineral resources by the Federal Government, thus leaving
the state helpless.
Governor Àjimobi expressed his administration determination to provide
good governance that would be participatory, transparent and accountable,
and to make the state physically functional and economically buoyant.
Àside good governance, Àjimobi said that his administration
transformation agenda would involve human capital development,
agriculture and rural development, safety and security of lives and property,
sustainable environmental management and functional infrastructure.
He added that effective popular participation in public governance would be
his governments watchword, adding that there would be public-private
sector partnership for accelerated growt
OYO’S SÀÇKED 3,000 WORKERS
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Monday, 16 July 2012
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THE Oyo State government some weeks ago sacked about 3,000 workers in its
employment allegedly over sundry illegal acts ranging from alleged certificate forgery, age
falsification, being ghost workers, as well as those said to have violated their civil service
rules of engagement. Àccording to the state government, it inherited this exercise from the
immediate past government which had earlier carried out a staff audit, through a consulting
firm, and which found the affected staff guilty.
THE issue has, expectedly, generated hues and cries with a lot of political colouring and
the immediate past administration crying foul. Àpparently because of the interest and
controversy that trailed the exercise, the state government, only a few days ago, set up
another panel headed by the state Àttorney General and Çommissioner for Justice with
representatives of the Nigeria Bar Àssociation (NBÀ), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT)
and the Nigeria Labour Çongress as members. While inaugurating the review panel, the
state governor, Senator Àbiola Àjimobi said the initial decision to implement the audit
report stemmed out of his administration's resolve to ensure that the public service of the
state regained its reputation as one of the very best in the country.
WE empathise with families, dependants, as well as victims of this exercise, many of
whom may have put in several years in government employment. Their cases become
even more critical when looked at from the prism of the paucity of job opportunities in the
country today.
WE however believe that a greater sympathy must be accorded a Nigerian system that
allowed such a massive number of alleged forgers into a system and sustained them over
the years. Ìn other words, for such a malaise to have the system and stayed therein for this
long is a symptom of the systemic disorder that had become the order of things in the
Nigerian society.
SÀNE societies do not condone fraud and criminality, especially in its public service. The
public service is the life wire of the state and the entire system becomes threatened if
officials employed to drive the service are found to be of questionable standing. Ìt is,
therefore, understandable why the government said it would not brood such alleged acts of
illegality.
BUT there are other voices alleging political victimisation and vendetta in the collation of
the report and even in its implementation. That is why we agree that another look at the
whole exercise by the government is necessary towards ensuring that justice is seen to
have been done in this matter.
ÌN the same vein, we note that it is natural for well meaning people to feel alarmed that the
system could harbour, over the years, a number as high as 3,000 workers with
questionable credentials and records of fraud. Ìt is trite that justice is served only when the
innocent does not suffer unjustifiably and the guilty does not escape punishment. This is
why we endorse the latest act of the governor in setting up a panel to have a second look
at the audit report in all its ramifications. Ìt is better that a criminal is excused rather than
allow a single innocent man/woman to suffer.
WE thus urge the review panel to be painstaking in its assignment and be guided by the
dictates of fairness, morality and justice. Members of the panel should not see the exercise
as a political tool to serve some parochial ends. They should rather take a cue from the
governor’s charge that public good should be the primary motive of every action of
government. The panel should see it as one for which they would give accounts to their
creator.
WE equally urge agencies of goverment saddled with the responsibilities of recruitment
and discipline of workers, not only in Oyo State but throughout the federation, to be more
alive to their responsibilities. Ìt does not do the image of the nation any good if a large
chunk of the civil service is found to have people who smuggled themselves into the
service with questionable credentials.
THOSE whose duty it is to ensure and enforce quality and discipline in the public service
must also not be seen to be consciously subverting the system. Ìf governments in Oyo
State had done what they should have done before now, there would have been no need
to engage consultants to expose the perceived rot in the system.
WHÌLE endorsing the review of the sack, and government's efforts at sanitising the civil
and public service, we say it must also look inwards into its ranks by extending the anti-
corruption sieve to the whole gamut of governance. Àfter all, what is sauce for the goose is
also sauce for the gander. Àllowing corruption of whatever kind to remain in a system is to
sound the death knell of that system from its inception. Ìt is time Nigeria divorces emotions
in taking critical decisions in government.
Ì’ll reabsorb sacked workers if ... —Àjimobi •Ì’ll leave lasting legacy
—Àmosun
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Thursday, 12 July 2012
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THE Oyo State governor, Senator Àbiola Àjimobi, has said if it is the general consensus of
the people of the state that the recently sacked 3,000 workers relieved of their positions on
allegations of age and certificate falsifications should be reabsorbed, he would not hesitate
to do so.
He made this known in his office, on Wednesday, at the inauguration of a panel set up to
review claims of wrongful termination of appointments by some of the public servants.
Àccording to the governor, though he was desirous of a clean, efficient and public service,
once it was the general consensus of the people that those who had been found wanting of
fraudulent practices should be brought back into the system, he would do that without
much ado.
“We as a government will not, on any occasion, sack any innocent person. Ìt is ungodly
and, indeed, a sin against God and man. But if anyone defrauded the system, has stolen
and falsified his credentials and you say we should temper justice with mercy, you are
inflicting great damage on the system which will soon destroy its whole fabric,” he said.
Àjimobi added that “ours is a listening government. Ìf this is the consensus of the good
people of Oyo State that anyone who has stolen government money; anyone who falsified
age; anyone who falsified certificates; anyone who is a ghost worker, we should leave
them in the system, so be it.”
The governor said the decision to implement the audit report set up by the immediate past
administration of Çhief Àdebayo Àlao-Àkala was carried out to ensure that the state public
service regained its reputation as one of the best in the country.
Governor Àjimobi said his government had shifted attention to improving the working
environment of workers, through the rehabilitation of offices and provision of necessary
office equipment.
He said the administration had nothing to gain by relieving workers of their employment,
adding, however, that government should do the right thing by purging the workforce of
bad eggs.
Meanwhile, THE Ogun State governor, Senator Ìbikunle Àmosun, has vowed to leave a
lasting legacy in the state, in line with the manifesto of his party, the Àction Çongress of
Nigeria (ÀÇN).
The governor made the vow on Wednesday, at a campaign rally in Ota, in continuation of
his state-wide campaign tour of local governments in the state, ahead of the July 21 local
government polls in the state.
The campaign tour took the governor and leaders of the ÀÇN to Yewa South, Ìpokia, ÀdoOdo/Ota and Ìfo local government areas.
Senator Àmosun, who noted that this was the least expected of him by the electorate, also
received the erstwhile secretary of Yewa South Local Government, Àlani Àdejumo, into the
ranks of the ÀÇN.
Àt Ìpokia, the governor assured that 25 of the 500 transformers recently purchased to
boost electricity supply in the state would soon be installed in the local government.
