₦airaland Forum

#KOSELRI
Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Tuesday said over 16000 civil servants and teachers in Oyo State have benefited from local and overseas capacity building and training programmes under his administration in the last 6years.

The governor who stated this in Ibadan while declaring open a capacity development programme organized by the state government for management and senior staff in the state civil service held at the Parliament Building, Secretariat also cautioned civil servants in Oyo state against
lateness to work, delay in treatment of files, rumor mongering and other bad behaviours capable of affecting their productivity.

The governor maintained that this was as a result of the need for a well trained and quality civil service as the engine room of the government, hence imperative to update, train and retrain the personnel to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.

“I will rather suggest that this training programme be tagged human capacity training for change. Because, those who fail to change are usually carried away by that change. The essence of governance is to promote the wellbeing of the citizenry. The civil service is the engine room of the civil service. If the engine malfunctions, the vehicle will not work well” he said.

Governor Ajimobi added that “for the optimum effectiveness of the engine room, the service must be overhauled, restructured and re-oiled.”

The governor then charged the civil servants to endeavor to aim high in their callings, adding that “to think positive in their works would lead to positive achievements”.

Speaking further, the governor disclosed that his administration had worked consistently towards quality control through continuous verification of workers’ certificates, punctuality, and other service records, and that the state government would also continue to reward excellent performance.

“Your thoughts have ways of impacting on your efficiency. Attitudes like lateness to work, delay in treating files, rumor mongering would naturally affect your productivity. I enjoin you to support the government in moving the state forward by changing your values, habit and behavior towards the service”.

Governor Ajimobi said with the level his administration was able to maintain quality control in the state civil service through verification of certificates and close monitoring at work posts, ” we have today a corps of civil servants that will continue to enhance productivity and as a result grow our society.”

The state Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade in his remark stated that the capacity building programme was necessitated by the prevailing situation in the civil service as part of restructuring process of the administration.

He then charged the participants to take advantage of the programme aimed at producing a policy document on attitudinal and ethical standard for smooth public service at the end.

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GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has urged workers in the state to cultivate positive mental attitude and strong work ethics in the discharge of their duties.The governor made the remark in Ibadan on Tuesday at a capacity development programme for management and senior staff in the state’s civil service.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day training initiative was entitled: “Work Ethics and Attitudinal Change for Effective and Efficient Service Delivery.”NAN also reports that the seminar was part of the initiatives to boost the ongoing civil service reform by the current administration in the state.
Ajimobi said that positive mental attitude and strong ethical standard enhance effectiveness, efficiency and professionalism.

“Positive mental attitude to work enhances worker’s efficiency, effectiveness and professionalism; our workers must think positive and big.

“By displaying positive attitude toward work, we shall get work done promptly and raise our level of productivity,’’ he said.

The governor said research had shown a close link between extant human resource capacity and efficiency of an organisation.

He said that capacity building through training, seminars and workshops ensure that workers possess the right knowledge and skills.

“The knowledge and skills acquired will equip them to take on new responsibilities and adapt to changes in any reform or transformation process,” he said.

Ajimobi said that his administration had embarked on a restructuring exercise comprising of rationalisation and realignment of MDAs as well as verification of staff certificates and manpower audit.
He said that the exercise was to ascertain the size of the workforce and eliminate ghost workers in the civil service.
The governor stated that no fewer than 16,000 public servants, including members of the teaching staff, benefitted from various training programmes.

“We have also embarked on the development of a human resource policy to guide our capacity building initiatives in the state.

“All these activities are geared toward the enthronement of a public service that is motivated, disciplined, skilled and resourceful,” he said.

Ajimobi reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers in the state and all its promises to restore the glory of the state’s civil service.
He urged public servants to live up to expectations in terms of embracing positive attitude and upholding high ethical standards.

“The tremendous development of infrastructure across the state is a strong part of our administration’s transformation agenda. We will not relent on these efforts.

