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ABEOKUTA—GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, yesterday, said it was an insult to the people and the forefathers of the state to reduce governance to distribution of rice and money otherwise called ‘amala politics ‘ to curry the favour of the people for his second term in office.
The Governor spoke at the Obas Complex, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, during the inauguration of Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Micheal Adeniyi Sonariwo, as the new Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas.
Amosun while inaugurating the new Chairman of the traditional council in the state, said he had been receiving series of calls since June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State won by the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the state.
The governor however, vowed that he would not succumb to the pressure by some people he called concerned party members and leaders to embark on governance of rice distribution.
He said he would instead put infrastructures in place to subsequently create wealth among the citizens.
According to him, “After the Ekiti experience, people called and suggested that we should stop all projects we are executing and start distributing rice and money. It is an insult to our people, it is an insult to our forefathers. We cannot reduce governance to ‘amala’ politics in Ogun.
”It will be a disservice to the people of the state. One of my exco members was also suggesting the idea of amala politics.”
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas, Akarigbo of Remoland, expressed gratitude to God, the Governor and his cabinet members for the trust repose in him.
He also appreciated the leadership style of his predecessor, Awujale of Ijebuland, who, according to him, “ensure that all the quarterly meetings of the Council were held during his tenure as the Chairman of the Council”.
“I want to reassure your Excellency of our unalloyed support in implementing the five cardinal programmes of Your Excellency. This administration of your excellency stands out among your contemporaries in Nigeria. All the monumental prone ts which have been and are being put in place since your Excellency assumed office are people oriented and they are highly commendable.
“Your Excellency should please note that all the traditional rulers in Ogun State are solidly behind you because of your determination to make Ogun State a force to be reckoned with in terms of infrastructural development, improved qualitative educational system,good and affordable health care services and a host of others”, Akarigbo assured.
