How We Keep Developing Osun Despite Withheld Allocations - Governor Adeleke

• Unveils Tourism Agenda

• Governor Adeleke Surpasses APC’s 12 Years Records under Three Years – Osun Student Leaders

By Sola Isola

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has revealed how his administration continues to work on its developmental agenda despite scarce resources coming into the state.

The Governor added that his government even had to use more of its resources into covering cost that ordinarily money due to local government would covered if Federal government has not held to the fund.

Speaking at an event organized to mark the enrollment of inmates of Nigeria Correctional Services in Osun at the Ilesa Correctional Centre noted that transparency and priority spending in the management of state funds has help the administration survive the hardship.

He noted further that his administration has raised the state’s internally generated revenue while judiciously manage its special project account.

He said, “Many have asked how we are achieving all these despite the State’s lean financial situation especially in the last seven months. The answer is simple. Aside from being strong believers in God, we embrace transparency and priority spending in the management of state funds. We have raised our internally generated revenue and we judiciously manage our special project account.

“Permit me to appreciate the Nigerian Bar Association, our royal fathers, the various labour unions, the clerics and various strata of the society for their sustained appeal to the Federal Government and the Presidency for the release of Osun withheld allocations. The huge public support in favour of the Osun state government strengthens our faith in the legality and morality of our position on the local government leadership question.

“As we maintain financial discipline to keep the state running, we are very hopeful that the local government crisis will soon be resolved within the context of the rule of law and respect for the federal constitution. We believe His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, will eventually decide on the matter in our favour.”

Speaking in his statewide broadcast on the 34th anniversary of the creation of Osun State Governor Adeleke had stated that his government had made significant progress in deepening good governance across the state in line with his administration agenda.

“In line with my five (5) points action plan, my government has made significant progress in deepening good governance across the state, and I promise to continue working tirelessly to improve and do more to make life more meaningful for the good people of Osun State.

“On infrastructural and developmental projects, my government has provided potable borehole water in each of the 332 electoral wards in Osun State; a good number of roads have been constructed and rehabilitated across the state; infrastructure on roads and modern flyover across our urban cities in the state. Rural electrification has been implemented by provision of numbers of transformers and other electrical materials to communities without electricity.

“On Healthcare, we have put in place Imole surgical and medical outreach across the state in which over 60,000 beneficiaries have been recorded; Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) have enrolled over 30,000 Osun indigenes on the OHIS program. We completed renovation of over 200 Primary Health Facilities across the State.

“On Socio Economic Development, we have ensured regular payment of workers’ salary and inherited half salary from the past administration. We support farmers on fertilizers subsidies, purchase of tractors and other farm inputs to boost food security. We have equally strengthened our institutions, promoted transparency and accountability in all areas, and empowered our citizens to participate in small scale business across the state.

“We have seen progress in the education sector with renovation of schools across the State, from the development of our infrastructure to the empowerment of our youth, from the preservation of our rich cultural heritage to the promotion of peace and security, Osun State has continued to evolve, becoming a model for other states in the Federation.

“Our cultural heritage remains a source of pride, and our people continue to excel in various fields, contributing to the growth of not only our state but Nigeria as a whole.” He said.

In another development, Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved a series of programmes and projects in line with his administration’s tourism and creative industry expansion agenda which is targeted at expanding tourist inflow to the various cultural sites in the state by over 60 percent in the next one year.

A statement by the Spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, noted that aside from direct government intervention, the state government has also adopted a public private partnership model to develop tourist sites such as the Erin Ijesa waterfall among others located at Oriade local government adding that the goal is to expand financing and sustainability of upgraded tourism sites.

If further noted that the cultural tourist sites approved for phased upgrade spread across the state with further compilation presently being anchored by the state’s ministry of arts and culture adding that the sites are being prepared to meet UNESCO recognition.

The statement reads, “Among the first set of approved sites include the Ifá Agbaye Temple at Ile Ife to cater for the annual global inflow of tourists for the annual Ifa day celebration. Land allocation has been secured and further processes are ongoing.

“The second is the Iwude Ijesa project which was designed to attract tourists and attract the attention of UNESCO and other local and international investors and donors.

“The third is the Sango Timi Shrine project, a site fitting for UNESCO recognition. It encompasses the sacred groove itself, an auditorium, a pavilion, art and craft workshop, museum kitchen among others.

“The Osun Osogbo shrine is another UNESCO site that is a continuous state focussed intervention area. The state governor has marked the Osun Osogbo as a global event of statutory state support.

“Governor Adeleke is however enforcing observance of the budgetary and procurement process to ensure that the various upgrade and expansion projects are captured within the budget, processed through the procurement process and posted on the procurement website.

“The governor believed that observing the above due process will ensure budgetary and financial transparency. Osun has a good record of financial transparency since Governor Adeleke took over the leadership of the state.

“Expanding tourist inflow is a cardinal programme within our agenda. As the cradle of Yoruba nation, we have a lot to showcase to deepen the tourism industry.

“We have identified many cultural sites and I have directed phased implementation of the upgrade across the state. There are many potential sites for UNESCO recognition in Osun. We want to ensure we implement the upgrades and expansion of those sites to widen global recognition and UNESCO support.

“Our administration is focussed on diversifying Osun economy by boosting tourism. We have adopted a strong partnership with the private sector to achieve this goal.

“Our administration is however enforcing due process in all we do. Our website contains project updates from award to implementation. We are committed to fiscal, budgetary and procurement transparency”, the state governor noted.

Meanwhile, student leaders from across higher institutions in Osun state has overwhelmingly endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term in office, declaring that the governor has surpassed the 12 Years governance records of the APC in less than three years.

The student leaders of NANS structures and the National Association of Osun Students (NAOS) made this known while on a visit to the Governor at the Banquet Hall of the Government House while appraising the Adeleke administration with high scores in terms of delivery of good governance and democratic dividends.

The chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council (JCC), Osun Axis, Comrade Ayobami Solomon Abel who warmly commended the governor and his team for passionate dedication to state development noted that even blind men and women can see the good work of the Adeleke administration across Osun state.

“As a student body, we are not here for praise singing. We are only here to acknowledge your good work as a Governor. The people of Osun are feeling the very positive impacts of your administration.

“Your dedication to the service of your people is second to none. I declare here today that your administration has performed far better than the 12 years of the previous APC government. That is a fact that is self-evident across Osun today”, the NANS leader affirmed.

Corroborating the assertions by the NANS leader, Comrade Adedibu Mustafa Akinsumbo, the President of the National Association of Osun State Students, National Headquarters listed sectoral achievements in agriculture, education, health, workers welfare, infrastructure, sports, rural development, cooperative empowerment, asserting that Osun is witnessing unprecedented development within less than three years under governor Adeleke.

“Across Osun state, the good work of Mr Governor is acknowledged by all sectors of the society. The workers rallied and endorsed you for a second term. The farmers approved you for a second term. The artisans, market men and women said you deserve continuation to continue the good work

“You earned those endorsements because of your exceptional performance despite threats and intimidation. You have set a high standard of governance. We, your children, appreciate you and your love for the people and we pledge to stand by you and your party now and in the future”, Comrade Adedibu affirmed.