Ladoja, people's choice for Oyo State

Sponsored post. When he first ran for governor of Oyo State in 2007, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi made a convincing case for leadership as a platform for selfless service to the people. The people of the Pacesetter State, unsuspecting of his true motives at the time, believed in his pitch and elected him their chief executive

Four years on, they have ample cause to regret that decision, which they had made in good faith, but which also, demonstrated a sad but true fact about governance in these parts. Far too often, con-men, pretenders and charlatans with no intention to serve anything but their narrow interests and those of their cronies, have invaded the political space and the people’s consciousness, professing a love they do not feel and formulating so-called people-oriented policies and programmes which are designed solely for their own personal enrichment.

Words cannot describe the profound disappointment the people of Oyo State feel at the stewardship of Gov. Ajimobi, as he continues to progress from error to error, making bogus promises such as development corridors, cable cars and circular highways, to mention a few (and breaking them almost immediately), and in the process impoverishing the people by the day.  

Examples of Ajimobi’s profligacy, self-interest and indifference to the plight of his people can be seen in virtually everything his government does, from the arbitrary demolition of market stalls, which the Ajimobi government has carried out with singular ruthlessness without providing adequate alternatives (and even the so-called modern markets are priced beyond the reach of ordinary traders and market women); to the neglect of key economic infrastructure, including government buildings and shopping complexes; to the purchase of worn-out vehicles at impossibly exorbitant costs (compared to the brand-new buses purchased by the predecessor administration of Gov. Rashidi Ladoja at comparatively lower rates); the failure to pay retirees their pensions and gratuities – some for over a year now – even though he has money to buy new campaign vehicles in pursuit of his second term bid – and in the process struck fear into the hearts of state’s present workforce as to what the future holds for them at the end of their own period of service. 

This gross mismanagement of the patrimony of Oyo State people has made them remember with nostalgia, the sound management style of Gov. Rashidi Ladoja’s government. As the former (and  incoming) governor seeks to reclaim his historic mandate on the platform of the Accord Party in the 2015 gubernatorial elections in Oyo State, the masses of the state have shown their willingness to bring back the glory days once more, when civil servants’ salaries were paid as at when due; when reforms in the educational sector ensured that no classroom had no more than thirty students or pupils; when the entire backlog of pensions was paid to the last kobo; when the ‘thirteenth month’s salary’ was also paid; when the government created an innovative master-plan for the state to assist in the planning and control of infrastructural development projects; when the government facilitated the construction of a tractor assembly in the state; when the government built model public schools for ALL children regardless of social and economic background (in contrast to the rich-only schools that Ajimobi is building today); to name but a few.   

No wonder support for former governor Rashidi Ladoja is swelling in geometric proportions as the 2015 guber polls draw near – as if to say, ‘Enough of Ajimobi! Time to reclaim the gains of the past!’

That is what must happen, so that Oyo State can once take its rightful place among the states of Nigeria, with a people whose pride in their heritage is matched by an unshakeable confidence in the opportunities the future holds, under the able and benevolent leadership of Gov. Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja. Come May 29^th 2015, the helm of leadership must change hands, so that Oyo State can truly resume its role as a Pacesetter in name and in deed.

COURTESY: FRIENDS OF ACCORD