In Ogun, 2007 Campaigns Begin
Despite spending few months into the second year of his four-year tenure, Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State has so far been commended for his purposeful leadership qualities and giant strides in ensuring that the state is ranked among the best in the country as Toba Sulaiman reports
With few months into the second year of the present administration in Ogun State, a political group which described itself as Power Group from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ogun West senatorial district has endorsed the State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel for the second term in office come 2007.
The group, which vowed to work in support of Daniel's second term in office, said its stand stemmed from the conviction about the performance of Daniel's administration in all spheres of human endeavours across the three senatorial districts, and of which Yewa people in Ogun West have benefited.
"Power Group has now come out boldly to express its resolve to work relentlessly for the re-election of Otunba Gbenga Daniel for a second term come 2007", the group added.
Addressing a press conference after its periodical meeting held at the Yewa North Council secretariat, Chairman of the Group, Alhaji Aliu Ajibode explained that several reasons informed their choice of Governor Daniel.
According to him, for the first time, Ogun West is given a pride of place in virtually all areas of human endeavour.
"We are now proud to be partners in progress and not followers in the politics of Ogun State, thanks to OGD's literal politics and resolve to ensure that government activities and dividends of democracy touch all the nooks and crannies of Ogun State".
Ajibode said since the creation of Ogun State 28 years ago, the existence of the governor for the first time was felt in virtually everywhere and particularly in Ogun West senatorial district.
He disclosed that the group has been in existence since the inception of Daniel's administration in 2003, but decided to remain in the background to monitor the activities of the Governor within one year before making its existence public.
Since inception, "we have watched with keen interest the unbelievable speed with which the state has been turned around. The Governor's achievements have endeared him to the people of Ogun State to the extent that they are now grateful for the divined intervention for his choice as our governor in the first place".
"Without much ado, the performance of OGD has spoken eloquently for itself. We are therefore encouraged to be committed more than ever before to his administration for this wonderful and enviable record and to propagate them beyond the state", Ajibode affirmed.
While commending Daniel's laudable achievements especially where it affects Ogun West people, Ajibode mentioned that the choice of deputy Governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru who was picked from Yewa for the first time was a testimony of Daniel's resolve in carrying the citizenry in his bid to making the state one of the best.
"Ogun West was liberated from slavery and squalor, with the selection of one of us as Deputy Governor of our darling state which is the first time ever that someone from the district will be occupying such exalted position since creation of Ogun State.
"Besides, two of our other brothers were chosen as commissioners in the state executive council in charge of the ministries of works and Housing respectively.
"One of our sisters was equally appointed as the commissioner for Women Affairs, as against the usually lowly placed ministries, which have been for our people in perpetuity from time immoral".
Under the employment Generation Programme (OGEGEP) of the governor, Ajibode stated that over 20,000 Youths from the state have received training in different aspects of agricultural and non-agricultural vocations and skills.
"On the whole", according to him, "several youth from the five local governments areas of our senatorial district have benefited, while the programme has reduced unemployment and crime rates drastically across the state".
He said the establishment of the Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA) by the governor at the inception of the administration has brought about rehabilitation and construction of hundreds of kilometres of roads in virtually all the 20 local governments councils of the state.
According to him, "the Abeokuta- Kobape-Shagamu dualisation work being handled by OGROMA with additional street light facility throughout the length of the 50km road is a new phenomenon in Nigeria".
He disclosed that, fascinated by the performance of OGROMA on the construction work, many people from other parts of the country had come to visit the Agency while at work.
In the area of health, the chairman maintained that a lot has been achieved both in curative and preventive.
"Many existing hospitals have been rehabilitated, the school of Nursing at Ijebu Ode is now wearing a new look, the old school of Nursing, Ilaro, has been resuscitated". "The Hostel at Oba Ademola Hospital, Abeokuta which has facilities for more than a hundred students and had remained closed for some years, is now wearing a new look and housing many nursing students", Ajibode disclosed.
On Commerce and Industry, Ajibode explained that Daniel has created a conducive environment for private sector participation in industrial development of the state.
He recalled that the cement factory which, he said, had remained on the drawing board since the creation of the state 28 years ago has eventually taken off.
According to him, not less than N100 million has been spent by the government to ensure hitch-free take-off, including the payment of compensation to the landowners.
He acknowledged the recent announcement by the state government to the effect that an oil refinery would soon be established in Ipokia local government area with a free Trade Zone also to be established in Idi-Iroko all within the district.
He disclosed further that the international market meant for Ogun West would soon take off in Ajilete-Owode in Yewa South Local Government.
"The site is already being demarcated and appropriated to the contractors and mobilization paid.
"It is expected that this market would be completed by the end of this year or there about.
"There are lots of other industries like, rice production factory at Kobape road, resuscitation of Bricks Factory and several others in other part of the sate.
"More than N200 million have been granted to small scale industries, cooperatives and others as loan since this administration came into power", he explianed.
He commended Daniel for his back to land agricultural programme, which he said, has created hundreds of job for several indigenes of the state including youths from Ogun West.
According to him, besides the OGEGEP programme, Daniel has resuscitated the farm settlements established by the late sage, Pa Obafemi Awolowo in the old Western Region and which had been abandoned for more than 30 years.
He noted that each settlement in each local government council of the state is also provided with accommodation with all modern facilities such as tractors, and farm implement, seedling, fertilizers and insecticides.
While commending Daniel for his achievements in the area of Education, Ajibode specifically mentioned the establishment of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) College of Agriculture Campus in Ayetoro, Yewa area of Ogun West.
He pointed out that students of the institutions of higher learning from the state now enjoy bursary award, while scholarship has been given to not less than 500 students undergoing specialized courses in Nigerian universities.
Ajibode said with its conviction about the OGD's performance, the group has resolved to work in tandem with the governor towards ensuring that his second term campaign is hitch-free.
"In this respect, we are prepared to work with other groups whose objectives are similar with ours in the districts and elsewhere to enhance this noble goal, and we want to stress that there is no vaccancy in the Government House, Oke-Igbehin, Abeokuta till 2011," the group maintained.
|
