The Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde has on Saturday reassured residents of Ajia in the Ona-Ara Local Government Area of the state, that the ongoing 21 kilometres Ajia-Airport Road will be completed before the end of his first term in office.
The governor, who stated this during campaign visits to several communities of the council, has appealed to the people of Ona Ara Local Government to support his re-election bid and also vote for all candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 and March 11 elections.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, on behalf of the Media Committee of the Governor’s Campaign Council obtained by Oyo News, the governor has assured that his re-election will allow him to consolidate on different achievements recorded under Omituntun 1.0.
Governor Makinde, who spoke to traditional leaders, Inukan Development Forum, non-indigenes and the Association of Tipper Drivers at the Pa Olatunbosun Makinde Hall, Ajia Ibadan, also assured that the government will compensate all the rightful owners of the lands acquired for Nigerian Air Force Base in Ajia.
The governor had also used the occasion to read a riot act to land grabbers in the state, saying that crime will no longer be tolerated in the state and offenders will face the wrath of the law.
He equally reiterated that his administration will commence the payment of 10 per cent of local government allocations to the traditional council in the state by the end of February.
The governor, who also met with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the leadership of NAPPS, pensioners and the Yoruba Council of Youths Worldwide, at Aba-Emu, as well as Ona Ara Local Government Market Men and Women, non-indigenes and the physically-challenged at the WABIC Hall & Event Centre, Asolo, said he has in the last 44 months, fulfilled his promises to the people of the state on education, health, poverty eradication and security.
Makinde equally met with leaders of religious bodies, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), at the Catholic Church before Ogbere Police Station; the League of Imams and Alfas at the Sawia Mosque, Olorunsogo and the Traditional Worshippers at the Cooperative Hall, Ariyo.
Speaking at the separate meetings, the governor urged the religious leaders and artisanal groups, to vote for the National and State Assembly candidates of the PDP in the area, including Chief Luqmon Oyebisi Ilaka as senator representing Oyo Central; Hon Busari Olayemi as member representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency and Hon Mohammed Fadeyi as member of the House of Assembly.
He further addressed thousands of party faithful at the Olorunsogo Garage, saying that his administration has successfully lifted people from poverty to prosperity by sustaining the prompt payment of salaries and pensions to civil servants and retirees in the state.
He added that the scrapping of N3,000 education levy imposed by the immediate past administration, the distribution of notebooks and exercise books to students and the creation of Amotekun corps to take care of security, were strides achieved by his administration.
In his words: “I believe I don’t need to talk too much, because I am home. I built this hall in which we are holding this activity in memory of my late father, Olatunbosun Makinde. The growth of Ona-Ara has been a thing of priority for me, even before I came into government.
“I want to tell you that the person that last held the highest political office in Ajia, Pa Theophilus Akinyele, once told me that God didn’t make a mistake for making my father, himself and I sons of Ona Ara LG. When I had the opportunity, I flagged off the road coming to Ajia and going to Amuloko through Airport. Work is ongoing on the project as contractors are on it. Before the election is over, I can tell you that the project would have been completed.
“There are two things I know you will want to hear from me today. One is about the traditional council and it is not the government that is expected to carry out reform. Kabiyesi Olubadan and Olubadan-in Council are those expected to come out with the reform. I am saying it in front of you now that if I see the letter detailing the reform, I will approve it immediately and they should implement accordingly.
“Also, concerning the allocation traditional rulers get, we have looked into it and observed that the five per cent you get is so low. So, I have jacked it up to 10 per cent and the implementation will take effect from this month, February.
“For the elections that are forthcoming, please vote all the candidates of our party, PDP. We have been very lucky in Ona Ara LG because you have a Governor and Deputy Speaker, who has been cooperative enough with us to move this government to where it is today.
“Lastly, let me address the issue of compensation to those who claimed their lands were taken from them. You see, I was born here and if we do things in the right way in other places, I see no reason why we should not replicate those good things here. I believe some people have allowed themselves to be used politically on this matter but I have requested for their data.
“For those that were affected by the demolition that NAF embarked on and they don’t have where to stay, I gave them some funds to rent another house so as to have a roof over their heads. And when the issue of compensation is sorted, we will compensate those who are due for it. Things like this occur whenever a particular area is developing. We can’t do away with it because the value and price of land appreciate”, Governor Makinde stated.
Earlier in his remarks, the Alajia of Ajia, Oba Nureni Adegbenro, described Governor Makinde as an exceptional governor and a worthy ambassador of Ajia and Ona Ara.
Also, the representatives of the religious bodies, community associations and others met by the governor, appreciated him for the good governance he has provided to the state in the last three and half years.
Add Comment