Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on Friday, said the country’s development and progress are being impeded by unbridled culture of impunity and flagrant disobedience to the rule of law and order.

He said this during the inauguration of chairmen and members of newly-constituted Judicial Service Commission, Local Government Service Commission and State Pension Board, at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan.

He said until citizens decide to wean themselves from these negative tendencies, the country might continue to lag behind in all metrics of socioeconomic development.

While reminding the new appointees that they were chosen based on their track record of achievements, integrity and patriotism; he enjoined them to consider themselves as strategic partners in his quest to transform the state.

He said, “Go and check countries that work well. You will see that they are countries where citizens obey the rule of law; where all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to the extant law that is fairly applied and enforced and where there are no short cuts.

“Any country where impunity reigns nothing works and that is a major factor impeding the development and progress of this country. Here we disobey the law flagrantly and when we are brought to justice we start to blackmail our leaders.

“Instead of engaging in soul searching, we blackmail and abuse our leaders as being wicked, too rigid. We cannot continue this way and expect to progress. Even God created hell and heaven for a purpose. If you keep to His commandments you go to heaven and when you go against them you go to hell.”

Ajimobi urged the new appointees to bring their wealth of experience to bear by rewriting the history of the board and commissions to which they were appointed to serve in order to justify the confidence reposed in them individually and collectively.

He urged the appointees to key into his vision on security, social and physical infrastructure, education, agriculture and industrialization, which he called the five carefully thought out pyramid of development that formed the policy thrust of his administration.

"You are coming on board as strategic partners to our administration in our quest to transform our dear state. We are confident that you will make a remarkable change in the history of the board and commissions where you are to serve.

"We are in competition with other states for investors and investments. That is why our pyramid of developments begins with the restoration of peace, before provision of social and physical infrastructure. Investors will only take their money to peaceful states; where the environment is also aesthetically pleasing for business.

"Our people expect that we should take Oyo State from its current level to its former position of 'firsts' in economy, infrastructure and social services. This informs our restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda. I, therefore, enjoin you to play your part in all these”, he said.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Muntar Abimbola, who was inaugurated as chairman of the JSC, while responding on behalf of others, said the new appointees would not let the governor down by doing their best.

He said they were aware of the onerous task before them and would not spare any effort towards making a remarkable difference on their beats.

He said, “You have given us this opportunity among other eminently qualified citizens of this state. In the words of Archimedes of Syracuse, you have given us a place to stand and we shall move the world.

“We will use this rare opportunity to reposition our board and commissions. I want to specifically promise that together with my colleagues, we will reposition the judiciary to attain the pacesetter cognomen that Oyo State is known for.”

The LGSC is to be headed by Mr George Akintola as full-time chairman; while Mr Samson Aderounmu will serve as full-time chairman of State Pension Board. A pro-democracy activist and Convener, Voters Assembly, Mr. Mashood Erubami, will also serve on the SPB as a full-time member.