“I am transforming Oyo State because it is where I love and want to stay,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Soji Eniade, the state’s Head of Service, said that the training programme was aimed at improving the quality of the civil service and rightly positioning the service for the future.
Eniade stated that the prevailing situation in the service of the state had made it necessary to organise the training which he said was an integral part of the ongoing restructuring process.
He said that the programme was also to address the issue of poor attitude and low ethical value in the service.
Eniade said the ultimate aim was to ensure that a policy document on attitudinal and ethical standard emerged in the civil and public service of the state.
NAN reports that the opening ceremony was attended by members of the State Executive Council, senior management staff in the civil service.
A seminar for the junior management staff would hold on Wednesday.

The average man may be capable of benefiting by initiation, or he may not; it also depends upon his capacity; but each individual should have the opportunity of advancing to the highest development of which he is capable.
Governor Ajimobi earlier today attended the Oyo State Capacity Development For Management and Senior Staff in The State Civil Service.

#DOYOUKNOW
▪That since 2014, Oyo state has been ranked by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission and Nigerian Bureau of Statistics among the top 5 most investment-friendly states in Nigeria?

▪That before 2013, Oyo state languished in the 26th position amongst the 36 states of the country in terms of investment friendliness and opportunities?

▪That in order to attract investments, #Koseleri focused primarily on ensuring peace and security that once seemed unachievable by past governments?

▪That our state embarked on providing enabling infrastructure for investment opportunities by the way of rural and urban road construction, about 2,000km till date?

▪That #Koseleri also provided administrative infrastructure, setting up a 'Bureau of Investment Promotion' to focus on piloting, procuring & promoting Oyo-centric investments?

▪That a 4000-hectare Free Trade Zone (FTZ) was set up to encourage an influx of both indigenous & foreign investments?

▪That 162 plots of this FTZ has been commissioned as the Polaris Pacesetter Industrial Park, with 157 foreign companies already registering interest to pitch in?

▪That 7 of these foreign companies will start operations by the end of this year, 2017?

▪ *That what all these above means to the Oyo state citizen is a minimum of 20,000 gainful jobs, a surge in intra-state commerce, over $250 million turnover, and a bustling economy that breeds wealth for all?*

▪That already, in the past 4 years, #Koseleri policies has attracted $65 million in investments and 34 new companies across the state?

Well, now you know!

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State on Thursday declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is dead and buried in the state since 2015.

APC in a statement made available to newsmen described as ‘dead on arrival as well as an exercise in futility, the alleged efforts of some politicians in the state to resuscitate the Peoples Democratic Party which, according to the APC, has been given a befitting burial in the 2015 general election.

Reacting to an allegation by the PDP that Governor Abiola Ajimobi mismanaged donors’ funds and relief materials received following the August 26, 2011 flood disaster which ravaged some parts of Ibadan-the state capital, the APC in a statement issued by its director of publicity and strategy, Olawale Sadare, said that such allegations were not only false but lacked substance and could only come from shameless people who still struggled to be forgiven by Nigerians on account of bad governance, impunity and corruption which they perpetrated for many years in government.

“We challenge those making such insinuations to name the donors as well as what were donated to the victims through the state government. As a matter of fact, huge resources of the state was deployed to the provision of relief materials, reconstruction of damaged facilities and dredging of streams and rivers across the state to prevent future recurrence. More so, the responsible manner in which the disaster was handled attracted global applause.

“Meanwhile, the remnants of the PDP in the state goofed if they believed that leveling unsubstantiated against a performing government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi was the best way to come back to reckoning. They should be reminded that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. A set of people that are synonymous with diversion and misappropriation of public funds would always think that everyone in power acts same. With the unending stories of sleaze and maladministration left behind by the PDP, no sane person can take them serious again even when they spend parts of their loots to publicize fake information.”

“For the sake of record, the devastating flooding of August 26, 2011 would not have left such tales of anguish and regret on the state capital if the successive PDP administrations had done the needful with the resources at their disposal. As it came barely three months after the inauguration of the present administration, Gov. Ajimobi took the bull by the horns and ensured that short and long term measures were put in place to forestall recurrence after attending to the welfare and needs of the victims across various communities affected.

“With a wild, spurious and laughable allegation like this coming from Wthe PDP to test waters with a view to ascertaining whether they had been forgiven by Nigerians, we make bold to inform them that they have failed yet again. Not until every PDP member who participated in looting the treasury is made to return all in their possession, Nigeria would not forgive them. More over, since the current economic crisis which is responsible for the plight of workers and pensioners is as a result of unprecedented looting of public treasury and mismanagement of the economy by the PDP, we urge them to bring out all the stolen monies and then seek forgiveness.” APC added.

