Abimbola Abatta
He has been described as a technocrat, strategist, progressive politician, and grassroots mobiliser imbued with integrity, competence, as well as
leadership and managerial skills capable of moving Osun State out of its economic challenges.
The man described above is Governor Adegboyega Oyetola who, despite the paucity of funds he inherited from the previous administration, has continued to tackle the challenges of lean revenue, indebtedness, contractual obligations, collapsed infrastructures, and unpaid salaries in Osun state.
During his inauguration in 2018, he made a host of promises to residents and citizens of Osun State, with emphasis on his readiness to engender people-oriented policies.
Undoubtedly, he has never strayed off track as his giant strides in the State are testaments to his genuine quest for an Osun that works and is driven by a clear developmental roadmap.
In a swift response to the yearnings of the people of Osun, he reviewed and reversed some sections of the educational policy put in place by his predecessor, such as the single uniform policy, 4-5-3-4 structure, and school merger, among others.
The governor continues to gear concerted efforts to constantly engage, cultivate and empower Osun youths to find solutions to extant challenges collectively.
Many youths have been empowered through various schemes, including loan disbursement to enable them to start new businesses and boost existing ones.
Furthermore, the Oyetola-led administration is investing in social intervention programmes designed to cater to the welfare of the vulnerable and the needy.
As a financially prudent Governor, Oyetola has been lauded for prioritising the welfare of workers and pensioners by paying them as and when due.
Knowing full well that the health sector can make or mar an economy, the governor is the first in the history of Nigeria to rehabilitate three hundred and thirty-two (332) Primary Healthcare Centres per ward.
The construction of the 120-bed ward at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, the 30 units of Doctor’s Quarters, and the institution of the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS), among others are part of the efforts put in place to ensure improved health care delivery.
In the area of road construction and rehabilitation to open up the rural areas and ease movement to ensure rapid socio-economic development, Governor Oyetola is not slacking.
Some of the road networks that have been rehabilitated across the State include: Ada-Igbajo road, Osogbo-Kelebe-Iragbiji road, and Akindeko-Awosuru link road via Adejumo Street with Oremeji spur, Akinlade Street, Adewale Street with loop to WAEC road all in Osogbo; Army Barack (Ede)-Ara-Ejigbo township road, Moro-Yakoyo-Ipetumodu-Asipa-Ife/Ibadan Expressway Junction Road and Ereja Roundabout-Ereguru-Isaare-Oke Oye-Sabo (Irojo)-Ilesa/Akure Expressway Junction, Iloro/Aganun/Abiri road, Itaasin (St. Stephen Church)-Our Lady School-Police Divisional Headquarters, Famia Road, Nike Gallery-Ido-Osun Township airport with palace spur, Ikirun-Eko-Ende Road and Gbogan Township Road among several others.
His administration has also commenced the rehabilitation of Lawyer Atanda Road, Iwo; Ila-Arandun-Kwara Boundary Road, as well as the construction of an access road to Fountain University, Osogbo.
The Oyetola-led government is also transforming the agriculture sector by providing an enabling environment that will make Osun the food hub of the South West.
To rescue Osun’s economy from overdependence on Federal Allocation and make the state the economic hub of the South-West, the Oyetola-led government is leveraging three critical sectors: Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining.
Oyetola’s administration established the Osun Solid Mineral Development Programme, which is targeted at implementing and overseeing the State’s policy for the mining sector. This programme has yielded some results, such as the Osun/Omoluabi Mining Business Restructuring Scheme (OMBRS) and the Osun Revenue Diversification and Maximisation Scheme (ORDMS).
From managing the available resources judiciously and running an administration that is anchored on transparency, accountability, incorruptibility, inclusiveness, and sustainable development, Governor Oyetola keeps working hard in his determined quest to bring his promises to fruition.