Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo released his sixteen-point plan for the Ogun people if elected governor during next year’s general election.
Ajadi, who is the governorship candidate under the New Nigeria People’s Party, noted that he is ready to be prosecuted in court if he fails to fulfill electoral promises made to the Ogun electorate.
He said his plan is to restore the faith of the Ogun people in people holding public office.
Ajadi also noted that he is committed to building a people-oriented government that will cater to the welfare of the people.
Please read the full manifesto of the NNPP Governorship candidate below:
Introduction
In our society today, from the local government down to the federal level, there is a growing distrust of people holding public office.
This is a result of consistent failure by elected representatives to deliver to the Nigerian people, the dividends of democracy.
Ogun State, the famed Gateway state, has been a major casualty of this: Different administrations have failed to harness the resources in the land, to better the conditions of the people. The evidence is the general inequity, infrastructure deficit, poverty, and crime in the state.
My decision to aspire for the office of Governor of the state come 2023, is to reverse this bad trend.
It is a well-thought-out decision, motivated by the desire to deliver good governance to the people of the state.
To be able to do this, I have done a comprehensive study on how to reposition the state, using its God-given resources, human and material to bring about better fortunes for the state.
Goal
To have a people-oriented government that caters to the welfare of the people, and where the people will renew their trust and love for those in positions of leadership.
Highpoints of my manifesto
1. Industrial Revolution
Ogun State largely depends on Federal allocation for sustenance so, any time there is no or delay in the remittance of this federal allocation, the state is jittery and apprehensive.
Our administration will transform the state, by introducing a complete Industrial Revolution programme through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
This will be for the purpose of establishing medium and large-scale industries. We shall achieve this by involving local investors and also inviting foreign investors to partner with the state.
We will create the needed conducive environment for these investors to operate.
Our administration will achieve this by providing tax holidays, land and pioneer status break, and provision of relevant infrastructures for their smooth operation in the state.
We shall also focus on the “Ogun Guang Dong Free Trade Zone” where numerous manufacturing facilities were constructed by past administrations in partnership with the Chinese and Korean governments.
This revolution will launch a conscious effort to revitalize the commerce industry in Ogun state, focusing on local production and services.
The state Ministry of Commerce and Industry shall be charged with identifying the various products and services needed for the immediate local and international markets, and the potential producers of such products shall be sought out across the globe through our programs.
2. Security
The security of life and property is an important necessity in any society, and its provision is the responsibility of the government.
My administration will prioritise this by re-energizing the security architecture of the state, and providing more tools and equipment for them to work.
We shall increase the allocation/donations to the Security Trust Fund (STF) and bring in private sector security operators so that we can have complete safety in society.
My success in establishing and sustaining a security outfit in the state, Eagle Security, is an attestation of my capability towards ensuring a secure Ogun State going forward.
It has been identified that the issue of herdsmen and cultism is part of the challenges on the path to ensuring a safe state. We shall adopt the principle of conflict resolution and legal restrictions to find a lasting solution to this.
Our Community Watch will be energized to curb crimes at the community level so that people can sleep with their two eyes closed.
3. Road Construction & Maintenance
Special attention will be given to the deplorable state of our roads. Our administration will come up with a “No Pothole” policy driven by special inspection by the Ministry of Works to ensure the road network in the state remains motorable at all times.
Road construction in both urban and rural areas will be prioritized for the economic advantage of the people.
For road projects that require huge capital and additional expertise, especially in the industrial areas and border communities, we shall be collaborating with construction companies that have the expertise.
Mutually beneficial tolling arrangements would be put in place to ensure recouping of resources expended in building such roads.
Local governments would also be empowered to construct and maintain local community roads in their areas, to ease human and vehicular movement. This will also ease the movement of farm produce from the rural areas to the market, which will boost the economic prosperity of the people.
4. Low-Cost Housing Estate
Ogun state lacks low-cost housing estates despite the increasing human population, as well as its closeness to Lagos State, the biggest and strongest economy in Africa.
We shall engage professional estate construction companies to build affordable Low-Cost Housing Estates in all the local governments for both civil servants and informal sector operators.
Our administration shall make sure that the allocation is done in an equitable manner according to need, with flexible repayment arrangements.
Construction companies to be considered for the project shall have concrete maintenance and mortgage plans.
Our housing plan shall include areas like Ifo, Mowe, Ibafo, Otta, Sagamu, and other satellite areas with large populations of residents working outside the state especially, Lagos.
This housing project will lay emphasis on low and middle-income earners in the state.
5. Agricultural Re-Birth
Our administration shall give special attention to the agricultural sector, creating an enabling environment for food production and processing in the state.
We shall create agricultural boards which will enable the marketing of agricultural products to society. This board will also create a conducive business environment for the farmers through the provision of soft loans, seedlings, agricultural implements, farmland, tractors, food processors, fertilizers, etc.
We shall utilize our arid land advantage to build our agricultural products and encourage every household to go into farming as an alternative source of income and state revenue.