Functional road infrastructure is an undebatable component in building a modern state. In the past 5 to 6 years in our Oyo state, we can visibly see the quantum leap in this regard. ��
#AsiwajuNiWa

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Muktar Abimbola has expressed satisfaction over the transformation of all dilapidated court buildings into modern structures, even as he promised that the state judiciary will soon have a family court. He said the family court will. commence operation under the 2016 Child Right Act of Oyo State.
Abimbola said as part of efforts to reform the judiciary in the state, people who commit lesser offences will not spend more than three years. in prison but will engage in community services. He further disclosed that the state judiciary. will soon establish Customary Court of Appeal and a Customary Court System that will accommodate Islamic Law. He gave kudos to the. Governor Abiola Ajimobi for his financial support to the state judiciary saying that has provided an enabling environment for it to function effectively.
He disclosed further that the state judiciary has set up an implementation committee to facilitate the appointment of two judges that will take appeal from the customary court. Justice Abimbola vowed that all bad eggs in the state judiciary will be flushed out.

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has said that all structures on waterways and floodplains obstructing the free flow of rivers may have to give way to forestall loss of lives and properties to flooding in Ibadan, the state capital.
Ajimobi said this during an on-the-spot assessment of areas affected by the rampaging flood that submerged some buildings and other valuables in some areas in Ibadan after a five-hour downpour, on Tuesday.
The places visited include Orogun, Shasha Alfonso, Egberi and Oki Rivers in Olodo, and Onipepeye, all within Ibadan.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, was in company with officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, led by the Zonal Coordinator (South-West), Mr. Yakubu Sulaimon.
He used the opportunity to admonish residents to desist from bad habits that have been found to cause flooding, noting that the soul of every citizen and their property were precious and would be protected by the government.
Apart from the ongoing dredging of river channels, he said that that other preventive measures would be taken to prevent the ugly experience of the past when flooding caused monumental loss of lives and property in Ibadan.
Ajimobi said, “When the government says don’t build on waterways or river course, some people always say that the government is wicked. This (flooding) is the result of disobedience to such directive.
“Henceforth, we are not going to condone such transgression. All structures on waterways will have to give way. We are not going to open our eyes and allow our people to be victims of any disaster.
“Even, a single soul is very important to us and we are not going to allow lives to be lost to avoidable disasters because we don’t know what such person will become in the future. I sympathize with those that were forced to vacate their homes because of flooding.
“Let me use this opportunity to say that the collapsed bridge at Oki Olodo, in Egbeda Local Government will be rebuilt. In fact, let me say this will happen before the end of the year.
Ajimobi appealed to residents across the state to comply with building regulations, adding that government would not relent in its sensitization efforts.
The NEMA zonal coordinator said that the agency decided to visit the state capital to gather firsthand information and see for themselves the havoc wrecked by Tuesday’s flooding in parts of the city.
Going by the agency’s assessment, Yakubu said that more than 300 houses were affected during the incident, stressing that the agency had immediately swung into action by providing relief materials to the affected people through the State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA).
He said his assessments had revealed loss of livelihood of many people, as properties worth millions of naira were lost to the flooding.
Yakubu towed the same line with the governor by advising that buildings on floodplains should be vacated and demolished. According to him, many house owners did not observe the necessary regulations in putting up their structures.
The NEMA boss said, “We have seen means of livelihood lost. Properties worth millions of naira have been lost to the flood and we have made note of all buildings involved and the affected families. Soon, NEMA will in his usual way come to their aids through the state government.
“People should stop building on floodplains and they should endeavour to clear their drainages. Most of these buildings did not observe the normal 30meters setback regulation; town planning laws are not complied with. These are the consequences.”

Our good relationship with the Nigeria Police Force and other security paraphernalia explains the remarkable level of peace and security in present day Oyo state. On this working visit, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi promised to even further support, retool and reinvigorate the zonal command under the new leadership of AIG Agboola Oshodi-Glover, with the intent of making them more proactive and preventive in combating crime and maintaining order in the polity.
#AsiwajuNiWa

The story is told in an Indian fable of six blind men who encountered the corpse of an elephant for the first time on display in the village square. Each one of them touched the elephant, but had different perceptions about it because they touched different parts of the elephant.

