Oyetola Sworn in as Osun Governor

The Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, Mr. Robert Petri, has said the European Union (EU) is interested in the conduct of the 2019 elections, and would monitor the process to ensure compliance with standards.

This is as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC)led federal government is working in liaison with security agencies to disrupt 2019 governorship election in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.

Speaking in Port Harcourt yesterday when he paid a courtesy visit to Wike, Petri, assured Nigerians that the EU would closely monitor the forthcoming elections to ensure they are credible.

He said: “We are getting closer to the general electionswhich is very important . We need free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful environment.

“The European Union, which we are part of, will send monitors for the presidential and governorship elections. It is important that the elections are conducted in a friendly environment.”

Petri also said the Government of Netherlands is interested in the clean up of Ogoni land.

In his remarks, Wike stated that the federal government plans is to mobilise its rigging security apparatus from all other states to the two states on a later date for the manipulation of the two strategic governorship elections.

The Rivers State governor urged the EU to pay closer attention to the two elections.

“When I raised the alarm that the federal government is plotting to plant 800 guns in Rivers State to destabilise the state, it is the truth. It is real.

“The federal government working with the security agencies is planning to disrupt the 2019 governorship election in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. They want to ensure that the elections don’t hold with other states, so that they can mobilise security agencies to manipulate the results,” he said.

The governor noted that the international community must work with Nigerians to ensure that what happened in Osun State is not repeated in the Niger Delta.

Wike said if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Police could allow 55 per cent free and fair elections, Nigerians would be happy.

“As members of the EU, we want you to use your position to prevail on INEC and security agencies to allow the will of the people.

“Manipulating the electoral process is corruption. This administration claims that it is fighting corruption, but that is not true. When a PDP member defects from their party, the issue of corruption against him ends,” he said.

The governor stated that the president has refused to sign the amended Electoral Act because they have ulterior motive.

On the clean up of Ogoni, Wike regretted that the APC-led federal government has politicised the exercise, which is only thrown up during elections. Yinka Kolawole The inauguration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State took place yesterday as oath of office was administered to him by the state Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo.

The Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, also took his own oath of office.

Speaking after taking the oath, Oyetola promised to ensure prompt payment of workers’ salaries and the creation of 30,000 jobs for the unemployed youths in the first quarter of his administration.

The governor, who was elated, also vowed to follow the legacies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Bisi Akande and the immediate past Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for their enduring legacies.

Speaking further, Oyetola equally promised to urgently put in place economic submit for an all-round development in the state.

He opined that for the state to be economically stable, he would encourage total industralisation and agricultural development

Oyetola also promised that he would build on the progress already achieved by doing so on the farms, in industries, villages, schools, persons, until everyone in this state feels the beneficial influence of progressive good governance in their lives.

He also remarked that “he will become the defining hallmark of intervention in governance in the next four years through social partnership between government and the people based on the execution of a social contract.”

According to him, “We will combine the sagacity of Awolowo, the vision of Bola Ige, the wisdom of Akande, the dexterity of Bola Tinubu and the innovative capacity of Aregbesola to make our state even greater.”

Continuing, he said: “We will ensure that workers’ salaries are paid promptly bearing in mind the financial inflow of the state. We shall also resolutely defend, extend and prioritise the welfare of workers and pensioners.

“To reposition the economy of our great state, we shall organise the Osun Economic Summit within the first quarter of our first year in office. The multi-stage, multi-stakeholder summit will dissect and recommend strategies which will drive meaningful youth employment, enhance food security, agricultural development, activate mining prospects and boost tourism potential of this state. We will also showcase Osun State as a strategic location for industrialisation.”

Oyetola further stressed that he would develop the free trade zone while strengthening Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a way to enhance their productive capacity to generate jobs and create wealth.

To further boost the local economy and increase the revenue base, the governor said he shall make the state a cultural destination and a tourism enterprise zone in the Southwest region.

He equally promised to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state in ways that do not bring additional burden to the people. “We will make health and education more accessible. Employment opportunities will be created through industrialisation and expansion of agricultural activities through appropriate incentives,” he added.

Oyetola said the administration would also promote equitable and value-based developmental education that emphasizes competence and character as reflected in the principle and philosophy of Omoluabi.

He pledged to sustain the massive investment in school infrastructure development. In his remarks, the representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, commended the peaceful handing over and thank the people of the state for allowing peace to reign.

He then called for good governance which he described as the bed of development.

In his message, the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Senator Bola Tinubu, commended Aregbesola for a job well done, adding that he ran a progressive government.