Despite initial controversies trailing the urban renewal programme of the Abiola Ajimobi administration in the Pacesetter State, the people are now seeing the benefits accruing from such bold move by government, writes KEMI OLAITAN. When the present administration in Oyo State under the leadership of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, came into office over two and half years ago, one of the tasks that it set for itself was urban renewal programme geared towards the beautification of Ibadan, the state capital and other major towns in the state including Oyo, Iseyin, Ogbomoso and Saki. To the administration, doing this was inevitable given the fact that Ibadan to many people was seen as the dirtiest city in the country. Indeed to show the commitment of the government to this task of beautification, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at any given opportunity, did not hesitate to tell the people that no sane society can record any meaningful progress in a dirty environment. His mantra to the people was the popular saying: “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” As part of the efforts to realise the task, the government was to embarked on demolition of illegal structures on major roads within Ibadan, while traders who had formed the habit of trading on streets and roads were sent packing. The immediate past Commissioner for Environment, Barrister Lowo Obisesan, was the one that always led the government team on demolition and displacement of traders. During this period, the fear of Obisesan and his team was the beginning of wisdom for the traders. This action of the government was to come under severe criticism from many, most especially the opposition political parties led by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The Special Adviser on Media to former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Prince Dotun Oyelade, was in the forefront of the critics of government, berating the Ajimobi administration of adding to the yoke of the people. According to him, it is only a government that has no feelings for the people that will see displacement as a top priority, thereby increasing the number of unemployed in the state. However the government was undaunted about the task it set for itself as it maintained that it meant well for the people with a promise of building as many neighbourhood markets as possible to cater for the displaced traders. The first of the markets with lock-up and open stalls, located at Scout Camp, Challenge area of Ibadan, was commissioned by Senator Ajimobi some months ago, with an instruction that it must be allocated free to traders displaced from Challenge and Molete areas. To further show that it meant well in its task of beautification which culminated in displacement of traders off the streets, the state government has kicked off the empowerment of traders removed from the street, with the distribution of N20 million grants to traders at the Scout Camp Neighbourhood Market. At the ceremony held within the market and witnessed by members of the state Executive Council, local government chairmen and party stalwarts in the state, the traders were presented with cheques and certificates by the governor. Governor Ajimobi, while speaking at the occasion, said the distribution of cheques was in fulfilment of his promise to assist traders in the state in improving their trade and raising their standard of living. While promising that the gesture would be replicated in other markets across the state to ensure better life for the traders, he said it was the dividends of obedience for the traders who decided to assist his government’s urban renewal programme by removing their wares from the streets. He urged the beneficiaries of the grants to talk to other traders who were yet to cooperate with his government to quit the streets in their own interest, failing which he said they would be forcefully removed. He appealed to the highly elated traders who could not hide their happiness as they danced and sang various songs in the praise of the governor for the gesture, to ensure judicious use of the money so as to justify the government’s huge financial commitment to their welfare and well-being. The government was to take the gesture to the traders to another level with the approval of N50 million as interest- free loans to butchers in the state. Senator Ajimobi while speaking at the inauguration of the state secretariat of the Butchers’ Union located at Moniya in Ibadan, said the loan would boost business activities of the butchers, urging them to make good use of the money and ensure it was repaid on time for others to benefit. The governor while stressing his administration’s belief in small and medium entrepreneurs as the bedrock of any economy added that supporting the butchers would also contribute more to the economic growth of the state. He then enjoined members of the union to maintain clean environment while carrying out their business activities, in line with the urban renewal programme of the state government. The chairman of the state chapter of the union, Alhaji Adekunle Alagunfon, commended the administration for providing conducive environment for members of the union to operate, describing the provision of loan to members of the union as highly commendable, with a pledge that his members would ensure judicious use of the money. The National President of the union, Mr. John Osamede, who was re presented by his Media Assistant, Mr. Festus Alekeh, lauded the unprecedented achievements of the Ajimobi administration, stating that he had recorded great successes in the area of infrastructural development. He then pledged the unflinching support of members of the union towards the re-election bid of the governor for a second term in office. He said: “Let me quickly place on record the laudable achievements of the governor. Your record and successes in areas of infrastructural development will forever remain indelible in the history of Oyo State. “The governor has touched on virtually every sector of the economy. I can feel the pulse of the people of Oyo State and the joy in their hearts. This is why the national leadership of the union has unanimously passed a vote of confidence in governor. We wish to publicly endorse the governor for a second term in office. “I hereby call on all butchers and other like-minded people in the state to support Senator Ajimobi in realising his second term bid.” A public analyst, Mr. Biodun Adepeju, while speaking on the empowerment of the traders through an interestfree loan, said it could only meant that the administration regard them as important segment of the state that must be catered for. According to him, one message that the government has succeeded in passing across is that its urban renewal programme is one that cannot be compromised. “One fact that the government has been able to show is that for any of its programmes, even though it may have its pains, the gains at the end of the day will be more. When the traders were been displaced from the streets, they certainly must have taken the promise that they will be resettled in a more befitting market with a pinch of salt. “But today, this has not only become a reality, the government has moved further to better the lot of the traders with the sum of N1 billion set aside as interest-free grant.” Will these gestures of government contribute to helping Ajimobi break the second term jinx that has plagued the Pacesetter State? Only time will tell, as the race to 2015 gathers momentum.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 09:27:57 +0000
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