Gov Ajimobi inaugurates 320
tractors, reiterates govt.’s commitment to agric revolution
Governor
Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Thursday inaugurated a total of 320 tractors,
reiterating his administration’s commitment to revolutionizing agriculture as a
means of alleviating poverty in the state.
The 320 Massey
Ferguson tractors, purchased by the state government, in conjunction with the
Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), will be distributed to 20
local government councils at 16 per council.
According to a release signed by Dr Festus Adedayo, Special Adviser on Media to the governor ,the remaining
13 local government councils had in November 2012 benefitted from the 39 mini
refuse trucks also procured by the state in conjunction with ALGON.
While acknowledging
the collaborative efforts of ALGON in his administration’s strive at improving
the economy of the state, Governor Ajimobi described local governments as veritable
avenues of empowering the people.
``This is why
any government that is desirous of enhancing and empowering people at the
grassroots cannot but partner the local government as a tier of government.
``The local
government is essential in networking governmental aspirations in the provision
of public amenities such as good road network, rural integration and
transportation facilities. It is this synergy that has become the testament of
our administration and which gave birth to this event,’’ he said.
The governor
also emphasized the importance of agriculture, adding ``not only is it a major
kernel of our cardinal programmes, it receives daily attention of government in
our constant search for succor for our people’’.
This,
according to him, is because agriculture holds the ace of providing job
opportunities forthe teeming unemployed youths, as well as combating hunger
among the populace.
Aside providing
means of livelihood for the people and thereby alleviating poverty, an
agriculture-centred economy, he said, could effectively eliminate the recourse
to criminal acts by the youth, thereby combating social vices and enhancing
trading and commerce.
Governor
Ajimobi said that this underscore of agriculture was in line with the transformation
agenda of his administration, which he said, was a people-oriented programme
that would put smiles on the faces of the people.
``Since our
administration swore on oath to lend its shoulders to the discomforted to lean
on, by providing succor for our people, we are merely walking according to the
stated testament of our promises,’’ he said.
The governor,
however, implored the people of the state to join hands with this administration
in maintaining perfect peace, stressing ``we cannot afford to allow divisive politicians
to sow the seeds of discord into our midst. Development thrives only in an
atmosphere of concord’’.
The ALGON
Chairman in the state, Mr. Yekeen Popoola, in his address, said that the
project was borne out of the peculiar need of the people of the state at
different times.
He said that
the procurement of the tractors would enable his colleagues to achieve one of
the cardinal goals of the Ajimobi administration in the area of agriculture and
rural development.