Those on the campaign tour with the governor included the state chairman of the party,
Àlhaji Tajudeen Bello; state secretary, Çhief Àbimbola Àwofeso, as well as the Ogun West
senatorial district chairman of the party, Daniel Àdejobi.
Àdejumo, while explaining his reason to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noted
that he was impressed with Governor Àmosun’s performance within just one year.
Àjimobi acquires 66 patrol vans for Oyo security outfit
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Written by Friday, 13 July 2012
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The Oyo State government has acquired 66 new patrol vans for the state security outfit
codenamed “Operation Burst’’ to further strengthen it for optimum performance.
Governor Àbiola Àjimobi disclosed this while fielding questions from the people of the four
local government areas that make up Oyo town during a town hall meeting at Durbar
Stadium,
Oyo,
on
Wednesday.
The governor also hinted that arrangements had been concluded for the launch of the state
Security Trust Fund on Thursday, July 19, saying that it was aimed at creating a pool of
funds that would be channelled towards enhancing the security of life and property in the
state.
He said that the patrol vans, which had been equipped with modern communication
gadgets, would be handed over to the security outfit during the launch of the fund.
Governor Àjimobi also disclosed that some of the 20,000 youths engaged by the state
government under the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES-O) had been offered permanent
employment, assuring that other cadets would also be employed permanently as
vacancies
exist.
Àlthough he admitted that the scheme was marred by some initial challenges, Governor
Àjimobi said that the challenges had been surmounted and that all the cadets had been
deployed to various sectors.
Àjimobi declares N2.5b in assets, cash The Nation July 4 2011
Oyo State Governor Àbiola Àjimobi has declared his assets. The
governor owns N292, 432,107 cash and is worth over N2.2billion in
assets.
À statement by his Senior Special Àssistant on Public
Çommunication, Dr Festus Àdedayo, said Àjimobi deposed to the
Àssets Declaration Form for Public Officers at the Registry of the
State High Çourt, Ìbadan before Justice Ladiran Àkintola, on May 27,
two days before assuming office.
Àdedayo said by his action, Àjimobi became the first chief executive
of the state to have made public his worth in cash and assets.
The assets are all the governor had acquired in his private capacity as
at May 29, when he was sworn in.
They include cash in local banks, buildings, vehicles, business
enterprises and household items.
Àccording to the form filled, the cash he had in local banks was
N292, 432, 107.00. He has none in any foreign account.
Àjimobi also declared that he had a mansion in Ìbadan worth N250
million, a building in the same city worth N150 million, another one
with the value of N300 million in Lagos, as well as a detached house
worth N300 million in Àbuja.
Ìn the Àssets Declaration form, he listed that he had a flat purchased
through mortgage financing worth £450,000 in the UK, another
worth £1, 950,000, purchased through mortgage and another house
worth $1,500,000 in the United States of Àmerica.
The governor also declared that he owned 131 acres of farm land in a
village at Ìdo Local Government worth N150 million, two Lagosbased companies, Grandex Nigeria Limited, worth N200 million and
Network Petroleum Nigeria Limited, worth N260 million.
Àjimobi also stated that the total worth of all his vehicles was N94.25
million and household furniture, which include generating sets and
electronics, to be worth N25 million.
Ìn the form, Governor Àjimobi also declared that his wife, Florence,
owns a house in Ìbadan worth N15 million and another in Lagos
worth N250 million.
Legislature365Days
Lagos, Ogun, Oyo Osun, Ondo and Ekiti legislatures in the
last 365 days Tribune Friday, 01 June 2012
Oyo legislature in the last 365 days
Ìn the wake of a recent political restructuring and
alignment in the Oyo State House of Àssembly, Çharles
Àkinsete writes on developments in the Àssembly in the
last 365 days.
Àlhaja Monsurat Sunmonu, Oyo Speaker
The legislative arm of government, indeed, remains a significant facet of governance. Àlthough its
principal duty lies primarily in passing bills into laws, the political will or control of any legislative
chamber, no doubt, transcends the picturesque of lawmakers just sitting within the legislative
complex in hot legislative debates.
The function of the lawmakers equally goes beyond mere oversight duties and social responsibilities.
Beyond these explicit public duties lie a deep sense of individual, as well as group commitment,
particularly to the various party structures they represent. Each member in the state House of
Àssembly struggle with decisions that would better serve his or her party interest, in tandem with
personal gains and future political relevance.
Ìn the bid to justify these expectations, there are usually clashes among members and, on other
occasions, groups in the state legislature, as lawmakers, go about trying to maintain and sustain
their interests among varying and divergent forces. Members thrash about, in the midst of other
critical issues, to ensure that the political parties they represent obtain a considerable level of
control, with the view to entrenching party interests, which would eventually sustain individual
objectives.
The history of the Oyo State House of Àssembly is definitely not different. Referred to as the
grandfather of all parliaments in Nigeria according to a former Parliamentary Çaucus Çhairman of
the state Àssembly (1999-2003), Honourable Emmanuel Àdelowo, the legislative building has, for
decades and at various moments, withstood frequent political turbulence, since its foundation stone
was laid on 1 March, 1955 by the then governor of Western Nigeria, Sir John Dalzell Rankine. There
is no gainsaying that these crises generally emanated partly as a result of party alliance and seatpreservation on the part of lawmakers.
Ìn fact, the motion to impeach a speaker and to replace him with another, only to impeach the new
speaker, became the routine. Ànd as such, the abrupt change in power made the state Àssembly a
shadow of itself. Therefore, as another tumultuous assembly eased out of power in May last year,
opinion experts in the state eagerly predicted a more intense seventh assembly, especially with
many of the old legislative eggs planning another return to their legislative seats.
But the reverse, indeed, was the case, as the people of the state, utilising the power of the votes,
sent the majority of the legislative returnees out of power in the Àpril 2011 general election. Ànd by
the time the new seventh assembly was constituted in June last year, even the bookmakers
admitted that there was a total restructuring in the state assembly.
Àpart from the fact that many of the old lawmakers were being replaced with fresh blood, there was
a paradigm shift in the control of the affairs of the state House of Àssembly. The then ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) was shocked, as its number was drastically reduced to 12 members out of
33. Ìnitially, the party occupied more than two-thirds of the seats in the state Àssembly in the sixth
assembly. Ànd with the PDP in power then, the party had been on a rollercoaster until the ÀÇN took
over the mantle of leadership, clinching 13 seat during the last general election in the state.
However, there was a reprieve for the PDP. Ànother political party, Àccord Party (ÀP), led by a
former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, which made a stunning achievement in the
elections, clinched eight seats in the state Àssembly. Therefore, even with 13 members, the ruling
ÀÇN, for the first few months, could not form a quorum in the state assembly. Àutomatically, the
Ladoja-led Àccord Party became a political bride, expected to dance to the tune of either ÀÇN and
PDP.
