THE All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Chief Bayo Adelabu, has promised to run, if elected, a progressive government that will not unleash hardship of the people of the state, but better their lot through various programmes and policies.
Adelabu, who spoke in an interview monitored on Fresh F.M, Ibadan, at the weekend, said he would accelerate good governance which foundations had been well laid by Governor Abiola Ajimobi through his seven-point agenda.
The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) promised free education at primary and secondary schools, mass renovation of schools across the state and motivation of teachers through incentives so as to stimulate quality attention from the teachers to the pupils.
He said agriculture, which the state has a comparative advantage in, would drive his envisioned industrialisation policy for the state and used to create jobs for the people of the state, particularly the youths.
On health, he promised the revitalisation of the primary healthcare system with maternity and dispensary across the state, just as he said recreation centres would be provided for the people of the state.
He, however, promised to review some policies of Governor Ajimobi which might no longer be applicable in the state given the dynamic environment in the state.
Told that the attacks coming from the opposition parties to him and the APC were a consequence of the action and inaction of Governor Ajimobi, he said the governor deserved to be commended for the transformation he had done in the state.
“The candidate, the party and incumbency have to come together to become one. I am better off contesting on APC platform than on an opposition platform. You can’t separate the candidate from the party and you can’t separate the party from the good work of the government.
“In my own assessment, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has scored 80 per cent. I am even being modest. And since he has scored 80 per cent, I have a lot to leverage on in terms of what he has done in the areas of security, infrastructure, education, health and other sectors.
“For the first time in 20 years, we can say we have a governor in Oyo State that can stand tall among the committee of governors. He is humane, exposed and a fine gentleman that has the interest of Oyo State at heart.
“Nobody can do all the jobs at once. That is why I call him the initiator of good governance in the state. When you are initiating, you have a lot of good fight to fight and a lot of hurdles to cross. This man has survived all the hurdles.
“Now, we have reached the foundation level and we need to start building the blocks. So, we need an accelerator and that is why I am coming as the accelerator of good governance in the state.
“What can other candidates from other parties point at? Is it the 16 years of rot in Nigeria? These are the people who brought us to where we are now? We are just trying to clear the mess and start all over. So, the best thing for any nation or state is to allow for continuity and consistency in the implementation of programmes and policies of the government. We have seen it play out in Lagos State,” he said.
On the perceived cold response to his candidature from those he defeated to clinch the party’s ticket, he said it was not true, explaining that all of them and their supporters were backing him to win the election.
“We did not fight; there was no war. All that I contested with are top-flight professionals who have the love of the state at heart. We did not dissipate so much energy on reconciliation. All other contestants and their supporters are supporting me and the party. They have put everything behind us to ensure we win the election, ” he said.
