The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday charged the people of South-West to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 elections in order to guarantee a return of power to the region in 2023.
The minister stated this at a town hall meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, organised by the Federal Ministry of Information.
According to Fashola, besides the massive investments by the Buhari administration on infrastructure across the country and in South-West in particular, the zone would benefit more politically if they vote for Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.
Speaking in fluent Yoruba language, Fashola said: “Did you know that power is rotating to the South- West after the completion of Buhari’s tenure if you vote for him in 2019? “Your child cannot surrender her waist for an edifying beads and you will use the bead to decorate another child’s waist.
“A vote for Buhari in 2019, means a return of power to the South-West in 2023. I am sure you will vote wisely.” The meeting, which was held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall of the UCH, Ibadan saw also in attendance Ministers Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation), Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources) and Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
Giving account of the performance of Buhari’s administration, Fashola said that the government had kept its promises to Nigerians in the three key throngs of security, fighting corruption and rebuilding the economy. According to him, the essence of the town hall meeting was to showcase what the administration had done in three and half years.
“If you are roasting corn for a blind man, you have to whistle for the blind man to know you are not eating the corn you are roasting for him,” he said. Fashola disclosed that no fewer than 67 road projects were ongoing only in the South-West region of the country by the administration. He said 19 of the 67 projects were on roads maintenance and they all excluded the constant roads repair works being carried out by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency. He emphasised that the massive construction on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Benin-Ore-Ajebamidele- Shagamu Road and Lagos- Ota-Abeokuta Expressway abandoned for years, were pointers to the administration’s achievements. Aside these, Fashola disclosed that the critical 35km Tin Can Island-Mile Two-Oshodi Road had been awarded to Dangote Construction Company and would be a 10-lane highway to be constructed with concrete.
Responding to a question on the slow pace of work on the Oyo-Ogbomosho Road, the minister blamed it on interruption by communities and organisations affected by the construction and their demands for compensation. Fashola also blamed it on the delay in passage of budget and deliberate cut in the budget for infrastructure by the National Assembly. He, nevertheless, assured that with the over $900 million infrastructure fund approved by the President, the delay in the completion of all the critical roads and other projects would be a thing of the past. Speaking on power, the minister said the Buhari administration had increased generation from 2,400MW it met it to 7,000MW, while distribution had increased from 2,690MW to 5,222MW, adding that the Federal Government was building pilot housing schemes in 34 states, five among which were in the South-West states.
He reiterated that the achievements recorded on infrastructure by the Buhari administration in three and half years with less resources were more than that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 16 years with more resources, while enjoining Nigerians, particularly the South-West, to place their trust on Buhari by voting for APC in 2019 and save the country from the bad governance of the PDP. On his part, Mohammed said the massive investments on infrastructure by the Buhari’s administration are paying off in economy stimulation and jobs creation. Mohammed said: “This administration, realizing that no nation develops without massive investment in infrastructure, has made such investment a priority and it is paying off. “Whether in the area of job creation or stimulation of economic growth, investment in infrastructure is a fast route to development. “You cannot talk about the developed Western nations without talking about their roads, power, ports and rail system, just to mention a few.
“This is because these nations have invested massively in infrastructure over the years, realising that infrastructure spurs economic growth by enhancing productivity and efficiency. “The same template has also been adopted by many other countries, including China, Japan and South Korea. “We are in no doubt that the solid foundation that we are laying in the area of infrastructure will be acatalyst to the much-needed economic development in our dear country.” Adamu, the Minister of Water Resources, said President Buhari would declare a state of emergency on water and sanitation come November 8. The minister lamented about several abandoned water projects across the federation under the past administrations and said that the sum of N3 billion would be provided annually to states with workable water master plans. “The existing master plan on water resources in the country was abandoned and contracts were awarded without recourse to the needs of the country.
“To realise adequate water supply, we would increase our intervention to support state governments to N3 billion annually. This would be for states that have proper water master plan. “It is a shame that today, there is no single city in this country that can boast of pipe-borne water supply and 100 per cent coverage to all the citizens. “This is why the president has decided to take up the responsibility of supporting water infrastructure in Nigeria,” he said.
The minister also said that the Federal Government was working on Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Bank to assist six cities in country on urban water supply. Ajimobi said that he has been able to transform Oyo State from its old form to modern form. The governor said: “Oyo State has been transformed to a peaceful state under our administration, and this has fostered the development of the state.
The state capital, Ibadan that was known for all forms of troubles, and brigandage is now a peaceful state. And the state is unarguably one of the most peaceful states in the country. “The climate in the state favours the cultivation of crops like maize, millet, yam, rice, cocoa tree, palm tree and cashew, and this has given birth to numbers of government farm settlements in Ipapo, Ilora, Sepeteri, Eruwa, Ogbomoso, Iresaadu, Ijaye, Ajufo, and Lalupon.”
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