By Toheeb Atanda, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has revealed that his government struggle to rehabilitate vandalized government quarters and replace government vehicles diverted by previous officials.
Adeleke disclosed this on Thursday while addressing Osun State Council Of Traditional Rulers by Chaired by Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja ll).
He said his government faced series of challenges even as he worked hard to deliver on good governance, saying they spent almost six months on litigation up to the Supreme Court.
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According to him, Despite the difficulties we encountered, our administration created an annual development rolling plan which we faithfully implemented.
“Our fathers here have severally testified to our service delivery in road construction, school rehabilitation, water provisions, health care access, workers and pensioners welfare.
“We crowned our one year super delivery with the unveiling of the multi-billion naira infra agenda designed to prepare Osun as an investment and global tourism destination. I am happy to report that implementation of the plan has commenced statewide he said
“My presence here today is to brief you on landmark achievements of our administration and our plans for all sectors of the society including the traditional institutions in the state.
“Our royal fathers, you will recall my meeting with you after I took over governance of the state. I opened up state finance and gave you data and figures of Osun indebtedness totalling almost Five Hundred Billion Naira. This was outside multi-billion naira contractual debts and almost One Hundred Billion Naira in half salary and pension debts.
“I remember we also agreed on “Igbadun Dende” as a mark of recognition for traditional institution as a very important organ of state.
Yes, that “Dende” is not forgotten. In fact, “ Dende” is here.
“But before I dwell on “Dende”, I wish to refresh our memories about the recent past. Ever since my meeting with you last year, we had faced series of challenges even as we worked hard to deliver on good governance. You remember we spent almost six months on litigation up to the Supreme Court Then and now, we struggle to rehabilitate vandalized government quarters and replace government vehicles diverted by previous officials.
“My highly revered royal fathers, we have been managing state finance with a high level of prudence and self sacrifice. My security vote is going for state development. As we are tightening our belts, we are spending on infrastructure and human support.
“We are tapping into new sources of revenue. The reform of the solid mineral sector is ongoing. The goal is to ensure maximum benefit for the state from her natural resources. We are working to improve internally generated revenue without imposing an excessive tax burden on our people.
“We cultivated a culture of saving for project execution. Unlike practice in the past, federal interventions under our watch are judiciously administered. In recent months following the economic crisis triggered at the national level, we implemented palliative administration in transparent and accountable manners. We did not hoard palliative materials. We rather allowed the public through various associations to handle the distribution.
“In a demonstration of responsible leadership, we created a project account to keep the N7 billion naira federal intervention fund. As the state is spending multi-billion naira on infra agenda, the N7 billion is an addition to contribute to the bridging of the state infra deficit.
“Our governance ambition is multi-dimensional. Your government is pushing to achieve a decade old ambition within four years.
“My friends tell me my plans are too ambitious but I respond to them that we are too late to allow the sky to be our limit.
“The Osun agro-sector must develop. We must grow our creative industry with the full involvement of our traditional rulers.
“I dream of an Osun state with a booming agro-industrial economy combined with a global tourism destination.
