Osun State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola has urged the people of the state to live up to their Civic responsibilities in the interest of the development of the polity.
Oyetola noted that, civic responsibility maintains a primacy as well as a centre point in the efforts to ascertain sustainable development of a given society.
The governor made this known through his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye during an engagement meeting with the Community Development Associations of Osogbo metropolis at the Centre for Civic Engagement, Osogbo.
Oyetola emphasised that citizens are the best partners in progress whose complementary efforts in advocacy for various causes, such as political, economic, civil, environmental or quality of life issues, cannot be downplayed by every serious government that wants to ensure general development for people’s welfare.
He said, “While the primary role of every government is the preservation and security of lives and property, people also have natural role to play by being security conscious through strengthening of community security network with the provision of necessary intelligence needed to nip issues at bud.
“As a matter of fact, people have an important role to play in avoiding all sorts of environmental degradations by being conscious of acts that can stimulate environmental hazards, especially by avoiding reckless dumping of refuse on waterways in a bid to prevent flooding in this rainy season.
“Maintenance culture is another attitudinal disposition people must imbibe, especially by seeing all forms of government projects or public utilities as their own, as well as taking care of them for durability and public benefits.
“This is in addition to adequate payment of taxes and other necessary levies to support the government in giving quality service deliveries for the betterment of the commonwealth”, he added.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Osogbo Community Development Council, Mr. Mufutau Abidemi described the Civic Engagement framework of Oyetola as one which has rekindled their consciousness in the area of Community Development, saying credits would always be given to Oyetola’s administration for reviving the values of CDC in the area of sustainable development.
Mr. Abidemi further expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Governor in the area of state governance and particularly his giant strides within Osogbo metropolis such as the construction of flyover bridge, lightening of major streets, rehabilitation of Alekuwodo/Akindeko/Akinlalu road network and others, among other projects which are unprecedented and that have brought about a great development to the state capital.
He however, noted that their supports and allegiance to the current administration would not be wavered in anyway, while urging the government to continue placing priorities on issues of Community Development such as provision of more transformers, rehabilitation of more rural/commnunity roads, improvement in local security network among other social interventions which were the purpose for which the council was created.