The first blind man touched its leg and said the elephant was a pillar; the second blind man touched the animal’s tail and said it felt like a rope, the third said it was like the thick branch of a tree when he touched the trunk of the elephant; the fourth exclaimed that it was like a big fan when he touched the ears; the fifth proclaimed that the elephant was like a huge wall when he touched its belly while to the sixth blindman, the beast felt like a solid pipe upon touching its trunk.


Though Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the governor of Oyo State, fancies himself as a lion, he is, like the elephant to the Indian blind men, different things to different people in the state, and since we are celebrating six years of Ajimobi as the Governor, it is appropriate that we try to unravel this enigma and see him in his different slides.

Some see him as tough, loquacious and unfeeling; to some, he is kind and empathetic, while to some he’s a dictatorial, distant and aloof man. But having worked for the man for a year now, I have caught glimpses of the Governor that negate the portraits painted of him by his political traducers. But before giving you snatches of the Governor, you need to know what I thought about him before meeting him in person and working with him.

Though one had encountered him in the media before he won election in 2011 as governor, Ajimobi came into full public glare when he became governor. But before then he was a senator representing Oyo South (Ibadan), and as the Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, he did well and operated on principle.

In the 2011 elections to the Office of Governor, he faced the incumbent, Chief Alao Akala of the People’s Democratic Party and another former Governor, Chief Rasheed Ladoja of the Accord Party. There was no doubt from the campaigns that Ajimobi was the better candidate.

He was the most eloquent of the three, the most persuasive, and the one with a better programme and plans for the state. He was able to put his case across convincingly to the masses that if they voted for him, he would not disappoint them.

On compassion, I will cite two instances of his empathy with the common man on the streets. One day while on an inspection of canal and gutter dredging projects to prevent the recurrence of flooding in Ibadan at the Iwo Road interchange, we met traffic jam caused by a minor accident.

A man had rammed his car into the back of another woman’s car and there was an argument between the two with the man not ready to admit his fault. On seeing Ajimobi approaching the scene, the man ran away. When he got there, the governor asked for the owner of the cars, the woman came out of her car to narrate her ordeal, and the Governor ordered that the man’s car be towed away. Upon hearing this, the man came out of hiding and prostrated begging the governor for mercy.

Ajimobi then demanded that he should admit his guilt and compensate the lady. The man admitted his guilt, but said he didn’t have the money to pay the woman for the repairs of her damaged car.

Ajimobi eventually gave the woman fifty thousand naira to repair the damage done to her car, which in actual fact would not cost her more than ten thousand naira to repair, and ordered law enforcement agents to release the man’s car to him. That showed a man of compassion.

The second incident also happened at the Iwo Road Interchange on a different occasion. The Governor had gone again to inspect the commencement of work being done on the expansion of the Gate-Iwo Road currently going on.

When he got to the interchange, he met a woman selling roasted plantain (boli), and Ajimobi loves boli and epa (ground nut). He stopped to buy some from the woman and ordered that she be given thirty five thousand naira. The whole of the woman’s merchandise was not worth up to five thousand naira. Upon collecting the money, the woman abandoned the remainder, including all her paraphernalia and went away in joy.

These two cases are not isolated incidents. Nobody ever came to Ajimobi in need and left empty handed.

He manages both his own personal and state resources with utmost frugality. Even at that the Ajimobi administration has spent over two billion naira on feeding the poor, through the Ajumose Food Bank spearheaded by the First Lady of the State, and hundreds of thousands of people have benefited from this.

Whatever you may think or say about Abiola Ajimobi, love him or hate him, he is a man of tremendous courage who runs a government of “fearlessness and fairness” with a magnificent vision for Oyo State, and has embarked on breathtaking development projects embracing all corners and crannies of the state, and all facets of life: Roads expansion, industrialization, education, health, agriculture, housing and social services.

By the time Ajimobi is through in the next two years, he would have left indelible footprints on Oyo State etching his name in history as “The Builder of modern Oyo State" ~ Ganiyu Mudathir.