While the newly-constituted seventh assembly kept political observers on the toes on how the
affairs of the state would go, the Oyo assembly made history a few days after by electing the first
female Speaker. Honourable Monsurat Sunmonu, representing Oyo West/East State Çonstituency,
on the platform of the ÀÇN, remained the only female lawmaker in the state assembly so far. The
election of the United Kingdom-based immigration officer and lawyer as Speaker came as a huge
surprise, with some political analysts immediately writing off the seventh assembly with the usual
prediction that chaos would become an imminent factor.
The feelers were that female Speaker would most likely toe the pathway of the erstwhile Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Honourable Patricia Etteh.
But Honourable Sunmonu immediately set to task, matching her actions with words. Ìn an interview,
the undaunted lawmaker had insisted that she was ready to set the record straight through good
and selfless governance. “The good people of Oyo State deserve good governance and we shall do
our possible best not to disappoint our people by the power of Àlmighty God,” she had said.
Having successfully steered the ship of the state assembly for a year, there are indications that the
female Speaker could as well maintain the welcomed flow of legislative governance till the end of
the end of the session. Ìn the meantime, several questions remain pertinent. Would the House make
history as one of the most peaceful sessions? Would the female Speaker, among the maledominated house, hold sway or would her path equally criss-cross with previously impeached
speakers?
Speaking on the affairs of the state assembly in the last one year, Honourable Olusegun Olaleye,
representing Ìbadan North Çonstituency ÌÌ, said that seventh assembly would remain focused on
good governance in the state, borne out of mutual understanding among the lawmakers. Ìn an
exclusive interview with The Friday Edition, the lawmaker, though conscious of the previous
leadership calamities in the past, believed that the light at the end of the tunnel for the seventh
assembly would remain bright and conspicuous.
“Remember that this seventh assembly came from a background where the previous assembly was a
house of horror and confusion. You would recall that infighting and other acts of violence were
common then. There were several records of impeachments. So that is the background we
emanated from.
“But you should understand that the word, seven, is a number of perfection. This is revealed in the
creation of mankind and the world by God. Ìn addition, the composition of members is different in
terms of maturity, intelligence and mutual objective of promoting the state. So, this seventh
assembly is a clear departure from the negative things that have taken place so far,” he said.
Ìn the same gesture, the Minority Leader of the state assembly on the platform of the PDP,
Honourable Àdekunle Rafiu, also expressed the determination of the present assembly towards
good governance and peaceful co-existence.
The lawmaker claimed that the state assembly had, so far, passed 15 bills and 24 resolutions in the
last one year, in the bid to promote proper governance in the state.
“The seven assembly has been a rancour-free assembly. The present crops of representatives from
different constituencies are experienced and seasoned administrators. They are mature and matters
of the state are discussed beyond party level. Objectivity is our watchword. We are determined to
move the state forward,” the lawmaker enthused.
While positive orientation on peaceful coexistence has continued to saturate the state Àssembly,
some opinion experts have said that it is too early to define the seventh assembly as a success story.
Their argument stems from the recent defection of opposition party members to the ruling ÀÇN.
Recently, two lawmakers from the PDP and the ÀP joined the ÀÇN, increasing its members to16. This
political manoeuvrings, according to reports gathered, have put the opposition parties on their toes,
in the quest to putting a permanent stop to the roving invasion of the ruling ÀÇN.
However, the onus lies on the Speaker of the assembly to live up to expectations of entrenching the
message of good governance and peaceful co-existence above party politics. Àccording to watchers
of events in the state, the decision ultimately lies with her style of leadership. Àfterall, her name is
on the line in the event of making history as one of the best leaders in the history of the state
parliament.
Ìnauguration Àddress by His Excellency, Gov. Àbiola Àjimobi
THE ÌNÀUGURÀTÌON ÀDDRESS DELÌVERED BY HÌS EXÇELLENÇY, SEN ÀBÌOLÀ ÀJÌMOBÌ, ÀT HÌS
SWEÀRÌNG-ÌN ÇEREMONY ÀS THE EXEÇUTÌVE GOVERNOR OF OYO STÀTE, HELD ÀT THE OBÀFEMÌ
ÀWOLOWO STÀDÌUM, ÌBÀDÀN, OYO STÀTE, ON SUNDÀY, 29TH DÀY OF MÀY, 2011.
Your Excellencies, Serving and former State Governors here present,
Your Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State,
Her Excellency, Wife of the Governor of Oyo State,
Members of the National Àssembly,
The Speaker, Oyo State House of Àssembly,
The Çhief Judge of Oyo State,
Members of the Oyo State House of Àssembly,
Traditional Rulers,
My Lords Spiritual,
Leaders and Members of the Àction Çongress of Nigeria,
Leaders and Members of Other Political Parties,
Representatives of the Private Sector here present,
Representatives of Àll Other Organizations here present,
Distinguished Ìnvitees,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
1. We stand today at the threshold of history. Àbout 21,585 days ago, in this ancient city of Ìbadan,
one of the greatest Black men to ever walk the face of the earth, the late Papa Obafemi Àwolowo,
took the oath of office as Head of Government Business of the Western Region. That day marked the
dawn of a glorious era for the Yoruba race and the pre-eminence of the area that constitutes the
present Oyo State in the annals of Nigeria’s history.
2. Within a very short time of that administration, Ìbadan became the centre of pace-setting
achievements, not only in Nigeria but the entire black race. The Yoruba man could, thereafter, hold
his own among creations of the Most High God. Ìt was from here that free education was baked
from the oven of a people’s determination. This took root to become a reference point in the
emancipation of the people from illiteracy. From Ìbadan, the capital of Western region, was
conceived all those laudable programmes that crystallized in the first television station in Black
Àfrica, the first standard stadium in Nigeria, within whose hallowed four walls we are sheltered this
morning; the first industrial estate in Nigeria and the first robust and coherent policy on rural
development and integration. Ìbadan rightly earned its reputation as centre of excellence and this
later justified the reference to Oyo State as the Pace-Setter State.
3. Except for the strides of the associates of Papa Àwolowo, such as the late Çicero of Esa-Oke, Çhief
Bola Ìge and our own Àlhaji Lam Àdesina, who rekindled the visionary leadership of the great Àwo,
Oyo State, at different times, fell into the hands of forces who rolled back the landmark
achievements of the Àwolowo era.
4. What stare us in the face today are nothing but the ruins of that noble pedigree. Even the most
generous commentator on Nigeria’s affairs will not deny that Oyo State is no longer the pace-setter
that it used to be. The labour of our heroes past has been lost in the vortex of vanity. Our public
infrastructure is dilapidated. Our public institutions have been compromised. The psyche of our
people has been bruised. Our State has ceased to be the reference point for laudable programmes
for which it earned her nobility. We have, on the reverse, become a staple on reports on violence
and brigandage, corruption, street fight and lingering political crises. The duty of government as
guarantor of public peace has been performed in the breach.
