Daniel Agbolade

Former governor of Oyo State and gubernatorial candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) , Mr. Adebayo Alao-Akala, Tuesday said if elected as governor he would declare state of emergencies in education and health sectors in the state.

He said this in Ibadan while addressing his supporters at the official launch of his campaign and inauguration of his campaign team.

He said the state-owned tertiary institutions that include Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso and The Polytechnic, Ibadan, are in deplorable situations, assuring that they will be rescued and their status in the comity of educationational institutions in the country restored.

He stated further that his administration would initiate policies and programmes that would transform the state, improve welfare of residents and create an environment conducive to business growth and security as well as wealth and employment creations.

According to him, the state is in serious mess, stating that 90 per cent of projects executed by ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under the leadership of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, are anti-people.

The former governor who maintained that holding a public office is not about age, but mental capacity, experience, maturity and popular accessibility among others, said his heart ached because of the situation in the state as the present government is best described as anti-people which thrives in inflicting pain and despondency on the people.

He said he was seeking another opportunity to govern the state with a rescue mission to reposition the state for betterment of the people.

He said, "My heart aches because 90 per cent of the outgoing government's policies, programmes and projects are best described as anti-people which leave our people in pain and despondency. Instead of criticising, I made myself available to guide the incumbent government on how best to run proactive and pro-people governance but the driver lacks the required goodwill.

"Today, the major sectors of our economy, which are education, health, agriculture and environment have been either neglected or bastardised. Oyo state is in a serious mess.

"Today's historic occasion provides me another opportunity to officially answer the lingering question as to why Alao-Akala is contesting again for the seat of governor of Oyo state in upcoming 2019 elections. I am seeking another opportunity to govern the state from May 29, 2019 with a rescue mission to reposition the state for the betterment of our people.

"Service to humanity especially holding a public office is not a function of age but mental capacity, experience, maturity, good vision and mission, sensitiveness, responsiveness, credibility and popular accessibility of a person. I am offering myself again to serve the food people of Oyo state because I am healthy and mentally fit for the rigorous tasks of governance.

"We do not need a learner or experimental governor. Leadership is by example, and my running mate Mr Abideen Olaiya has credible antecedents. My deputy, a professor, is a born and devout Muslim, therefore he would not have to adopt an emergency Muslim name to falsely prove his religious leaning and appeal to pity".

He added that his administration would be passionate about delivering results that have positive impacts on mankind, lamenting that the reelection of the present administration in the state was an aberration that came by way of the bandwagon effect that followed the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

"My dear party members, I charge all of you from ward to the state levels to remain faithful to the cause of our great party, ADP. Let us strive to win in 2019 polls for all our candidates and I assured you that you would not labour in vain", he stated.

Akala while alleging that some bad elements in Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are conniving with the ruling APC in the state to disenfranchise thousands of voters across the state by engaging in state-wide illegal relocation of voters from their units/ local government of origins to another units/LGAs, however called on INEC chairman and constituted security agencies to put a stop to what he termed as advanced rigging method.