By Bukola Hameed
The Muslim Congress, TMC, Oyo state has congratulated governor Seyi Makinde on his re-assumption of office, and tasked him to improve on education, security and peaceful coexistence of all residents.
This was contained in a congratulatory message signed by the state coordinator, Alhaji (Engr) Dawúd Oladosu on Tuesday.
The Congress alluded to the fact that, governor Makinde’s first term recorded laudable achievements like prompt payment of salaries, pensions and other employee entitlements. It therefore advised His Excellency to make laudable difference in the areas highlighted.
It reads, “The Muslim Congress (TMC), Oyo State, is using this medium to congratulate His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, on his reassumption of office as governor of Oyo State. We pray Allah give him the enablement to do the needful for the betterment of the state.
There is no doubt that his first term recorded laudable achievements like prompt payment of salaries, pensions and other employee entitlements. For the second term, however, and in order to leave an indelible mark in the annals of Oyo State, we hereby advise His Excellency to make laudable difference in the areas here suggested.
Education is the bedrock of development, hence the need to salvage this sector from its present abysmal situation as the state’s education sector at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels is now a shadow of itself.
Stakeholders should be called upon to work together towards finding a lasting solution to our educational predicament. The idea of School Governing Boards may need be reintroduced to forestall a collapse of the system. Adequate funds should be released on time to school heads to reverse the trend of unavailability of teaching-learning materials. This can also help check examination malpractices and other disparaging effects in the long run.
Security breach at present is alarming. Virtually every nook and cranny of the Ibadan metropolis is taken up by drunk, drug-addicted miscreants who go about disturbing the peace of innocent citizens, causing untold harm. They extort, molest and rob defenceless persons. We are practically back in the old days of perversive fear, youth restiveness and public unrest. His Excellency would do well to set in motion the appropriate security apparatus to stem this rising tide of daunting criminality.
The audacity of roadside traders at encroaching upon vehicle lanes is nothing short of impunity. From Agbeni to Ogunpa, Beere to Gate, these traders lose their lives and properties worth hundred of thousands almost daily to road accidents of which they are a culpable contributory cause. The state government should prevail upon the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) to take the bull by the horn at clearing our roads for smooth vehicular passage. Fines and other stern measures may be rightly considered.
Ibadan recently left the position of the dirtiest city in Nigeria, but unfortunately we are back in that sordid state. The responsibility to keep the state capital neat and enviable rests squarely upon the government. This is why His Excellency needs to reposition the Waste Management Authority to live up to its mandate. Ideally, the local government should have refuse collectors pick household refuse while the people pay a token. But in the unfortunate absence of an effective local government system, the state government should look critically in this direction.
Finally, His Excellency should be more assiduous than ever in bringing together all the people of Oyo State regardless of tribal, religious and political leanings. Unity remains non-negotiable if we must sustain our relative peace, progress and prosperity. All need to be involved to get the right person into the right position towards the right direction.
Once again, we congratulate His Excellency as he takes off on his second term.”