Biodun Esan. Ilorin
Chairman of Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday took the oath of office for another term of four years, unveiling his priorities.
The inauguration lasted just 45 minutes, kicking off at exactly 8:10 a.m. following the arrival of the Governor at 8a.m.
Both the Governor and Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi were accompanied by their spouses; Amb Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq and Mrs Abieyuwa Alabi and other members of their families and friends.
Chief Judge of Kwara State Justice Abiodun Adebara administered the oath on the Deputy Governor.
AbdulRazaq, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), in his inauguration speech said he would build on the gains of
the last four years, which he credited to the support of the people of the state.
“The next four years will consolidate the gains of our first tenure
and lay new foundations for sustained socioeconomic development and
institutional growth.
“We are going to deepen the reforms and investments in the critical
sectors like education, healthcare delivery, civil service welfare,
social safety programmes, general infrastructural upgrade and
renewals, focused expansion of our economic base, and promotion of a
political culture that advances self-reliance and growth.
“Our spending priorities will be to complete all the ongoing
infrastructural projects and iron out the business models to deliver
maximum benefits to the people.
“Adequate attention will be focused on completing projects like the
Ilorin International Conference Centre, the Revenue House, Innovation
Hub, Visual Arts Centre, Sugar Film Factory, Osi and Ilesha Baruba
campuses of the Kwara State University, industrial park, Shea Butter
factory in Kaiama, among others.
“The General Tunde Idiagbon Flyover and the garment factory will be
flagged off soon with huge economic benefits. The Ilorin Capital City
Master Plan will be followed by a grander Kwara State Master Plan that
will cover Kwara South and Kwara North for sustainable living.
“Affordable housing programme will be another priority of this
dispensation. This will help civil servants and other citizens to own
their own homes.
“It will also curb unplanned construction and support decent living conditions.
“In this wise, we will form partnerships with private and federal
government agencies to develop new satellite towns already mapped out
in the Ilorin City Master Plan as well as in GRA lands in parts of
Kwara South and Kwara North.
“In addition to our Kwapreneur initiative that directly puts money in
ideas mostly owned by young people, we will consider an annual
multidisciplinary scholarship scheme that will be open to our best
brains, especially at Postgraduate Level.
“Beneficiaries will emerge only through a very rigorous process that
is transparent. I believe this will hasten the pace of human capital
development in different fields.
“A major flaw in our developmental journey as a nation is a culture of
government officials determining what projects are executed in a
particular community.
“This has to be reversed, as we have tried to do in our first term, to
allow for people-focused development.
“For this reason, we are setting up a bureau of integrated rural
development to be domiciled in the Government House. It will liaise
with communities to come up with their needs in order of priorities.
“This will allow the government to better deploy limited resources in
a way that addresses popular needs. Our traditional institutions and
community-based organisations will be major players in this regard.
“We shall also deepen our relationships with the organised private
sector to strengthen the business climate and create jobs for our
youths. This is in realisation that government does not have the
resources to do everything.
“We shall also leverage our contacts and goodwill with the Federal
Government to ensure timely completion of ongoing federal roads and
adequate funding for new ones.
“We will intensify our lobby of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the
dredging of the River Niger. This will save our people from the annual
flooding that claim lives and farmlands. It will also boost economic
activities in its tributary states like Kwara.
“Distinguished Kwarans, we shall become more intentional in our
efforts to improve healthy living through a cleaner environment. I
seek your support and understanding as we take bolder policy decisions
in this regard.
“Notwithstanding the existing gaps, our investments in basic primary
education and healthcare delivery have been acknowledged nationwide.
“As we recently completed the UBEC Model School at Adeta, I am excited
to announce that Kwara State has again been nominated for a bigger
international project in basic education whose details will be
released later.
“This is being funded by the Japan International Development Agency.
Similarly, only Kwara SUBEB and the FCT have been chosen for
international Mathematics training in Japan in July. This attests to
the confidence now reposed in Kwara State locally and internationally.
“To strengthen our multifarious initiatives for a better future, I am
here by announcing optional six month maternal leave for female civil
servants who wish to practice exclusive breastfeeding to boost life
chances for our younger ones. This will also promote maternal health,
among other benefits.
“Once again, I thank the Kwara electorate, opinion molders,
traditional and religious institutions, party leaders, and supporters
for all the efforts and the goodwill that made today a reality.
“We will keep our words to remain a responsible government that is
responsive to the yearnings of the people within available resources,”
the governor said.
Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, who thanked those in attendance and
urged the people of the state to continue to support the
administration.
He said the government will continue to prioritise the interest of the
people over all other considerations.
The Head of Service (HoS), Mrs Susan Modupe Oluwole had earlier
commended the Governor’s first term tenure, which she said was quite
fruitful for the civil service and the entire state.
She said that AbdulRazaq practically resuscitated the dignity of the
state civil service by providing a good working environment for
workers, including easy movement of staff.
“Here we are today, we have God to glorify. God has been graceful. You
fought gallantly. COVID-19 came, and you fought it like a wounded
lion, and Kwara was declared as one of the best fighters. We want to
acknowledge that you have been good to Kwara, and we are proud of you.
“Speaking about my constituency, the civil service, I remember the
first day after your swearing-in, you asked me about the state of
affairs.
“I said the little that I could, and then you promised to do
something, and today we have lived to see the fulfillment of your
promises.
“Today, I can look back and see thirty-seven vehicles in the same
fleet that was empty. I stand boldly to declare that your tenure has
been extremely peaceful for us in Kwara, and we urge you to continue
along this path,” she said.
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs
Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari led all other first class royal fathers to
the event.
Also in attendance was the head of the AbdulRazaq’s family and
Mutawali of Ilorin Dr Alimi Abdulrazaq.
House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu led his
colleagues to the event, which also had all the senators and House of
Representatives members-elect in attendance.
The Grand Kadi Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen; cabinet members led by
Secretary to the State Government Prof. Mamman Saba Jubril; captains
of industry, labour leaders, and media executives.
END
