Aregbesola assures on completion of projects, urge well-Meaning Nigerians to help government succeed
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola
All ongoing projects, including the mega-schools in Osun are to be completed as scheduled. This was the assurance given by the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola after his assessment tour of the projects at the weekend.
A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, signed by its Director, Semiu Okanlawon, quoted the governor as stating this during an unscheduled inspection tour of the ongoing construction sites of Ilesa High School.
He was quoted as directing all the contractors of the ultra-modern schools across the state to accelerate work in their various sites.
Aregbesola noted that it would be unfortunate and regrettable if the contractors handling school projects failed to complete and hand-over the schools to the state within the agreed period.
He added that schools under construction are financed with the Sukuk bond, saying there is no excuse for the contractors not to accelerate work pace.
The Governor had earlier in the week also visited Community Elementary/Middle School, Dada Estate, Osogbo High School, Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo and New Model High school in Ede.
For any contractor slowing down on their site, the governor gave stern warnings noting that his government, despite the financial meltdown, was poised to fulfil its electioneering promises.
The governor stated that he will leave no stone unturned to ensure that all the on-going school projects were delivered in no distant time to enhance the reclassification exercise of the state government.
Aregbesola charged the contractors to keep the contractual agreement with the state government by using the recommended materials for the school building project, noting that government will not shift ground on the set requirement for the projects.
He chided contractors for what he described as slow pace of work on site, pointing out that he would continually be paying unscheduled visit to site to ensure that contracts awarded by government are properly monitored.
The governor frowned at the contractors handling Osogbo and Ilesa High schools, noting that the pace of work by the contractors are too slow as most of the expected works at the sites were not encouraging.
On Osogbo High School, he said, “what I met here today was not impressive at all and I am disappointed in the snail pace of work on this site.
“I have been coming here several times but met the work stagnant as no tangible progress could be said to have been made by the handlers of the school building.
“The site for football pitch has not been cleared. The administrative building has not been completed. The school structure remained stagnant,” Aregbesola lamented.
Aregbesola added that it is unfortunate that the school project expected to be completed and commissioned for use soonest has been delayed due to insensitivity and lack of diligence by the contractor.
He said, “It is unfortunate and regrettable that some of our projects are being handled slowly but notwithstanding we will do all we could to ensure a speedy and possibly accelerated implementation as I am personally ready to tour across all the ongoing projects in the state.
“Our government will spare no effort in its bid to reposition the state most especially the education sector as we are bent and irrevocably ready to provide necessary facilities and equipment to aide teaching and learning process through conducive atmosphere,” The governor pointed out at the site.
He therefore directed contractors of all the ongoing projects to expedite action that will facilitate quick implementation of projects, saying government will henceforth not hesitate to revoke the contracts for any non-performing contractor.
Governor Aregbesola has also called for unflinching support from well-meaning and wealthy Nigerians to complement the efforts of governments in all sectors.
The governor made the call while commissioning the newly renovated Comprehensive Health Centre, Igbajo in Boluwaduro Local Government Area of the state.
The hospital which was renovated and equipped by Mrs. Yetunde Oyewola in commemoration of her 80th Birthday was said to have been abandoned for years by the successive governments in the state.
However, Governor Aregbesola who lamented what he described as economic backwardness said the nation’s economy has been gruesomely bastardized by the immediate past administration.
Governor Aregbesola stressed the need for well-meaning and successful Nigerians to rise up to the occasion by complementing the onerous efforts of government towards the socio-political and economic development of Nigeria.
Governor Aregbesola stated that the country’s treasury has been brought to its knees, saying this backward economic syndrome has manifested in the dwindled revenue given to the states of the federation in the last two years.
Governor Aregbesola revealed that over 40 per cent revenue loss in the federal allocation to the state has consistently crippled the government policies and programmes as many states found it difficult to pay the wages and salaries of their workforce.
Governor Aregbesola said Nigeria has got to a stage where things could only function well in the right direction with the utmost support and contribution of those who are financially blessed and economically endowed in the society.
