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When you take a look at Lagos state and the continuous development the city of aquatic
splendor is witnessing, what readily comes to mind is the continuous political leadership the
state has witnessed since the year 1999 till date and why it has remained so. This not far-
fetched as political leadership in the state has been handed over to technocrats that have little
or nothing to do with politics. These are individuals that have excelled in their chosen field of
endeavors with proven records, and have succeeded in repositioning the state in accordance
with its developmental plan. However, you can hardly say such about the neighboring Oyo
state. Prior the Abiola Ajimobi administration, the state was not doing well in all ramifications
especially as it relates to infrastructure and environmental issues.
In fact, in January 2008 Minister of Urban Development, Mrs. Halima Tayo Alao described
Ibadan and Aba as the dirtiest states in Nigeria which shows complete leadership failure in the
pace setter state. Today, that is not the case as the current government in Oyo state has
revamped the state environmental sector and we now have a clean and green Oyo state. This
can also be said of other important sectors like Education, Health, Security and total welfare of
Oyo workers. As at today, the state government is not owing its civil servants despite the
fluctuating state of the economy that has crippled some states in the federation.
This inference is important to take you through what exists in the pace setter state before this
political dispensation and the onus lies on us to prevent the state from sliding back into what it
used to be. The best way to do that is to seek the continuation of these laudable developmental
processes. One man that has spent the past four years behind the scene as the partner in
progress in building the new Oyo state that we have is Ismail Olalekan Alli, the secretary to the
Oyo state government. The secretariat of any seat of power is unarguably the official think tank
of the administration and we are lucky to have someone like Alli handling that for us.
Unassuming, cool, calm and highly intelligent. Alli, 61 is not a public servant you see around
town while the business of governance suffers mishap, he will rather spend his time thinking
about the next important moves to better the lots of every citizen of Oyo state. The state has
given a lot to him in the past four years and it’s time for him to give back. He has decided to do
it in a grand way due to the unending clamor for his service by the good people of Oyo state.
Olalekan Alli who graduated with a B.A in English from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife in the year 1979 and a Master’s degree in Industrial and Labour relations form
Nigeria’s Premier University, University of Ibadan in 1982 is the latest aspirant in Oyo APC
gunning for the topmost seat in the state. Few weeks ago, he submitted his letter of intent at
the State APC secretariat and it turned out to be a carnival. Swarmed by thousands of his
supporters drawn across the thirty three local government areas in the state, he declared that
his interest in the Oyo state governorship project is to further the repositioning of agriculture as
the basis of industrialization in the state, enhancing the ongoing development in the state
health, education, women empowerment, sports and commerce which are the hallmark of the
Abiola Ajimobi administration of which he is part of. With an unalloyed commitment to
education which is the bedrock of development of any society, he is ready to invest more in the
state educational infrastructures that is currently undergoing refurbishment by the Oyo state
government as total commitment to education has remained a front burner of his philosophies.
In February 2018, Alli in conjunction with his family members awarded scholarship to ten
indigent students of Junior Secondary School students of Ibadan Grammar School. This speaks
volumes as development is meaningless without education. With Alli, the shining light of Oyo
educational sector will continue to shine brighter in the coming days.
It is important we approach the coming Oyo state governorship election by taking into
cognizance the gains of continuity in parallel with reversal of gains. Oyo as a state has come of
age and it’s important the ongoing development of the state is fast tracked to meet global
standards by supporting a man that has learned on the Job rather than restarting the moving
vehicle of progress the state has driven for the past seven years. Mr. Olalekan Alli is not new to
governance and he is ready to raise the bar of development in the state higher than what
currently obtains in the pace setter state.
With a constant quest for personality development, he is a member of the following
professional bodies. Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, Nigeria Institute
of Public Relation, Nigeria Industrial Relations Association and a higher diploma in management
among others. There is no better time than now to have a man of his clout that speaks the
developmental language the state citizens understands. Alli means more Job for the youths, Alli
means continuous improvement in our critical sectors. As i’ve said, if not now that we need
sustainable development in Oyo state, then when do we need someone like him?
Good people of Oyo state, After Ajumose, it’s time for Itesiwaju!
Adesina Tosin Nathaniel
Lagos
[email protected]
