Ajimobi swearing in Speach yesterday

With a promise to be governor for all citizens and residents irrespective of their interests and affiliations, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, yesterday took the oath of office for a second term in office.

The governor gave the assurance while delivering his inauguration address after he was sworn-in along with his deputy, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo, at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, the state capital.

The inauguration ceremony was low-key, reflecting the economic situation in the country.

Ajimobi, who arrived at the stadium in company with his ‎family members around 11:36 am, took his oath of office at 12:33 pm. The oath was administered by the state’s Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ladipo Abimbola.

While expressing gratitude to God and voters for giving him the opportunity to be the first governor of the state to take the oath twice, Ajimobi said his victory was a call to re dedicate himself to the good people of the state.

His words: “I am eternally grateful that you rose above the massive hate and smear campaigns designed to demonize our huge sacrifices and achievements of the past four years. You cared not for the tale that no governor was ever re-elected in our state. You would not allow that past history to determine your approaching future. “You chose not to succumb to fear or fable. You voted as your conscience and beliefs led you. You used your votes to break the alleged jinx that hovered over our politics. We clearly heard you when you said that, like every human being created by the Most High God, our human limitations as individuals and as an administration were inconsequential, placed side by side our monumental commitment and passion to make a difference in Oyo State. We heard you clearly.

“Since 1976 when our state was created, seven of us have stood before you to take the gubernatorial oath; 26 in all have administered our state, either as the defunct Western Region or its eventual reincarnation as Oyo State. The Almighty, in His wondrous ways, ably assisted by the audacity of your votes, has made me the only of those numerous men to take the gubernatorial oath a second time.”

The governor went on to roll out a six-point agenda for his second term in line with the general manifesto of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They are consolidation on security; deepening transparent governance; widening the scope of infrastructural development; education and healthcare; re-engineering of social infrastructures to reposition finances of the state, as well as development of agriculture.

He said: “The cardinal trust of our administration from today till May 28, 2019, shall be as follows: One; We shall consolidate on peace and security in the state. Two; We shall deepen inclusive and transparent‎ governance. Three; We shall widen the scope of infrastructure development and build on the 2015 urban renewal initiative. Four; We shall develop our human capital, education, skill acquisition and healthcare delivery service. Five; We shall re-engineer our socio-economic infrastructure for economic emancipation with a goal to repositioning the finances of the state. Six; We shall revitalize and develop our agriculture and agro-allied industry for value addition.”

The governor said development of human capital starts with structured information and education, stressing that his government would empower the masses to reduce poverty in the state.

: We will take seriously the upgrading of schools‎ to functional modern models of learning. Physical infrastructure will be ensured with our commitment to the mental development of our children, as upgrading of their teachers will be irrevocable. We will rededicate our healthcare system on qualitative health for a greater number of people. Our urban renewal initiative shall be centred to provide employment for the teeming unemployed youth. We will take Oyo State from been referred to as a big village to a modern city.

With respect to paucity of funds from the Federal Government, Ajimobi promised to re-engineer the finances of the state to improve the economic viability of the state and reduce its dependence on federal allocation.

Despite the low-key nature of the ceremony, dignitaries and the masses trooped out in large number from across the state to witness the historical swearing-in.

Dignitaries present at the ceremony include the deputy governor of Osun State, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; he Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, who was represented by High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola; Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul-Ganiyu Ajinase Ologunebi; legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) and industrialists Chief Bode Amoo and Chief Kola Daisi.

Others are; Head of Service (HOS), Oyo State, Mr Soji Eniade; Chief Adebayo Akande, Archbishop Alaba Job; Pastor Samuel Abiare;  Bishop Taiwo Adelakun; Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik Abdul-Ganiyu Agbotomokekere; former Military Administrator of the state, Col. Ahmed Usman; heads of security agencies in Oyo State, politicians, artisans teachers and others.