As the re-election campaign of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola moved to Iwo Federal Constituency, Osun State; the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi; Olu of Ile-Ogbo, Oba Abeeb Adetoyese Agbajelola; and Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama pledged their commitments to ensure the governor’s re-election.
The monarchs said the re-election of Oyetola remains their collective project and is non-negotiable, hence the need to vote massively to ensure his re-election.
The traditional rulers said Governor Oyetola has performed creditably well and that his return for a second term will be a pay back for his good governance in all sectors.
Speaking in his palace, Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, said the performance of the Governor within three and a half years was enough reason to get him re-elected.
Oba Akanbi who described Iwo as the home of progressive politics in Yorubaland said the town has never been disappointed for being loyal to progressive government.
“In Iwo, we are known for progressive politics. Historically, here is the home of progressive politics. It is the home of the progressives and nothing can change it. Since the progressive party has been favouring us, we have no reason to do a volte face. We shall continue to remain in the progressive.
“The President we have been yearning for is coming to us soon in the Progressives, so also the Governor of our choice. So, we remain resolute to this cause. I want to appeal to other traditional rulers in Iwo Federal Constituency to continue to remain resolute and support the progressive government. It is time to speak with our votes.
“Let’s work in unison to retain Oyetola and ensure the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next year’s general elections. As you can see, the results of the last governorship election was not too good. But I can assure you that now, it will be much better, particularly from Iwo land. We have 30 kings with 48 ruling houses with numerous chiefs. We can’t find it difficult to speak to them. I want to assure you that by the grace of God that enthroned us, you will emerge.”
Also speaking in his palace, Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama, said the Governor has worked for second term in view of his modest achievements in the last three and a half years.
He said: “I see your visit as a formality because you have done excellently well to earn second term. Your re-election is our collective project. We don’t need campaign because your good works have campaigned for you already.
“You are a perfect example of the saying, ‘one good turn deserves another.’ We don’t have any doubt that you will be returned and this can be attested to by the visible indices. You have used your managerial skills to take us to where we are today. All the awards you earned, you deserved them. We will do all possible to support you.
“I want to assure you of our utmost support. Your first term has been very smooth, peaceful and successful. You can count on our support, your second term is non-negotiable.”
On his part, the Olu of Ile-Ogbo, Oba Abeeb Adetoyese Agbajelola, said the monarchs were resolute to return the Governor for second term, saying he has done excellently well to merit it.
“We have done the necessary things to ensure that you are returned. We have carried out necessary rites and by the grace of God, you will be re-elected. I can assure you that in my domain, we don’t know any of their political party apart from APC. We will continue to support you and we will not renege on our promise to continue to support you.
Addressing the mammoth crowd at the venues of the campaign, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola urged members of the party to come out in large number on July 16 to vote for him.
Oyetola who spoke briefly on some of the achievements of his administration in the last three and a half years said inspite the pocket of challenges being faced shortly after he came on board, yet he was able to surmount them and record great things.
He urged those who have not collected their Permanent Voter’s Cards to do so as it remains the only power to vote for continuity and consolidation of good governance.
Meanwhile, Osun State Government has assured students of the tertiary institutions in the state that it will prioritise their welfare.
The government said it will continually invest hugely in education to secure a prosperous future for the state.
It maintained that the best investment to reduce poverty and crime is quality education.
Osun Commissioner for Education, Hon Oladoyin Bamisayemi said this during a meeting with Students’ Union leaders and Chairmen of Governing Council of all the state owned tertiary institutions held at Osun State College of Education, Ilesa.
The meeting was convened at the instance of the student union leadership under the auspices of National Association of Nigeria Students’ /Joint Campus Committee (NANS/JCC) Osun Axis to discuss Infrastructural development and welfare issues in the state owned tertiary institutions.
According to the commissioner, Governor Oyetola has doused tension by sustaining industrial harmony in all the state owned tertiary institutions with the regular payment of salary of lecturers and other interventions to discourage avoidable industrial disputes that usually extend student year of graduation.
He said “Governor Oyetola is committed to educational development at all levels and he will not relent in his efforts to ensure qualitative education in our tertiary institutions, you will all agree with me that the Governor has stabilized academic calendars in tertiary institutions with the regular payment of salary and removal of embargo on promotion among others.
“In the last Three and Half Years, despite the economic reality and pressure to increase tuition fees, Mr Governor has refused to grant such approval, he recently paid Bursary to the indigent students and also facilitated mobility for the leadership of the students’ union in our tertiary institutions. Despite the paucity of fund, I can assure you that the Governor will not spare any effort at improving tertiary education in state.”
Bamisayemi also assured the students that the issue of road repair as raised by the students will be looked into within seven working days and announced that a committee to include student representative would be set up to kick start and monitor the process.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the NANS/JCC Osun Axis, Comrade Oyelayo Afeez appreciated the Governor for several interventions in the various institutions and urged the government to consider the repair of some roads in the state owned tertiary institutions.
He said some of the roads on the campuses require urgent government attention to ensure ease of vehicular movement which necessitated the earlier proposed protest and appreciated the representatives of the state government for their timely intervention on the issue and announced that the association has suspended the proposed protest.
Other government representatives at the meeting include Commissioner for Works and Transport, Eng Oluremi Omowaiye, Chairmen Governing Councils, Osun College of Education, Ilesa Elder Kunle Odeyemi, Osun College of Technology, Esa Oke, Hon Akintunde Adegboyega, Osun College of Education, Ila, Dr Owolabi George Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Comrade Kehinde Ayantunji and all the Heads of state owned tertiary institutions, among others.