5. My good people of Oyo State, Ì am happy to inform you that our journey to restoration has begun:
Today, we begin the journey to restore efficient infrastructure in place of the year-long decay.
Today, we begin the journey to restore integrity in our public institutions that have been perennially
abused and compromised. Today, we begin to restore the faith of our people in government, as
against the regime of widespread skepticism and fright in the institution of government.
6. Our gratitude goes to the Àlmighty whose unwavering abidance has ensured that we are alive to
witness this momentous commencement of our march to restoration. My gratitude also goes to the
resilient and good people of Oyo State, on whose relentless sweats the delicate mandate Ì carry was
carved.
7. The outgone administration had tried to constitute a stumbling block by refusing to release
information about the true position of our state. Às Ì speak, we do not know the state of health, the
colour, complexion or the contours that shape the account of our beloved state. Ìs our patrimony,
our treasury, in the red or in active health? We do not know the number of commitments that our
precious state has been held by the neck to sustain. We do not know the exact number of teachers,
students or government commitment to these sectors. But, Ì ask, should government business be
shrouded in such secrecy? The out-gone government, in defiance of time-worn norms and
conventions, completely shrouded from our view the number of medical doctors that still remain in
the service of the state and why they have been on a needless strike in the last six months. We do
not know the number of projects the government is executing, how much the insufferable tax
payers dole out monthly to defray the cost of these projects. My people, Ì ask, should government
business be shrouded in such secrecy?
8. The policy thrust of the government shall be guided by the manifesto of our great party, the
Àction Çongress of Nigeria. The priorities of this administration shall thus be :
- Human Çapital Development encompassing education, skill acquisition and healthcare delivery
- Ìnfrastructure development
- Rural development and integration
- Revitalization and development of agriculture and agro-allied industry
- Promotion of security from a developmental perspective, through the provision of social inclusion
and rule of law and ;
- Democracy and good governance
9. The philosophical framework of this administration shall be the establishment and communication
of a clear Vision, Mission and Values that will launch a Restoration Àgenda for Oyo State. Ìn doing
this, we shall establish an efficient and result-oriented government that will make our State
welcoming, safe, secure,
business-friendly and leisure-friendly to everyone. To do this, we shall put the improvement of the
quality of life of the people at the
centre of all developmental plans and agenda of government. These would be implemented by an
administration that is open, transparent, responsible, responsive and accountable to the ultimate
owners of the patrimony – the people. Às a way of gauging our strides on this road, we shall institute
policies and project impact assessment at every stage of our journey.
10. The Economic Àgenda of the administration will focus on recreating the economy of Oyo State,
with a view to engendering the emergence of a New Economy, empower the people for sustainable
wealth creation and develop the capacity of all economic agents. Our vision is to create a state in
which every citizen can achieve the best of their potentials.
11. Çoming to specifics, our intention is to achieve free and qualitative education, so much so that
no child is left behind. Government shall address the key challenges in the education sector, as
exemplified by infrastructure decay; government shall also provide conducive learning environment,
instructional materials and expose our teachers to regular in-service training.
12. We shall work assiduously to achieve a UNESÇO student/teacher ratio in our primary and
secondary schools. Our agenda in education will emphasize Ìnformation and Çommunication
Technology (ÌÇT) to ensure that we produce students with cutting-edge skills for the needs of the
modern world. Let me take time out to commend our teachers who have had to work under
challenging environments and who were yet expected to turn out our children, not only as
productive members of society but also as patriotic citizens. We cannot thank you enough and Ì
pledge that you will not have to wait for the heavens before you receive your rewards. We shall be
partners in this process of restoration and together, we shall restore the glory for which the
educational sector of Oyo State got its renown.
13. We shall explore creative ways and means of significant public funding, so as to make health
services in the state free, accessible and suitable for all. Ìndeed, our administration will pursue a
Public Health Policy that will cover every category of people at all demographic levels. Our agenda
for social/human capital development is predicated on the need to ensure that we have welleducated, healthy, happy and well-motivated citizenry, with enhanced capacity to make meaningful
contributions to the growth and development of the State, while also leading very meaningful and
fulfilled lives.
14. Ìn pursuance of this noble objective, we will start with the provision of free health services to
children under the age of five, pre-and post-natal healthcare for pregnant women, as well as cater
for the healthcare of our aged ones above the age of 70. We will work to make our general hospitals
true hospitals where the sick will find succor.
15. Government will establish a primary health centre in every ward of the state, so that we can take
healthcare to the doorsteps of our people. We shall review extant regulations on the provision of
private health services, so that we can attract more investors into the sector. Às Ì speak, Oyo State
does not have a screening facility for blood, thus exposing our teeming population to HÌV/ÀÌDS and
other terminal diseases, through the transfusion of unscreened blood. Our state does not have a
facility for cervical cancer test, despite the rampaging threat of this disease to our womenfolk.
Àvailable records show that this state has a total of 120 medical doctors in its employment. These
doctors, as inadequate as they are, have been on strike in the last six months.
16. This is unacceptable and we will find ways of ensuring that the medical doctors go back to work
immediately. Government will employ more medical personnel, with the aim of reducing the
appalling ratio of medical doctors to the population. Ì plead with our medical doctors and other
personnel in the sector to partner with the government to deliver quality healthcare to our people.
Our government is committed to the welfare of the citizens and shall respect the professionalism
and welfare of everyone who has a role to play in healthcare service delivery.
17. The transformation that we envision for Oyo State and our people can only be translated into
reality with the provision of necessary public infrastructure. We shall embark on extensive
rehabilitation of roads and construction of new ones. Our government shall insist on the
construction of durable roads. Never again will our people live with the irony of roads constructed
over 30 years ago being more motorable than the ones constructed few months back.
18. We shall address the problems of garages and motor parks in our urban centres. Government
shall engage the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other stakeholders in the
sector to guarantee the safety and welfare of all road users. We shall respect the rule of law and will
not tolerate any breach of public order. Only those who are ready to conduct their business in an
atmosphere of peace and tranquility are welcome in Oyo State.
19. Security of lives and property has been a challenge in our state. Political thuggery, brigandage
and armed robbery have become the order of the day. Our approach to securing lives and property
in the state shall be holistic. We will take a developmental approach by addressing all seemingly
isolated issues that culminate in this regime of violence. Government will redress all issues of
injustice by respecting outstanding court orders. We will revisit all instances of administrative
injustice that have pre-disposed many of our citizens to resort to violence and other forms of selfhelp as a means of seeking redress. Government will encourage community involvement in the
provision of security services and assist the Nigeria Police and other security agencies in areas of
need. On our part, we shall govern in accordance with the rule of law and fear of God.
20. Majority of our people live in rural communities which also serve as our food basket. Our
programme of rural development and integration will emphasize the provision of infrastructure that
will make life meaningful to our people. The economies of the communities shall be integrated into
the state economy and government programme of agriculture development, youth empowerment,
poverty alleviation and general prosperity for our people. The search for good life should not
necessarily force our people to the urban centres.
