Former Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, has advocated cooperation of all stakeholders, particularly good spirited individuals in complementing government’s efforts at driving the wheel of development for the mass of the people.
Aregbesola maintained that only a society that has non-state actors contribute to human and infrastructural development, has the potential of progressive transformation.
The former governor of Osun stated this Saturday at the commissioning of projects and empowerment programme of the Osun Economic Development Team (OSEDT) held at the Olutimehin Grammar School, Isale-Osun, Osogbo.
He lauded efforts of the OSEDT for championing the course of community development and empowerment of the people, especially in Osogbo, the capital of Osun.
Aregbesola expressed optimism that the projects and empowerment programme would go a long way into impacting the lives of beneficiaries, saying that the programme is reminiscent of the social investment and people impactful interventions of his administration between 2010 and 2018.
He stated, “When we were at the helm in Osun, for the eight years, we made human and infrastructure development our priority. The reason for this is not far-fetched. Development does not occur in a vacuum. Humans drive development. These humans must first be developed with the cultivation of their intellect through education and sound moral instruction.
“Then, the right and proper environment in the form of infrastructure must be created for them to be able to function optimally. The combination of the two would definitely bring about development, God willing!
“When we came to Osun in November 2010, it was apparent then that Osogbo as the capital city was not befitting. It was a throwback to the colonial era. But by the grace of God, we pledged solemnly before God and man that we would change it, and we did.
“Our human development programme covered the entire state. We built state of the art schools that are still a reference point all over the nation five years after we left. Our education programme lifted Osun from the bottom performance in external examinations that we met to top performance by the time we left.
“Our empowerment programmes lifted not less than one million people out of poverty and cut unemployment to near zero, according to the best rating agencies. We unleashed prosperity across the state whose impact reverberated all over the country. In our time, Osun was one of the most peaceful and secure states in the country.”
The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, who had earlier received Aregbesola and the OSEDT and accompanied the entourage to the commissioning of the solar streetlights at Oluode and Ajegunle Markets lauded the team for its contributions to the development of the state capital.
The monarch praised Aregbesola for his efforts at changing the fortunes of the ancient town, stressing that the people will continue to celebrate and honour his legacy in the town.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of OSEDT, Engr. Kayode Adegbulugbe, and Asiwaju Olusegun Ayoola, noted that the choice of the former Minister of Interior as the team’s Grand Patron was as a result of his progressive and humanist ideologies and policies that transformed the landscape of Osogbo and the state in general.
