Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has said that the state created the 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to further deepen the dividends of democracy to the people, emphasising that the government has established a committee to look into genuine complaints from LCDAs creation.
The governor, who disclosed this at the town hall meeting held for the people of Oyo and Ogbomoso zones in Oyo Town on Tuesday, also stated that the government would revoke the ownership of any unused fertile land for agriculture, adding that the government would distribute the 210 hectares at Rural Community Development Centre (RCDC), Awe, Oyo Town, to farmers to boost food production in the state.
The town hall which had traditional rulers, community, religious and party leaders, Cultural and ethnic groups, religious bodies, youths and faith based organisations, students from Secondary Schools and higher institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations, Labour leaders, politicians among others was the third in the series of recently resuscitated stakeholders’ engagement between the government and the citizens to discuss and jointly find solutions to critical issues affecting the state.
Ajimobi reiterated that there was no going back on the conduct of local government elections in the state in February 2017, noting that the newly created LCDAs were not perfect but the government has started considering petitions received with a view to make necessary adjustments.
According to him, “We realized that we need to further deepen the dividends of our government and that is why we created the LCDAs. If we started from the scratch, it will take time. We know the creation is not perfect but we are ready to make necessary adjustments. We are being guided by the principles of fairness to all, we are going to follow the federal government approved map for the state and we will follow the constitution of the land in redressing the grievances from the LCDAs creation”.
The governor explained that the drop in oil revenue has turned everybody to the abandoned agriculture, stressing that his administration is constructing automated silos of international standard in Atiba to boost food storage in order to improve food security.
Ajimobi warned that the government would take over unused fertile farming land for use, saying that the state would leverage on its position as the largest producer of cassava to boost its internally generated revenue through agriculture and ensure that there is enough food for the people of the state.
“Oyo State is the largest producer of cassava in the country. We have many unused fertile land for farming. I want to appeal to our people to release these lands for those that need it for farming to boost agricultural produce in the state. We are ready to revoke any unused lands and give it to farmers for use. We are ready to also share the 210 hectares of land at RCDC Awe, Oyo Town for the use of our farmers,” the governor pointed out.
He appealed to the entire citizens of the state to collaborate and support government’s plans and policies for reviving education in the state and consequently reiterated his assurance that the crisis in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) would be resolved by month end and the school will be reopened.
Ajimobi appreciated the market men and women for their expression of interest to support the renewed Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) drive of the state, pledging that his administration would continue with its unprecedented infrastructural effort to open the state for more industrialization.
The governor promised that Atiba FM, a fully digital radio station based in Atiba, and the Silo for food storage would be ready for commission this year.
Responding, the traditional rulers present at the town hall through their representative, Oba Oparinde Stephen Femi, the Akibio of Ilora and retired Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu commended Ajimobi for his efforts at transforming the state and his resolve to return education in the state to the path of glory.
Archbishop Ladigbolu said that the people of Oyo Town appreciated the governor’s gesture for citing the silo and Atiba fm in Oyo and for the ongoing dualization of the road in the town.
“We thank the governor for his achievements so far in the state, the people of Oyo Town appreciate him for the road dualization, the Silo and Atiba FM. No governor has dualised roads in Oyo town before, Ajimobi stands out and we say thank you to him on behalf of the Alaafin of Oyo and the people of Oyo and Ogbomoso zones of the state,” he noted.
