Kwara SDP governorship candidate pledges to tackle youth restiveness

Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party SDP) in Kwara state, Dr Olajide Adebola, has condemned the recent loss of live and property in the ongoing electioneering campaign in the state, saying that youth restiveness would be a thing of the past if he emerged the winner in the 2019 general election.

Speaking at the flag-off of the SDP governorship campaign rally in Ilorin at the weekend, Dr Adebola, who stressed the need for youths to drop illicit behaviour, said that the way out is to reduce poverty among the people by creating jobs through rapid agriculture reform initiative.

He said that the initiative would employ 200, 000 youths between 2019 and 2021, adding that the people would be self-sustaining by 2022.

The governorship candidate also said that each of the 16 Local government areas would be made to set up a rural agricultural reform initiative which he said would be owned by the people.

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He said his administration would create an infrastructure that would link all the three senatorial districts to ease movement of goods to be produced down to where it is needed.

“The agricultural product would include not only food crops but cash crops. We would create a minimum of 200, 000 jobs by 2021. In that way, it will help curb poverty. We are fully aware of the fact that our internally generated revenue has being on the increase in last one year but there is the need to do more to block leakages”, he said.

He also said that his administration would pay the N30, 000 minimum wage,  “once the resources is there, we would pay. Our three sources of income are the internally generated revenue, federal allocation and from VAT.

“My goal is to have a state that works. Economic development will be industry-driven to provide employment. Our agricultural resources will be fortified with technology so that Kwara can become a major international exporter. My government will overhaul the educational sector and update the curricular at all levels to empower young minds, enhance employability and update the curricular at all levels to empower the young mind, enhance employability and entrepreneurial activities of the youth. Infrastructural development will be extended to all nooks and crannies of the state through the implementation of the Kwara Orange vision. Quality and affordable health services will be brought within the reach of every Kwaran, whether in the rural or Urban areas”, he said.

He added that he would run a merit-based administration, without religious, tribal or ethnic colouration to aid economic growth of the state and submit to the rule of law, principle of checks and balances among the three arms of government.