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By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship hopeful, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has vowed to restore the pacesetting glory of Oyo State if elected governor in 2023.
Addressing a press conference to herald the process of his official declaration to run for governor in Ibadan, on Monday, Adelabu said the current administration led by Governor Seyi Makinde is failing daily and woefully on fundamental departments of government business.
He said he has observed the deficiencies in the present administration, adding that these deficiencies point unerringly to an unspeakable lack of understanding about what is called government business.
“Government business is not a trade which any man does for his personal emoluments or aggrandizement. It takes society for its basis and reason and experiences for its guide. It takes society for its basis because it is the centre towards which people gravitate for collaboration and cooperation in order to achieve progress and happiness. This is the reason why the business is divided or expanded into Ministeries, Agencies and Departments in order to serve humanity,” he said.
Adelabu, who was the APC governorship candidate in the 2019 election, noted that security of lives and property, which he claimed is the true end and aim of government is a distant achievement for Makinde’s administration.
His words: “His government has enthroned thuggery and hooliganism as the official controllers of Oyo State. The indigenes and residents in the pacesetter state can not sleep with their two eyes closed talkless of doing businesses of life with peace and progress.The excellency of government is no longer excellent in Oyo State in the light of our sordid performance in the environment, education, health, security, agriculture among others.”
The former CBN deputy governor, who highlighted the potentials of Oyo State, emphasised that there is an urgent need to unleash the resources of the state in order to massively boost internally generated revenue and lift people out of poverty into prosperity.
“There is an urgent mission to reclaim the lost glory Oyo state. It will lift young people from hooliganism and despondency. Indeed, there is a negative correlation between employment creation/rise in household incomes and crime,”Adelabu said.
Adelabu explained that the mission of his administration would be to put government business where it should be in the service of humanity in Oyo State.
The governorship hopeful reeled out his seven points agenda which are security, agriculture and poverty alleviation, industrialisation and employment creation, health, education, environment and good governance and innovative ideas.
Adelabu assured residents that he will deliver the state from the shackles of poverty and “insensitive administration of Governor Makinde.”
In his goodwill message,t he immediate past chairman of APC in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke, represented by Chief Lekan Adeyemo, lauded Adelabu for supporting the party, even after losing the election in 2019.
Some of the dignitaries at the event include Senator Ayo Adeseun; Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi; High Chief Akinade Fijabi; Hon. Dapo Lam-Adesina; former Oyo State House of Aseembly Speaker, Rt.Hon. Gunju Ojo; former Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Olalekan Alli; Mr Bolaji Repete; Alhaji Wasiu Ajimobi.
Others include wife of the governorship hopeful, Mrs Oluseyi Adelabu; Otunba Rotimi Ajanaku; former Commissioner for Establishment, Alhaji Jelili Agboola, Chief Kunle Sanda, former Majority Leader of Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon.Oyetunji Oyeniran, Alhaji Basiru Akanbi among others.