Estimated reading time: 11 minute(s)
Michael Babatunde & Israel Adeleke
The Ogun State Governorship candidates of the People’s Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party and Action Alliance on Tuesday met with the league of Imams and Alfas in the state as part of build ups to the 2023 governorship elections.
The interactive session was organized by the Directorate of Leadership and Good Governance under the aegis of the League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun state on behalf of the Muslim Ummah in the state.
Welcoming the candidates who had two hours session each with the Representatives of the Ummah, the President of the league, Sheikh Sikirulai Babalola noted that the event was to get to know the governorship candidates.
First to appear before the selected audience at the programme streamed live by the PLATFORM TIMES TV, the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Engr. Anthony Ojeshina presented his agenda, tagged IEAI representing Industrial, Energy, Agricultural and Infrastructural revolution.
Ojeshina who was the pioneer commissioner for environment promised to combine his experience in public and private practice to create a model state.
He said “I have practiced in the private sector before becoming a commissioner, I realised that I can combine the two for the development of the state. I have a brain of creating a model state. I dream of a state that can be sustained with or without federal allocation. I want to take Ogun out of the list of states that cannot survive without federal allocation”, Ojeshina said.
He promised to put plans in place towards meeting the needs of the people while giving room for feedbacks.
On his part, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, candidate Hon. Ladi Adebutu promised LG autonomy, end to farmers/ herders clash while explaining his ITURADE agenda
Adebutu speaking through his deputy Hon. Adekunle Akinlade said that his administration will ensure ‘true local government autonomy’.
Adebutu explained the ITURADE agenda means “Improved security, True Local Government Autonomy, Urban and Rural Regional Development, Agricultural and Economic Development, Development of Youth and sports, Enhancement of Education, healthcare and social services” as the seven areas of focus for their administration.
Adebutu blamed the present administration for the the loss recorded to farmers and herders crisis in the state.
“It is so unfortunate that we allowed the farmers and herders crisis to escalate that much especially in Ogun West. The governor had three and half years to handle this situation but he did that poorly.
“We have our plans and we can’t roll them out, we can assure you that we have studied the situation and will proffer lasting solution”, Akinlade said.
Adebutu lamented what he described as a drastic drop in the states’ IGP adding that the present ‘government has failed to pursue the true picture of our economy’.
Also appearing at the interactive session was the Action Alliance candidate, Dr. Samuel Adeyemi who promised to make the Ogun economy bigger than Lagos under two years.
Adeyemi said his governance will be patterned after late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to provide free education from basic to tertiary level.
speaking further, Adeyemi said his administration will invest in cocoa production from which the state’s budget will be funded.
He added that farm settlements will be established with technology facilities to make 14,000 youths millionaires.
In his words, “It is unfortunate that we are close to Lagos but far afar apart in economy and not learning from them. When we get to office, we will make the Ogun economy grow larger than Lagos.
“Our budgets will be funded by the returns of the huge investment we will put in cocoa farming. We will bring our youths on board when we create farm settlements, it will be so digitally built that our youths who will be working there will see no need to leave the farm settlements. We will make up to 14,000 youths millionaires under our administration.”
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
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