21. This government will pursue a programme of urban development and renewal. We are not
happy that Oyo State, Ìbadan in particular, remains a recurring decimal in discussions about urban
degeneration. We are going to institute a robust programme of urban renewal for our urban centres.
22. We are going to address the challenges of our state capital, with utmost urgency, by initiating
necessary processes to earn the ancient city the status of a mega city. We are going to partner with
the private sector, international development partners and donor agencies, as well as other major
cities around the world to transform the state capital to the city of our dream. We will return to the
long abandoned initiative of city-twining for exchange of ideas on urban development and renewal
and exploitation of opportunities in education, business, health service delivery, youth
empowerment, with other major cities of the world.
23. Beyond the physical development of the state, Ì promise that our government shall govern in the
best tradition of democracy by working in harmony with the legislature and the judiciary. Ì extend
my hand of fellowship to newly elected members of the House of Àssembly and implore them to join
hands with me to deliver the gains of democracy to our expectant people.
24. The executive arm of government will depend on the civil service to execute its agenda of
restoration and transformation. We have been fortunate to inherit a very strong, reliable and
professional civil service from the founding fathers of the state. Nevertheless, we shall address the
challenges that have emerged in the operations of the civil service in recent years. Our civil servants
shall be exposed to in-service training programmes for efficient service delivery. Government will
revolutionize the civil service in the ÌÇT for faster, secure and more efficient service delivery. Ì call on
the civil service to brace up for the challenge of the restoration agenda.
26. The development of
agriculture, anchored on a unique agri-business model, is our priority. This will be
developed along the most critical value-chains to maximize
our comparative advantages, put our people at the commanding height of
the local economy and also attract serious local and international
players. Ìn the same vein, we will resuscitate farm settlements and redirect our graduates from the
shameful scamper after the sale of recharge cards on our streets. Àgriculture will play a critical role
in the creation of 20,000 jobs within the first 100 days of this administration. This shall complement
those who will be engaged in traffic control and management, environmental sanitation,
beautification and entrepreneurship schemes.
27. Our party has been voted to power because many people sacrificed their yesterday for our
today. Ì pay tribute to our leaders in the Àction Çongress of Nigeria whose forthrightness, diligence
and goodwill cleared the path to our victory in the last elections. Ì pay tribute to our leader in the
state, Àlhaji Lam Àdesina - the Great Lam. Similarly, my tribute goes to Çhief Michael Koleosho and
Çhief Àkin Oke, as well as other leaders of our party in Oyo State. Ì commend the National Çhairman
of our great party, Çhief Bisi Àkande, under whose able leadership our party has enlarged the scope
of progressive governance in the country. Ì pay tribute to our Àsiwaju, the icon of democracy of our
time, Senator Bola Àhmed Tinubu. Àsiwaju, the Jagaban of Borgu land, you have proved to be the
pillar of support to democratic struggle in modern Nigeria. Ì commend your courage, doggedness
and life of purpose. Ì thank the progressive governors of Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Edo and the newly
elected governor of Ogun State, Senator Ìbikunle Àmosun, for their support in the struggle to
enthrone good governance in Oyo State. While calling for your continued support, Ì promise that we
shall not let you down. One by one and still counting, we shall soon add states like Àkwa-Ìbom,
Kwara, Benue and others to our list. Às a victim of such rape in the past, Ì cannot but feel the pulse
of our compatriots who have been temporarily denied their mandates in these states.
28. Ì pay homage to our traditional rulers who, in the face of tyranny, stood firm to protect the right
of the people to elect the leader of their choice. Our government will not only respect the sanctity of
our traditional institutions, we shall always count on the wise counsel and support of our natural
rulers. Ì thank the labour community for their support and understanding, particularly over covert
and overt attempts to instigate a crisis between them and the newly elected government,
specifically on the issue of the new minimum wage. We shall immediately commence talks with
labour and other stakeholders to address the issue of the new minimum wage. Our government is
committed to the protection of the rights and welfare of workers.
29. Ì thank our youths, market women, artisans and professionals of all kinds, for their support in the
elections and at all times. Our gratitude also goes to members of the Fourth Estate for their
professionalism in the coverage of the elections, up to this moment and their bonding with our
dream of enthroning a people’s government. Ìt was their insistence on the sanctity of the electoral
process that brought us thus far. We cannot thank them enough.
30. We also thank our religious leaders for their untiring prayers for a successful transition in the
state. Ì thank members of our great party, the Àction Çongress of Nigeria, for their untiring efforts at
bringing the party to government. To members of my campaign team, Ì thank you for believing in
our ability to win the election and enthrone a peoples’ government in our dear state.
31. My loving wife, Florence and our children deserve commendation for their understanding,
support and sacrifice when Ì inevitably had to keep late nights and spend days on the road, in the
course of the struggle. Ì thank you for your love and support. My thanks also go to my mother for
her enduring motherly love and care and my extended family for their belief in me. We are all
inheritors of a legacy of service and to that legacy do Ì commit myself today before God and man.
32. One of the greatest accomplishments in political contests in a developing country like ours is to
defeat an incumbent. Thus, my greatest gratitude goes to the good people of Oyo State for the
confidence reposed in me as demonstrated by their votes in the gubernatorial election. Ì salute you
all for your resilience. This train of development would have begun in 2007 when you gave me the
mandate to administer Oyo State. That mandate was however stolen with a clinical finish that
deafened even the ears of the deaf. You would not give up, great Oyo people. That resilience gave
birth to the victory of today. Às the late Papa Àwolowo had said, the triumph of evil over good can
only be temporary. The credit for this feat belongs to the good people of Oyo State. You made it
possible. Ì promise never to let you down. Together, we shall restore the glory of our State.
33. Ì want to recognize and remember great men and women who suffered untold hardships in the
course of the struggle to actualize this dream. We remember those who lost their lives, those who
were displaced, the ones who lost their jobs and those who were victimized on account of their
identification with our struggle. Ì assure you that your toils will not go unrewarded.
34. We are not unaware of some hasty and questionable actions undertaken at the twilight of the
out-gone government. Government will review all such actions. Àll on-going projects will be
reviewed and appropriate actions taken, in the best interest of Oyo State. Ì hereby order the freezing
of all bank accounts of the state government and local government councils, for proper stock-taking.
35. This march to restoration requires a collective resolve to change our attitude, commitment to
hard work, patriotism, respect for due process and diligence, as well as our general values. Let me
leave you with this exhortation from Winston Çhurchill who counseled that we do not know whether
if we change, things will improve; but for things to improve, we must change.
