Senator Teslim Folarin, the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, revealed some steps he would take if he became governor on Wednesday.
He said the governor would not go to Abuja running after monthly allocations from the Federal government but rather rely on agriculture, which, according to him, should be the strength of the state’s economy.
Speaking in Ibadan at the 2022 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Folarin said the time the state progressed most was the era of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who prioritised agriculture and education.
He maintained that for the state to reach its destination, it needs to return to the basics, which are agriculture, education, and ICT.
“Oyo State has over 28,000 square meters of land; 85 per cent of the land is arable. We need to build our economy around it, and we need to begin to plan for the future. My deputy is an agricultural expert, and we shall look at crops we have a comparative advantage in, such as mango, cassava and cashew. We will set up a very sophisticated value system. Our strength is agriculture; we must create wealth to solve our people’s problems.”
He charged people in the state never to allow money to be a major factor in determining whom to vote for in the 2023 general elections.
He said for Oyo State to move forward and be better, citizens should take a critical look at some factors like background, love, patriotic tendencies and competence before voting for their preferred candidates, warning that people cannot afford another experience towards the disintegration of Nigeria, saying the unity of the nation lies on people’s strength.
“We need detribalised leaders who will look at the challenges of insecurity objectively and realistically at the helm of affairs to allow people to go about their daily engagements, as evident in some states where few aspiring national leaders come from.
“To me, good governance requires leaders with adequate exposure, outstanding antecedents and experience, deep interactions with grassroots and an education system that grows and nurtures entrepreneurship.”
“It’s time we recognise that for us to have a Nigeria of our dreams, we need to be more responsible, sensitive and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.”
The chairman of the occasion, Barr. Sharafadeen Alli, urged journalists to be fair and accurate in their reporting, particularly during and after the 2023 elections, which, according to him, are one of the determinants of the nation’s existence.
Alli worried about impending violence that might likely arise in the forthcoming election in Oyo State. The PDP allegedly initiated the violence in the state through the defacing of APC billboards across the state. Failure to desist from the act might lead to a faceoff between APC and PDP.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Oyo NUJ chairman, Com Ademola Babalola, appealed to politicians to tread softly during and after the 2023 general elections.
He disapproved of the destruction of opposition billboards throughout the state, stating that politicians should adhere to the rules and that God’s will will ultimately triumph, regardless of the circumstances.
However, he said Oyo NUJ should set up a special platform for candidates vying for various posts to explain why and how their action plan to the people can be achieved for the greater good of our society.
