..Jerry Gana lauds gov’s strides  Â
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Tuesday, lamented that there is hunger in the land, stressing that the issues of local government autonomy , the return to the old National Anthem  and other non-essential issues should not be the priority of the country but how to make the country more productive to engender economic development .
Makinde stated this during the signing into law and the opening ceremony of the operational office of the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-economic Development [OYMASED] at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan, the state capital.
Present at the ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Olanike  Adeyemo; the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; a former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana; Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, the Olugbo of Ile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao; Saka Balogun and  others.
It would be recalled that Federal Government had taken all the 36 state governors to the Supreme Court on the local government autonomy issue. Also, President Bola Tinubu-led government has reverted to the old National Anthem.
Makinde maintained that the country must prioritise economic development, saying there could not be  production without mobilisation.
The governor said OYMASED would play a big role in the social, economic, political and environmental mobilisation and sensitizsation of the  people.
According to the governor, the talks about the new National Anthem, Local Government autonomy and others are not addressing what will broaden the nation’s  productive base.
He said when the fundamental issues are  addressed,  economic development could be engendered.
The governor said: ‘’The bill is one of the most important laws that will shape the future of the administration and the state. With OYMASED , we have an agency that will educate our people. It will serve as a rallying point for agencies, departments and ministries.
‘’We are at a point in Oyo State and our nation where we must prioritise economic development in Oyo and our nation. As a country, we have to prioritise production, we have to be productive. There cannot production without mobilisation.
‘’Our strongest resource is our people. The training and education of our people is the best empowerment we can give them. We have to keep on educating our people. Let them use their God-given talents to support what we are doing in Oyo State.
‘’OYMASED will play a big role in our social, economic, political and environmental mobilization and sensitization of our people’’.
The governor added that the agency would use the carrot-and-stick approach in carrying out its sensitisation and advocacy mandates.
He therefore appointed Dr. Morounkola Thomas as the Director-General of the agency.
Earlier, Speaker Ogundoyin said the body would serve as the catalyst in enhancing  the potential of the people of the state and quality of their lives.
In his remarks, Prof. Gana said the project was vital to the mobilisation of the people who are the most important resource in building the society and country.
The former minister said: ‘’If you bring people together, things will be better’’.
END
1 Comment
This man is a pure thief. A thief with blood staying in his mouth… What will be basic needs of the people if the government is not brings to the grassroots?