He solicited for people’s support and collaboration on the current wind of change in Nigeria, adding that citizens must form a united front and collaborate with governments for general development and well being.
Governor Aregbesola who expressed happiness over the kind gesture of Mrs. Oyewola towards the renovation of the hospital urged other people in the country to emulate her good intention.
According to him, “It is unfortunate that some people led us to where we are today. It is also regrettable that our economy as a nation has been recklessly mismanaged in the past.
“The simple analysis of the current economic imbroglio is the fact that the three tiers of government which were sharing over N1.3trillion before the acclaimed crude oil theft that persisted between June, 2011 to May, 2013 are now sharing N366 billion.
“These are open-secrets because every issue attached to it is made public because they are public documents and there is nothing for anyone to hide.
“The sharp loss in the revenue was claimed to be the Almighty persistent daily crude oil theft amounts to over one million barrels which led to almost 50 percent revenue loss before the sharp drop in the global prices of crude oil which later rendered government economically constrained.
“The crude oil which was being sold for $114 per barrel now dropped to $48 per barrel. This shows the state of our nation’s economic downturn.
“Well, there is need to commend whoever that comes up with the good gestures of Mrs. Oyewole because her contributions and support to the work of government is often worthy of emulation.
“There is no doubt that if every wealthy Nigerian has been doing this in the past, our society would have been better transformed because for any society or nation to develop, its citizens must see the need in selfless sacrifice towards its upliftment.
“I am very happy for this multi-million project done by Oyewole’s family and I pray God to replenish them with uncountable blessing and divine favour. This indeed worthy of commendation”, he said.
Governor Aregbesola however promised to rehabilitate Ada/Igbajo Road to ease and improve the general wellbeing of the people around the area as part of his administration’s commitment.
Early in his remark, President, Igbajo Development Association, Engineer Akin Omojaro commended Oyewole’s family for their prompt intervention that has culminated to several developmental projects in the ancient town.
He said tracing the part of enviable and noble roles which Oyewale’s had been playing in the area of developmental projects and humanitarian gesture that is being extended to individual and to the entire community as a whole, one who definitely deduced that the family is God sent to the town and its environs.
He said Oyewole’s family members are definitely God sent to Igbajoland as they have been seriously contributing towards the development of the ancient town.
According to him, “Mama Oyewole has demonstrated her kind gesture as a professional Nurse who understands what a good health is to an average human being and to the entire human race because without adequate health care of the citizens, no community or country can develop economically or politically.
“Papa Olajide Oyewole and his wife, Mrs. Yetunde Oyewole are prominent individuals that nurtured present Igbajo Polytechnic from its infancy to the present enviable stage among its equal.
“The Comprehensive Health Centre that is being commissioned today has been abandoned several years ago as many of its building had given way, while its entire premises had turned thick forest, but to the glory of God the Oyewole’s had turned it around positively for the use of Igbajo and its neighborhood”, he said.
He appealed to the state government to complement the efforts of the Oyewoles by staffing the renovated Health Centre with adequate Doctors and Nurses.
“There is need for us to know that healthy citizens build a wealthy society and to this end, we appeal to our Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to as a matter of understanding complement this gesture.
“Sir, our Oliver Twist will also request your generous approval to change the present Comprehensive Health Centre to a State Hospital.
“We equally appeal to all other well-to-do Nigerians to emulate the good gesture of the Oyewoles as they use their wealth to put smiles and happiness to life of thousands of people across the globe,” Engineer Omojaro noted.
The celebrant, Mrs. Yetunde Oyewole dedicated the renovated hospital to Almighty God and the good people of Igbajo, said if not for them, it might not be possible for her to renovate it.
She therefore implored government to deploy competent doctors and nurses to the hospital so as to totally revive its lost glory.
“This gigantic and monumental project is being dedicated to my creator and the good people of Igbajo because they are the brains behind its successful completion.
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