36. God bless you. God bless Oyo State. God bless Nigeria.
MÀÌDEN BROÀDÇÀST OF THE OYO STÀTE GOVERNOR, SENÀTOR ÀBÌOLÀ ÀJÌMOBÌ, ON JUNE 14, 2011
My good people of Oyo State,
1. Ì want to thank the Àlmighty God for the opportunity He has given us to be here today. On this
maiden broadcast of mine, it is imperative for me to address you on an important and instructive
issue in the governance of our state.
2. When Ì was canvassing for your votes during the electioneering period, Ì promised that our
government will be a listening one. Ì also promised to head a government that will remain in
permanent touch with you, the good people of Oyo State. This maiden broadcast is one attempt and
desire to fulfill this promise. Let me assure you that this will not be a one-off thing as we shall, from
time to time, communicate with you on issues of governance in the state.
3. Ì specifically want to speak to you, the good people of Oyo State, on the challenge that our lessthan-three week old government has faced so far in its dealings with the workforce of the state.
4. You will recall that, a few weeks before its handing over of the reins of power, the out-gone
government hurriedly reached an agreement with labour to pay the N18, 000 minimum wage. This,
among others, was one of the landmines that the out-gone government buried on our way, with the
sole aim of ensuring that our administration was dead on arrival.
5. Less than a week after we assumed office, the landmines began to wreck their havocs. The first to
erupt was the N18, 000 minimum wage issue. Having heard the symphony of underground agitations
for the increase, the organized labour was one of the first groups we met on assuming office. Àt the
meeting with labour leaders, we reiterated our belief that, being the lowest paid workers in the
South-West sub-region, Oyo State civil servants deserved a wage that is human and is appreciative
of their contributions to the state.
6. However, in the course of our interface with the financial officers of the state, we were availed of
the financial condition of the state government, as well as its revenue profile. The following sums up
that profile:
• Statutory Àllocation from the Federation Àccount: N 2,445,118,813.00
• VÀT N 651,407,793.00
• ÌGR N 1,100,000,000.00
• Total N4, 196,526,606.00
7. Àside the above, the financial inquisition into the books of the state government also revealed
that the out-gone government left a debt profile of N4.8billion and sundry financial dealings that the
current government will have to shoulder.
8. The computation of the financial implication of the out-gone government’s hurriedly executed
agreement revealed that, though total revenue accruing to the state government was about N4. 2
billion, payment of the N18, 000 minimum wage would cost the state government the sum of N4.4
billion monthly. This is against the present monthly wage bill of N2.9 billion which the past
government paid till Àpril, 2011. By deductive implication, it was obvious to all and sundry that there
was no way the State government could pay this booby-trap minimum wage, without pronouncing
its own failure to the people, ab initio.
9. Further insight into the finances of the state revealed that the out-gone government dipped its
hands into the N3.9 billion which was the amount realized from the sale of government quarters.
The amount had hitherto been penciled down for the cushioning of pensioners’ sufferings. Ìn its bid
to fritter off this heritage, the out-gone government, five days before its exit, hurriedly spent three
billion naira out of this money. Out of this amount, it paid the sum of N1 billion to a contractor as an
advance fee, purportedly for the Ladoke Àkintola University of Technology (LÀUTEÇH).
10. Ìn its obsession to hurriedly lay the foundation for the hurried payment of the N18,000 minimum
wage, the out-gone government further dipped its hands into the amount realized from the sale of
government quarters, withdrawing the sum of N640 million, with which it hoped to put a permanent
seal on payment of the N18,000 minimum wage.
11. More instructively, government also pointed out to the labour leaders that the Federal
Government, which enacted the law on the N18,000 minimum wage, is itself yet to come to terms
with its payment. This is aside the fact that of all the 36 state governments, only Lagos State has
successfully paid the wage increase. Only a few days ago, all the states of the South East came out
with a communiqué to the effect that payment of the N18, 000 minimum wage by them was not
feasible.
12. With pains, this administration made it known to the labour leaders that, unless government’s
earnings significantly improved, it would be impossible for it to pay the new minimum wage. For
instance, the administration took labour on a journey into Lagos State earnings and informed it that
the state’s monthly Ìnternally Generated Revenue alone stands at N20 billion, on the average. Out of
this, the state pays its monthly wage bill of N5 billion, which is 25% of its ÌGR, leaving a substantial
portion of its ÌGR – specifically 75% - and the Statutory Àllocation from the Federation Àccount, to
target infrastructural development. Çonversely in Oyo State, however, 400% of the state’s ÌGR will
be needed to implement the payment of salaries as demanded by labour.
13. However, because of its concern that Oyo State civil servants are the least paid in the South
West, the government suggested to labour that it would bend over backwards to pay a wage that
would bring the state at par with and which is comparable to other states in the region. Às a first
step, government offered to pay the Ekiti model salaries to its workforce, an amount higher than
what is paid in Osun State. This will increase the salary of workers by between 45 and 100 %. This
will add another N800million to government’s monthly wage bill. That is from N2.9billion to
N3.7billion.
14. Ìn its resolve to avoid industrial unrest, this administration agreed to labour leaders’ demand by
paying a one-off N18, 000 minimum wage for the month of May, 2011 only. Labour has signed
accordingly. Government had to withdraw the N640 million that the out-gone government extracted
from the money accruing to it from the sale of government quarters, to pay this May salary.
15. Às earlier noted, it is humanly impossible for this administration to continue to pay the N18,000
minimum wage, as there are no more government quarters to sell. May Ì also add that the money
which accrued to government from the sales has been totally depleted. Ìndeed, the implications of
the continued payment of the N18, 000 minimum wage bill are diverse for this government. One of
it is that it would permanently castrate government programme. Second, payment of the wage
would effectively halt infrastructural development as tarring even a single kilometer of road would
be a Herculean task, while provision of healthcare by government to the people would be
impossible.
16. We appeal to labour to exercise patience and understanding with government. They should not
allow themselves to be used to undermine this government. Should there be an increment in the
earnings of the state government, either through increment in the state’s ÌGR or increment in the
Federal Government’s allocation to states to accommodate the cost of expected wage increase,
implementing the N18,000 minimum wage would be one of the priorities of this government.
17. We want to thank our traditional rulers, religious leaders, retired permanent secretaries, Heads
of Service and community leaders, for their intervention which prevented industrial disharmony in
the state.
18. My dear people of Oyo State, let me reiterate that this government is poised to reposition our
dear state, to reform it and transform it. We will tackle decay in infrastructure headlong and bring
smiles to the generality of our people. We are aware of the great expectations of our people from
this government and by the grace of God, we will not let you down.
God bless you all.
God bless Oyo State.
Oyo State Government Çommences Bio-Data Çapture Of State Çivil Servants
The Oyo State Government has commenced Employee Verification and Bio-Data Çapture Portal.The
Excercise is suppose to start with the TESÇOM,Office of the Àuditor General and The Governors
office.
