- promises Adeyemi College of Education upgrade to university,
- Akure – Ondo Road dualisation
Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, R, shaking Ondo APC Spokesman, Mr Steve Otaloro, while Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi, M, watches
By Banji Ayoola
The President Muhammadu Buhari administration on Wednesday declared its resolve to fight corruption to a standstill, as it lamented that this menace has been the greatest problem retarding Nigeria’s development.
Also it pledged to provide jobs for the nation’s teeming unemployed youths, and funds for market women under the Federal Government various social intervention programmes.
It promised to upgrade the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo to a university; and dualise the busy but narrow Akure – Ondo Road, to boost the socioeconomic activities of Ondo State.
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, made the declarations variously in Akure, Ondo State capital, Idanre, Ondo city and Ile Oluji, promising that government would continue to be honest in all its activities, as it strives vigorously to positively transform the living conditions of the Nigerian people, who look up to their leaders and government full of hope.
At the palace of the Osemawe, the Vice President assured the Ondo monarch that the Federal Government would soon grant the longstanding request of the community to upgrade the famous Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo to a University of Education.
He promised to do everything possible in his power personally to ensure the upgrade as soon as possible, especially since the National Assembly has already passed the enabling act.
According to the Vice President, the college, which was established as the first College of Education in Nigeria over 50 years ago, is long overdue for an upgrade to a university.
He explained that the Buhari administration had spent N2.7 trillion on infrastructural development since assumption of office, stressing that the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that money belonging to Nigerians is not stolen by unscrupulous leaders, but is used for nation building.
According to him, Nigeria is earning 60 per cent less than what it was earning in the past 16 years; but despite this low earning, the current administration has spent funds that could be the highest ever, on infrastructure such as roads and railway construction in the country.
In Osinbajo’s words: “Today, N2.7 trillion is what we are spending on infrastructural development. The question we ought to ask the opposition people who were in office for 16 years is: What did they do with the money, if today we are still reconstructing the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. We are building Lagos -Ibadan rail project which will be commissioned in few days time?”
He assured:.“If we get your mandate again by God’s grace, we will continue to work against corruption that is affecting our country, we will build more infrastructure”.
Earlier, the Osemawe had pleaded with the Buhari administration to urgently approve the dualisation of the Akure-Ondo-Ore road and the upgrade of Adeyemi College of Education to a university.
The Vice President also visited the Hausa community in Ondo city and Ileoluji to solicit people’s support for the reelection of President Buhari.
He also visited the Jegun of Ile Oluji, before he returned to Akure to continue with various programmes of selling his party to the people ahead of the February 16 Presidential election.
At the palace of the Deji of Akure, he said: “In 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous nation in the world because the growth of Nigeria is three percent every year. We must do something about jobs for our youths.”
Noting that the main problem with Nigeria is corruption, which is responsible for its underdevelopment, he said: “Corruption is our main problem. We have funds to take care of our needs, but corruption is too much. We must tackle it and we won’t compromise.”
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to fighting corruption to a standstill and moving the country forward.
Stressing the importance of providing jobs for the youths, he said the Federal Government has, through its various Social Investment Programmes, empowered many youths with a view to eradicating poverty in the country.
Osinbajo was in the state in continuation of the ongoing house-to-house campaign aimed at re-electing President Buhari in the February 16 Presidential election.
At the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, he stressed that massive and gainful employment for the youths is necessary to secure the future of the country.
He described President Buhari as a honest man who would not participate in corruption of any kind, no matter the temptation.
Apart from providing jobs for the youths, he also promised funds for market women under the Federal Government social intervention programmes.
He stressed the importance of employment for Nigerian youths in order to secure the future of the nation.
He said that the present administration, under the N-power programme, had employed 500, 000 youths and wanted to increase the figure to one million, if re-elected.
He enjoined people of the state to re-elect President Buhari, whom he described as a trustworthy and honest man, who would always ensure that Nigeria’s money is not stolen.
Responding, Oba Aladetoyinbo noted that the house-to-house campaign embarked upon showed that Osinbajo did not take his success at the 2019 General elections for granted.
The monarch asked for a representative of Akure at the Federal level, a medical school and a teaching hospital.
The Vice President had earlier visited the palaces of the Owa of Idanre, Oba Frederick Aroloye, and Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Adesimbo Kiladejo, where he had made same declarations.
Describing Idanre as a place of progressives, he promised to look into the request of the monarch.
Besides, Osinbajo described Idanre as a historic place, which has always been with the progressives.
Earlier, Oba Aroloye, described Osinbajo as a worthy ambassador of the Yoruba race and expressed happiness over his visit.
He appealed for the construction of the Idanre-Ofosu road through the Federal Road within the ancient town to improve the commercial activities in the area.
Also, Oba Aroloye asked for a higher institution in Idanre Local Government as well as federal appointments for citizens of the town.
The monarch commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for his achievements within two years in office, especially in the area of infrastructural development across the state including the ongoing Idanre-Akure road construction.
Prof Osinbajo visited some residences in Idanre for the launching of the house to house campaign.
