The gubernatorial candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kwara State, Alhaji Hakeem Oladimeji Lawal has promised to reset the button of the State and turn to it into a model of development and progress, adding that his governorship ambition is to seek the greater glory of Kwara.
Alhaji Lawal who disclosed this while featuring on ‘Gbangba Dekun’, a current affairs programme on Harmony 103.5 F.M Radio station, Idofian, near Ilorin on Saturday, explained that his government will run an inclusive government where the young and the old with requisite experience, energy and commitment to deliver good governance will be in government.
He added that his government will also be fair to all – indigenes and non-indigenes, as long as they reside in Kwara and promised to spread comfort and development to all.
According to him; “We are not claiming to know it all, and that’s why we are engaging people and putting everything in the hands of God. With inclusion of the people who are also our major pillar of support, I am convinced that we are going to surmount the developmental challenges bedeviling the progress of the State.”
On the Finances of the state and contracts awards, the gubernatorial hopeful promised that his regime will ensure due process and strict adherence to public procurement law and won’t toe the path of lawlessness and disregard for the sanctity of the rule of law.
“Any decision of State finances under our administration would be dependent of the decision of the people through the parliament,” he said.
On workers welfare, Alhaji Lawal disclosed that Housing scheme is part of his welfare programmes for civil servants which will be routed through contributory mortgage deduction which entitles them to a funding of up to N15 million, which the government will help them to facilitate. For the low income earners civil servants he added, the government will pioneer a ‘rent to own mortgage scheme’ to help them become home owners.
To empower the artisans and enhance small scale businesses, the SDP gubernatorial candidate disclosed that the government will encourage them to form co-operatives and after wards create a concession plan via partnership with manufacturers and stand as guarantor for traders to get supplies on credit to grow their businesses. This is said, is a more solid arrangement than the present tokenism that is prone to abuse and corruption.
On education, he promised to address the current disparity between the TESCOM and SUBEB teachers to deepen their love and commitment to their jobs. His government, he pledged, will resuscitate the Teachers Training Colleges and set up Science nd Technical Colleges to equip our children and make them global citizens in this age of information and science technology.
On Agriculture reforms, Lawal also told the listeners that the “State is blessed with many Agriculture Belts, adding that “for instance, we had Rice and Sugar Belts in Patigi, Cotton Belt in Baruten and Cocoa Belt in Irepodun Ekiti, Oke Ero in Kwara South.”
He equally promised the sector will be modernized to maximize the full potentials of the sector for greater returns to the farmer in order to make farming attractive to both the old and the young.