Governor Oyetola takes off in style

G overnor Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola’s thank you visit to the people of Osun recently, marked the beginning of the political process with the aim of knowing and sharing the people’s challenges and having a heart to heart discussion with the citizens and expressing his appreciation for the mandate given to him by the people. Oyetola […]

G
overnor Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola’s thank you visit to the people of Osun recently, marked the beginning of the political process with the aim of knowing and sharing the people’s challenges and having a heart to heart discussion with the citizens and expressing his appreciation for the mandate given to him by the people.

Oyetola no doubt has his first challenge as fund. Like a man who has traversed the corporate world, he went all out to the major sources through which the state can obtain necessary funds to run his administration. Among his place of call was a visit to the Central Bank Governor in Abuja, where he held high level power meeting over the financial challenges confronting his state. He did not leave Central Bank (CBN) until he received a favourable response from the governor of the Central Bank.

Oyetola like a seasoned democrat, moved over to the presidency for political romance. He had a good outing with President Muhammadu Buhari who did not only see his success as a signpost for his assurance of electoral victory in the Presidential election scheduled for February 16, 2019, but glad that his success at the polls and party has sent a signal to the opposition that APC is on the move to bring more changes it promised. It was not a surprise when Oyetola flew along with the President to Niger for regional conference with neighbouring African countries. That trip must have provided further opportunity for both the governor and the President to robb minds on the challenges facing Osun and the need for the President to assist as soon as possible.

The youths of the state need not despair as the governor will continue with the Osun Youths Employment Scheme (OYES). Like his predecessor, he has continued to support the scheme and in all the Senatorial Districts where he visited they were all on ground to do the needful and to honour his presence. The question is will Oyetola expand the scheme? Will he give it more attention as it was done when both the World Bank and the Federal government adopted the scheme?   The answer is in the affirmative as he was the engine room of the Aregbesola’s administration. The youths are in the high percentage in the state and he just stated that his success no doubt will depend upon how well the youths are catered for.  This OYES Scheme has made the state to be crime free and has reduced drastically poverty in the land. Osun is the least poverty rated in Nigeria.

So for the purpose of maintenance of peace and stability the new administration has but more job to do over the youths as well as creating enabling environment for job and creativity. The governor can attract more foreign aids and projects that will create more jobs for the youths. The revival of Osogbo Mills in collaboration with the Federal government is inevitable.

Internal Generating Rates (IGR) will be an area that must be given further attention and where government will seek for cooperation of the people. Governor Oyetola has appeal to the people to pay their taxes. Yes good as this is, the grounds must also be prepared for the people to sustain themselves economically.  The state micro finance banks must further be funded to come to the aids of the artisans and petty traders by so doing it will be easy for the reciprocity of duties and obligations between the state and the citizenry.

Yomi Obaditan, Osogbo