Oyo AD Guber candidate promises tech. innovation to drive Awo welfarism agenda

GUBERNATORIAL candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the March 2 election in Oyo State, Engr. Oyedele Hakeem Alao (OHA) has promised to use technology to drive the welfarist agenda of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo under Action Group (AG) and later under the Unity Party of Nigeria when the late Chief Bola Ige governed the old Oyo State.

Engr. Alao made this promise at the flag-off of his gubernatorial electioneering campaign held at the Pavilion of the Adamasingba Stadium, Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Ibadan, where he was presented with the party’s flag by the Vice-National Chairman of the party, Otunba Tayo Onayemi.

At the programme witnessed by other party leaders from the South-West geopolitical zone, the Oyo AD standard-bearer said the party remains the only surviving offshoot of progressive politics in the country and being a party with AG and UPN tradition and culture, his administration would not deviate from the principle of welfarism espoused by the leaders described as pathfinders and true pace-setters.

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According to him, “the path of progressive and welfarist politics has for a long time be laid for our people by our fathers and their teams mentioned above and I am entering into a covenant with the people of Oyo State that I will sincerely and faithfully toe the already laid path, using the current vogue of technology for modification as the case may be”.

The Ibadan-born accomplished professional Structural Engineer with a career in Oil and Gas industry that spanned over 25 years, who is the Chairman of Oceansalt Oil and Gas Engineering Limited based in Lagos said his decision to contest for the governorship election “is rooted in my determination to make the system work and deliver the dividends of democracy to our dear people of Oyo State”.

Armed with what has been described as ‘Super Five-Agenda’ to drive his mission described as redemptive, Engr. Alao said his administration if voted into office would focus on economic revitalization, free and qualitative education, effective and efficient health care and environmental services, industrialization, youth empowerment and sports development.

He assured the people of the state that a blueprint on how to faithfully deliver on all the super-five-agenda for the total turnaround of the state has been prepared, stressing that the agenda was drawn upon the identification of the socio-economic problems retarding the growth, progress and development of the state.

“Our state is no doubt endowed with both human natural and material resources, but, just like the larger Nigerian Society, the state is bedevilled with a deficit in leadership love, care and concern for the people. This has resulted in a dwindling economy. the retrogressive educational system, inefficient health care system and environmental services, farmers/herdsmen clashes and poor internal/feeders’ road infrastructure.

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“Together with my team and through research, we have identified all the above issues as contributors to the underdevelopment of our dear state, but, we are however set to revert the trend if given the opportunity to govern the state”, he stated.

The Oyo AD gubernatorial candidate used the occasion to assure the people of the state about his readiness to fly the flag of the party, noting that the antics of some supposed leaders of the party, whose main interest has been to trade with the party’s name and which informed their romance with the opposition should not be given any prominence.

“I am standing before you today to reiterate my commitment to the party as well as my decision to run for Oyo State gubernatorial seat on its platform. Contrary to the claim of non-readiness or ill-preparedness on my part, I want to say categorically that it is only those making the claim and allegation that is not ready or prepared to travel the rough road with us.

“They have publicly told the whole world where their hearts belong and the owners of the party- the people have shown them the exit door, so that they can fully concentrate on their enterprise while the rest of us will be able to move forward and run with our vision of forming a government through a well run and organized party.

It is now glaring that our positions are divergent, while we are set out to contest and win the election, they, on the other hand, were looking for a platform of negotiation”, Engr. Alao further explained.