The Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Saturday said his administration has prioritised inclusive, participatory and people-oriented governance since assumption of office.
He said the administration had also given priority to people’s voices, particularly the counsel of traditional rulers in the State.
This is even as the Governor inaugurated the newly-constructed ultra-modern palace of Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland.
Owa Obokun Adimula’s palace got burnt in 2008, an incident that led to the quest to reconstruct the palace with a modern look.
Addressing the people at the commissioning ceremony held at the Owa Obokun Adimula’s Palace in Ilesa, Oyetola said his Administration chose to place premium on the people’s views and contributions as a noble way to entrench good governance and all- round socioeconomic development.
Oyetola who described the people as central to the Administration’s Developmental Agenda, attributed the huge investments made by the administration across sectors to the hands of fellowship and wide acceptance with which the government had received from the residents so far.
He maintained that the Administration had benefitted immensely from the people’s wisdom, particularly the traditional rulers in ensuring better security, promoting welfare and general well-being of all.
“Since our assumption of office, we have prioritised inclusive governance and made the voices and counsel of our traditional rulers to count.
“We have for instance, benefitted immensely from their wisdom in ensuring better security for our people and the quest for the revitalisation of our economy through aggressive infrastructural development and promotion of economic development anchored on the key areas of agriculture, tourism and mining.
“The gains after two years are evident across our state in terms of prioritisation of workers’ welfare; increased investment in commerce and industry; aggressive surveillance and sanitation of the mining sector; the revolution that is currently ongoing in the health sector; the sustained investment in our youths; and the repositioning of the culture and tourism sector, among others”, Oyetola added.
Commending Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, and sons and daughters of Ijesaland for building and bequeathing the iconic palace to the Owa Obokun royalty, Oyetola said the gesture would further cement the existing bond of unity, love, harmony and brotherhood among the sons and daughters of Ijesaland in particular and Osun in general.
“I congratulate and thank Kabiyesi for bequeathing this iconic palace to the Owa Obokun royalty. In many ways, this iconic abode speaks unequivocally of the reverence and invaluable worth of Kabiyesi and the Owa Obokun royalty to the Ijesa people”, he said.
In his remarks, the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, said the construction of the palace was in furtherance of demonstration of Ijesa people to development and good things.
Oba Aromolaran noted that the construction of the new palace would further enthrone the spirit of love, oneness and togetherness among the Ijesa.
The foremost traditional ruler commended the sons and daughters of Ijesaland for their team spirit that ensured the successful completion of the project which was done within nine months.
Those in attendance were a former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye; members of the National and State House of Assemblies; members of the State Executive Council; traditional rulers in Ijesaland; and sons and daughters of Ijesaland, among others.