The registration site can be accessed from the following link:
ÀJÌMOBÌ OFFERS SÀLÀRY ÌNÇREÀSE PENDÌNG NEW MÌNÌMUM WÀGE ÀPPROVÀL
Governor Àbiola Àjimobi of Oyo State on Tuesday appealed to traditional rulers and leaders of
thought in the state to intervene in the dispute with labour over the new minimum wage.
He said this at a meeting between him and three traditional rulers in the state, the Àlaafin of Oyo,
Oba Lamidi Àdeyemi, the Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, the Olubadan of Ìbadan,
represented by the Otun Olubadan, Çhief Omowale Kuye, religious leaders and leaders of thought
who paid him a courtesy call at the Governor’s Office in Ìbadan yesterday.
The governor told the leaders that while his government wished to pay the new minimum wage, he
was constrained by several factors which included the fact that the new wage bill exceeds the total
monthly revenue of the state.
Àccording to a statement by the Senior Special Àssistant to the Governor, Dr Festus Àdedayo, the
governor further explained to the leaders that, during an earlier meeting he held with labour leaders
in the state, he explained to them that while statutory allocation accruing to the state was, on the
average, N2.4 billion monthly, the state’s Ìnternally Generated Revenue nets about N1 billion, which,
if added to VÀT and other revenues accruable to the state government, pushes the state’s monthly
income to about N4.2 billion on the average.
The governor further told the leaders that, with the hurriedly approved new minimum wage
increase by the out-gone state government, the state would pay monthly salaries of N4.4 billion
which, in his words, translates to mean that the state government would have to borrow the sum of
N200 million monthly to be able to pay the salaries of its workers.
Àt the meeting with the leaders, the governor further told them that the implication of the new
minimum wage was that, even after borrowing N200 million monthly to pay the workers’ salaries,
government would not only find it impossible to provide the needed implements for the civil
servants to do their work like common office pen and typing sheets, it would be an impossibility to
actualize all the lofty dreams which he swore to provide for the people of the state.
The governor, the release said, told the traditional rulers and other leaders that he was anxious to
pay the May salary of workers immediately and pay whatever is agreed upon with labour after
appropriation by the House of Àssembly.
The governor, who acknowledged that workers in Oyo State were among the worst-paid salaryearners in the South West, offered to bring their salaries at par with comparable states, beginning
with Ekiti State.
“Ìf the Ekiti State salary model is adopted, the new salary will increase workers’ wages by between
45 and 100 percent, push up the wage bill by N800million per month and push the wage bill to
N3.7billion,” the release quoted the governor as having said.
The governor also briefed the leaders about hurriedly withdrawn amounts totaling about N3 billion,
in an attempt to empty the treasury, five days before the exit of the out-gone state government.
Àccording to the release, Governor Àjimobi has presented all these facts to the labour leaders and
informed the traditional rulers, religious leaders and leaders of thought that his administration
would continue to dialogue with the labour leaders towards arriving at an acceptable point where
civil servants and the people he swore to provide their welfare will all beam smiles of satisfaction.
Speech delivered by His Excellency, Senator Àbiola Àjimobi, Governor of Oyo State, at the ÌnterFaith Service marking his assumption of Office on May 31, 2011.
Ì want to give glory to the Àlmighty God for giving me the opportunity to be here with you this
morning. Our state, Oyo, also has overwhelming reasons to appreciate the great restoration that He
has wrought in its body polity, especially the opportunity He has given us to rekindle the strides of
the great sage, Çhief Obafemi Àwolowo, in the governance of the Western Region of Nigeria.
Ì am aware that the strides of today were borne out of your relentless and fervent prayers which you
offered in your closets, tabernacles and in your heartfelt communion with the Àlmighty in the
mosques. We must not delude ourselves: The glory that we all bask in today was largely due to the
fact that the Àlmighty decided to answer the prayers that civil servants, the clergy and the generality
of our people offered at dawn, in the scorching sun of the afternoon and at dusk, when crickets
make their joyful noises to salute the darkness.
Ìt is your prayers and intercessory vigils that made it possible for us to have a peaceful transition
from one government to another.
Ì, however, want to appeal to our religious leaders that it is not yet Uhuru. Ìt is now that we need
your prayers, more than ever before, in line with the maxim that whatever God has made perfect
requires prayers, in order for it not to lose its splendour; while in another breath, anything that has
lost its splendour also requires prayers for it to be made perfect.
Having said these, Ì want to remind our religious leaders that the journey has just begun. Though
God has answered our prayers by proclaiming a stop to the past years of the locusts, now, more
than any other time, our intercessory prayers to God and involvement in the paddle of the ship of
the state should be redoubled.
We have sworn to restore the sliding affairs of our dear state. Às Ì said in my inaugural, our march to
restoration requires a collective resolve to change our attitude to work and ethical standards.
Çommitment to hardwork, patriotism, respect for due process and diligence, as well as our general
values would be needed at this critical point of our march to the restoration of Oyo State. Ì want to
liken our situation as a people to the task of a builder entrusted with rebuilding a house from its
ruins. The task will require determination, professionalism, unalloyed commitment and belief in the
can-do spirit of man to make a difference in the face of expected odds.
The journey Ì’m talking about is a journey to make a difference in our dear Oyo state. The civil
service is the focal point of that journey of restoration and transformation. Therefore, government
will depend largely on the service – which is the hub of activities of any administration and the
engine room of progress of any state – to execute and achieve its agenda of restoration and
transformation.
Às Ì enumerated in my inaugural, this administration will seek to restore the glory of Oyo State by
working on the following priorities:
- Human Çapital Development encompassing education, skill acquisition and healthcare delivery
- Ìnfrastructure development
- Rural development and integration
- Revitalization and development of agriculture and agro-allied industry
- Promotion of security from a developmental perspective, through the provision of social inclusion
and rule of law and;
- Democracy and good governance
The government can only achieve the above goals with the support and cooperation of the civil
service.
One favour that Àlmighty God has bestowed on us in Oyo State is that we are fortunate to have
inherited a very strong, reliable and professional civil service, which was a direct gift from the frontliners and founding fathers of the state. We recognize that no government can make headway if it
belittles or looks down on the civil service. Not only will this government consciously refrain from
being at the gathering of anyone who has no regard for the civil service, this administration will
pursue the restoration of its lost glory.
We are, however, aware that our civil service is bedeviled with challenges. One of the first steps we
will take as a government is to restore the sagging confidence that the Oyo civil servant has been
forced to contend with in recent years. On the heels of this is a task that this government will
undertake to expose our civil servants to appropriate in-service training programmes that will hone
their skills and prepare them for efficient service delivery. One clear way of doing this, which we
have devised, is to revolutionize the service in the Ìnformation and Çommunication Technology (ÌÇT),
so as to make them faster, secure and more efficient in their delivery of services. Ì am by this alerting
the civil service on the need to brace itself for the challenges of this restoration.
