AMILOADED MEDIA HUB NEWS UPDATE
The Osun Masterminds, an amalgamation of select civil and human rights group in Osun State, says the sinking of boreholes across the 332 Wards in Osun State by the state government is not a progressive step in the state, AMILOADED reports.
The group said the Osun State Governor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, should have considered water supply solutions that are more comprehensive and more relevant on the long term than constructing boreholes for the residents.
The Osun Masterminds also called on Governor Adeleke to set up stricter control systems that will curtail rocking the transport management system in the state.
The Osun Masterminds said this at a press conference addressed by its Executive Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, in Osogbo, Osun State on Friday.
The group called on the state government to work on the Ilesa water project, the mini water scheme of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration, and the “abandoned” mini water projects of the federal lawmakers that represented Osun State between 2011 and 2015, saying the projects are more comprehensive and provide more practical solutions to the water supply problems in the state.
It said, “We have keenly followed events since Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke got into office and we must sincerely commend his initial attempts at finding out important facts of past activities of the previous governments. We understand that through the numerous committees that he set up, he has been making efforts to get a full grasp of government’s activities that he may not have been briefed about in the transition. This retrospection is good and we commend it.
“We have also followed his recent announcement of certain government initiative ahead of his 100 days in office. We must say that no matter the thought behind the announced initiative, sinking boreholes across the 332 Wards in Osun State is not a progressive step at this point in the history of the State.
“In trying to pursue a comprehensive water supply policy, the Governor is not supposed to take
populist steps such as sinking of boreholes at this time in history, but look more at water supply solutions that are more comprehensive and more relevant on the long term.
“There is the pending Ilesa water project. There is also the abandoned mini water scheme of the
Oyinlola administration. There is also the abandoned mini water projects of the Federal lawmakers that represented Osun between 2011 and 2015. Those projects are more comprehensive and provide more practical solutions to the water supply problems in the State.
“We also dare say that it is demeaning and when considered carefully, unhealthy to sink public
boreholes that community people will walk long distances to access. We can find more pragmatic solutions to the water supply problem without resorting to primitive and populist approaches that do not guarantee water supply on the long run.
“The State is also not supposed to abandon projects on which several billions have been spent in the past, for such non-pragmatic projects like boreholes.
“We advise that the Governor reviews his government’s decision in this regard and take more futuristic steps on issues of governance going forward, as the goal of government is supposed to be long-term security of the livelihoods of citizens and not short-term applause.”
Speaking on the Transport Management System in Osun State, The Osun Masterminds said, “We want to advise the State Government to ensure stricter coordination of men of the Transport Management System that just got introduced.
“We are aware of several cases of battery of Okada riders in the name of coercing them to purchase tickets; we are also aware that certain elements who now consider themselves having control of the State’s transport architecture, have been going about threatening rival groups within the old union.
“The transport management system must not be allowed to become a tool in the hands of unscrupulous elements that they will use to throw the State into crisis. Osun cannot afford any reintroduction of thuggery, cultism and hooliganism in the name of Transport Management.
“The Governor is advised to set up stricter control systems that will curtail the excesses of the persons to whom the various transport management committees have been handed,” it stated.
The group also condemned the rising insecurity in Osun State, saying it was “unfortunate that in very recent times, cases of kidnapping for ransom is now on the rise in Osun State.”
It added, “In times past, the security situation in the State was such that one could boast that Osun was almost-immune to the kidnapping menace that was enveloping some sides of the country.
“Sadly, we are now having increased cases of abduction and this is quickly unsettling dwellers of the State. We do understand that this particular issue of insecurity has become nationwide and has been on the increase all over the country.
“However, we think that concerted efforts can still be made to ensure that our State is protected from the menace.
“The Osun State government must as a matter of urgency, re-engineer the State’s security policy with a view to putting security agents on their toes, to ensure the security and safety of lives and properties.
“This is urgent and important and the Governor, Sen. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, must act with dispatch to disallow Osun under his watch, from becoming an unsafe State.”
The Osun Masterminds, therefore, called on the Federal Government to “immediately” find lasting solutions to the fuel scarcity in the country, “to help stop the daily waste of productivity that the long fuel queues have brought about”.
The group added that a quick resolution of the fuel scarcity will also help to end the “hardships that Nigerians now have to go through in their daily lives”.
On the forthcoming general election, the group urged the people of Osun State to obtain their Permanent Vote Cards (PVCs) to be able to fully participate in the election process.
“We also strongly advise that Nigerians at this time in our history, shun vote buying and selling, ensure that they vote only for persons they are convinced will perform well in office and shun all acts that may undermine the successful execution of the electoral process,” The Osun Masterminds added.
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