Our administration will encourage large-scale farming of cassava, cocoa, rice cotton, corn, etc, and the exportation of such produces.
Our cotton farming will basically strengthen our vibrant textile and fabric industry.
Through our agricultural policy, we shall make Ogun state a food-secured state during our first term in office.
6. Education/Technical & Vocational Training
Our administration will give topmost priority to education, especially vocational institutions and technical colleges.
Our state is known for hosting the highest number of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, with a great number of professionals in different fields; we shall strengthen our education industry to re-position our state and be the best not just in the South-West but in Nigeria and Africa.
We shall engage the Ministry of Education in the monitoring of our schools to put all stakeholders on their toes to return the lost glory of the sector.
There shall be training and re-training of our teachers (especially the technical instructors)so as to produce a modern-day curriculum that will produce the kind of graduates that our society needs, independent and self-dependent graduates that will provide employment for others.
In addition, we shall bear the costs of the Senior Secondary School Examination for the students, with scholarships made available to the best students from each Local Government.
Our administration shall include artisan training in our secondary school curriculum, with an emphasis on agricultural training with incentives in choice areas.
7. Public Health
Our administration will look into the deteriorating health infrastructure in our state, especially give attention to primary healthcare. In our first term in office, we shall employ more health personnel, looking into their remuneration and allowances.
We shall also provide more diagnostic centers for the health institution to function properly. To achieve this, we shall bring local and foreign investors to the health sector, the idea being to introduce health tourism to Ogun State.
There shall be a special focus on rural community health services, especially for people in riverine areas and border communities, with the provision of speed boat ambulances and mobile clinics.
8. Alternative Power Generation
Power generation is key to the development of any society. Our administration will look into other untapped areas of power generation like solar energy, windmills, Mini Hydro dam, etc. bringing foreign investors to build this aspect of our economy.
We shall develop our master plan to generate and distribute electricity as a state which will provide employment to our people.
9. Solid Mineral Development
Ogun state is very rich in Mineral resources like clay, granite, glass sand, lead, coal, bitumen, and crude oil.
Our administration shall provide a conducive working environment for people in the granite supply industry for economic prosperity. This will also open a window of opportunity for the state to be repositioned in foreign investment by Chinese and Korean firms that have large investments in the sector.
We shall provide incentives to our local investors, transporters, and unskilled laborers in the industry.
10. Transportation System
Our transportation system will be re-designed for the comfort of the people. We shall have mini-bus and city bus companies to operate interstate and within the urban cities.
The transport scheme will be subsidized for affordability by the people and to decongest our roads.
11. Local Government Autonomy
The local government autonomy granted over a year ago by the federal government will give the local government, which is the nearest to the people at the grassroots the opportunity to have access to funds directly and manage their affairs.
Our administration will only play a monitoring role and give adequate advice on the management of the local councils.
12. Public Water Works.
We have carried out a survey on why the public water tap is dry. We found out the problem is both fund and management.
Our administration will provide the needed funds to rebuild the damaged water pipes, and relay them to the waterworks to provide that essential commodity to the people.
To reduce wastage, we shall set up a committee at the agency that will monitor any pipe breakage and timely repair in our communities.
13. Waste Management
The wrong disposal of waste in our major communities is something of great concern.
Our administration will work on proper legislation to correct the abnormality and provide more waste disposal agencies that will evacuate the mountains of dirt in our cities.
Our policy on waste management will attract foreign investors in pollution control and recycling of waste materials. This will provide employment and increase the revenue for the state.
14. Tourism
Our administration will develop the tourism industry of the state. Apart from Olumo Rock, the state has several tourist sites which we shall give a facelift to attract foreign tourists. This will in turn increase the revenue of the state.
We shall engage stakeholders in the movie industry to build a movie village of international standards which will be a point of reference in the country.
15. Civil Service
The civil service as the engine of any government administration shall be given priority, looking into their welfare and after-service life.
Our administration shall make provision for the prompt payment of their salaries and allowances, regular promotion exercise, and other motivational packages.
We shall see to the pension scheme for effectiveness and prompt payment.
16. Youth and Sport Development
Ogun state is blessed with creative and energetic youths doing well in sports and various fields, bringing us glory.
We shall explore more opportunities to develop the youths in skill acquisition, handcrafts, sport, entertainment, and leadership training even outside the country.
Our administration will provide economic empowerment for women and the vulnerable in rural and urban communities.
In addition, we shall bring onboard a good number of young people and women to our administration for proper representation.
We shall also create a game village where different athletes can train for competition within the state.
Our administration shall design a state plan for the annual game festival (which will engage professional sports administrators)where people from different parts of the state will compete in different games.
We shall also engage our secondary schools in the annual “Principal Cup” partly sponsored by the state government.
17. Transparency & Fairness
Our administration will be transparent and accountable to the people. We shall be fair in all our policies and decisions, putting the welfare of the people first.
Footnote
Therefore, I hereby move a motion to be prosecuted in the court of law, if I fail to fulfill electoral promises made to the masses.