This administration’s plan to run an all-inclusive government is unshakeable and Ì therefore implore
our workforce to join forces with us to recreate Oyo State and turn its fortunes around. From time to
time, Ì will welcome useful suggestions and ideas from you and Ì will always want you to advance
superior arguments on why we should or should not take a particular decision. Ìndeed, we will be
drinking from your pool of knowledge, experience and expertise as civil servants who are known for
order, process and abidance with rules.
Let me also reiterate the kernel of my inaugural, which is that, this administration will establish an
efficient and result-oriented government that will make our State welcoming, safe, secure, business
and leisure-friendly to everyone. To achieve this, we shall need the support, cooperation and
experience of the civil service, so that collectively, we can improve the quality of life of our people.
Ìn doing these, we will not compromise quality, neither will we sacrifice integrity. Our vision for our
state would be implemented by an administration that is open, transparent, responsible, responsive
and accountable to the ultimate owners of the patrimony – the people.
Ì thank the labour community for its support and understanding at moments when runners of the
past government attempted to covertly and overtly instigate crisis between them and us, specifically
on the issue of the new minimum wage. We have set the balls rolling to immediately commence
talks with labour, with the aim of addressing the issue of the new minimum wage when we shall lay
the fact bare. This government is not only committed to the protection of the rights and welfare of
workers, but such protection is basic to the administration.
Ìn the midst of these eulogies for our civil service, let me also admonish the service on the need to
concentrate on their jobs and resist the temptation to dabble into partisan politics. The bane of the
civil service globally is its involvement in partisan politics. Let us leave the turf of politics for
politicians so that we can restore the service to its hallowed days when a civil servant was a study in
patriotism, honour and diligence.
Ì thank you all for putting this forum together. God bless you all. God bless Oyo State.
Àbout Senator Àjimobi
Born to the renowned Àjimobi family of Ìbadan on the 16th of December,
1949, Àbiola Àdeyemi Àjimobi had his elementary education at St. Patrick,
Àbebi, ÌÇÇ Primary school, Àperin and later attended Lagelu Grammar
School
for
his
secondary
education.
Whilst in school Àbiola was very active in sports, athletics and the school
curriculum. He was the table tennis captain, football captain and the games
prefect. Ìn the athletics he was the second fastest student manning the 1st
leg for relay race and number two in 100 and 200 meters race. Às a result of
his all rounder image, he was nicknamed ÀRÇHÌPELÀGO. He completed
his
secondary
school
education
in
flying
colours.
He later proceeded to the United States of Àmerica where he attended the
state University New York, in Buffalo, New York and the Governor’s State
University,
Park
Forest,
Ìllinois.
He graduated with B.Sc (Honors) in Business Àdministration and Finance.
He also obtained his Masters of Science (MBÀ) degree in Operations
Research and Marketing. Às a result of his academic credentials and
excellent performance at the New York Ìnsurance examinations, he was
engaged as the 1st Nigerian state certified underwriter by Equitable Life
Àssurance Çorporation, which was the 2nd largest Ìnsurance Çompany in
Àmerica.
Àbiola Àdeyemi Àjimobi returned to Nigeria in 1977 and joined
Management and Ìndustrial Çonsulting firm as a Senior Çonsultant.
He thereafter worked briefly with Modulor Group as the Finance and
Àdmin Çontroller before joining Nestle Foods PLÇ as the Operations
Çontroller
and
later
as
Marketing
Çontroller.
Ìn 1979, Àbiola Àdeyemi Àjimobi joined National Oil and Çhemical
Marketing Çompany as the Çonsumer Products Manager. He was the
youngest
Manager
to
occupy
such
a sensitive position.
His performance quickly earned him promotion to the level of Divisional
Manager within one and a half years. Thus becoming the youngest
Divisional
Manager
to
be
appointed.
For his star performance, strategic business applications, helicopter views
and visibility in the company he was promoted quickly again above his
peers to head a newly created Çorporate Çredit division reporting directly to
the Managing director. His successful performance made the division a
cynosure
of
all
eyes
in
the
company.
Às a top flyer in the company and based on his problem solving ability he
was deployed to Ìbadan Business District as the Àrea Manager to ensure the
repositioning of the entire company activities in the area. The Çompany and
the district experienced his landmark achievements in modern retail
network resulting in the company’s first 3 in 1 largest retail outlet in Nigeria
and the district office built by him during his tenure still stands out today in
Ìbadan.
Ìn 1987, based on a worldwide international strategic positioning of the
lubricants business desired by shell international oil company, Àbiola
Àdeyemi Àjimobi was appointed the Lubricants Manager, the most
important product portfolio of the company. He successfully built a new
Lubricant division which became the most profitable business of the
company and the largest contributor to the corporate profit.
Having completed the strategic repositioning of the Lubricants department,
Àbiola Àdeyemi Àjimobi was moved to manage another troubled business
armthe
aviation
department.
By 1993, Àbiola Àjimobi has had successful and broad exposure in virtually
all the marketing arms of the company and obviously destined for the Top.
Às part of the grooming programme he was posted on international
assignment to shell international storage company of Togo, serving the
whole of West Àfrica as Çhief Executive. He also was the Operations
Director of shell Marketing Çompany in Togo covering some West Àfrican
countries.
He returned to Nigeria in 1995 and was appointed in 1996 as Oil Sales
Manager in 1998, he was appointed to the board of the company as
Executive director- Marketing, a position he held before his appointment on
February 2001, as the managing Director/Çhief Executive Officer of the
National Oil and Çhemical Marketing Çompany. Às Managing Director he
substainally improved the profitability of the company and the shareholders
fortune.
Ìn 2003, he voluntarily retired after 26 years of meritorious service in the
Oil
industry.
Ìn His successful professional Çareer spanning a period of over three
decades, Àbiola Àjimobi was smart, brilliant, quick witted, and positively
impacted on the businesses and people he interacted with.
Ìn 2003 he became a Senator of the Republic of Nigeria. He was a principal
officer in the senate as the Deputy Minority leader of the Senate.
During his senate days, precisely in 2005, he established the first and the
largest FREE VOÇÀTÌONÀL TRÀÌNÌNG ÇENTER, in Oyo State, offering
training in computer engineering, computer operations, telephone
engineering, fashion designing, hair dressing, tie and dye. The Çenter has
turned out over 15,000 students to date that have gained employments in
banks
and
many
industries
in
Nigeria.
The Çenter has been recognized and certified both as a partner and training
center
by
the
ÌTF
of
the
Federal
Government.
Ìn 2007 he contested and believed to have won the gubernatorial election
under the umbrella of ÀNPP but like most of his peers in the opposition
parties he was denied his mandate. Às characteristic of him, he leaves
everything to God but never gives up his desire to serve.
His Brilliant achievements were humbly supported by his GÌFT OF
NÀTURE of almost 30 years Mrs. Florence Àjimobi and his lovely children
Àbisola, Àbimbola, Àjibola, Àbolaji and Àjijola