Ayoade Lawal Explains How He 'll Industrialize Osun State If Elected Governor

By Wale Abideen/LAGOS/ “Osun is in dare need of industrialization. The current government has embarked on aggressive infrastructural development and the next stage is to attract real investors to the state and with my fountain of knowledge as an engineer, the state of the living spring will wear a new look during my regime as a governor”. These were the words of Ayoade Afolabi Lawal, the Lagos based famous engineer and frontline gubernatorial aspirant under the auspices of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC in Osun State.

The Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife trained engineer harps on the need to attract investors to the state and galvanize the “use of metal and wood to set the state on the path of industrial progress”. In a media parley organized by Ayoade Lawal & Friends in his Lagos office, the former Chevron Oil Engineer promises to turned his state to another industrial center, stressing that Osun has the capacity to rival Lagos in industrial advancement if the right man was giving the chance to lead the state.

An indigene of Iwo, Engineer Lawal added that his educational background, experiences as a chemical engineer with frontline oil company in Nigeria will undoubtedly amplify his determination to engage the youths of the state positively hence the reason why he seeks the supports of all and sundry in the state. “As a state blessed with certain world recognized tourist centers, I will also leverage on culture and tourism endowment of the state to boost economic growth of the state.and accelerated entrepreneurial prowess amongst the youths.

In his words, “My political ambition is defined by my willingness to help the poor and the needy in other to bring happiness to the greatest numbers of Osun people. This clarion call, to my surprise was endorsed by the local government and leaders of my darling party, the APC”.

“My main focus is industrialization and it will be implemented in sectors like Agriculture, Education, Security, Health and others. Building of Agro Allied companies to increase the Gross Domestic Product and enable people to have access to quality food. Redefining the youths by setting up meaningful employment through the Agro Allied as it is very wide for the youth so as to put a stop to vices and menace in the state. These are some of my lofty ideas which I believe is doable by God’s grace and with the support of people of Osun state”.

A gentleman to the core who has radical approach for development, Engineer Lawal noted that ” I’m the right man to succeed Ogbeni Aregbesola as governor of Osun state and I believe the masses of our dear state will vote for me because of my experience and meaningful projects APC led administration have done in the state. I may not have hold any political office before but I have the conscience of a good leader and an understanding of someone who can guide Osun state prosperously. Under my watch, all men and women will have a voice in decision making as I’m going to run an all inclusive regime”.

He said his government will support farming fully as he will introduce modern farming equipment to the state. “Nigeria as a whole need to go back to farming because that is our traditional way of life that can improve our resources and we should stop depending on oil money to move and take our nation higher. Farming can also give a state a good wealth to take care of it people. Let remembered late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was a successful farmer and most of our leaders in Nigeria today benefited from his free Education during the western regime. So I will not handle agriculture with levity hand when I become the governor. We will also increase our production capacity and this is the reason why we are going to bring producing companies to create jobs for the youths and boost the Internal Generated Revenue of Osun State.”

The young and vibrant engineer who is in his mid forty added that he has a very cordial relationship with the incumbent Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola whom he described as a fantastic engineer with his aggressive replacement of rotten infrastructure in the state. He however pointed that Aregbesola have laid a solid enthusiasm for development. I am optimistic that the challenges in Osun State are temporarily as most people don’t look at future but only what they want to benefit at the present. What this means is that the benefits of some of the APC projects in the sate will have a long lasting impact and if we are to be realistic with ourselves, our state has witnessed massive development during Ogbeni’s two terms in office. Am sure we are to see more before the end of his tenure,” Lawal noted.”.

To boost educational development, the eloquent guber aspirant stated that when he assume office he will be teaching basic science subjects once in a week in schools to acclimatize with the mental ability of the pupils and also organize trainings for the teachers in the state. He added that he will make sure basic education is back fully in Osun state. “I will pay the teacher well and promptly and also encourage them to always teach the students the way we learned in the olden days. Technology has made so many students half baked these days that most of primary and secondary school people’s can’t even read multiplication time table off hand again due to technology advantages. This must stop”.

The Osun governorship election in Osun is becoming tensed as over 30 aspirants are jostling to succeed the incumbent governor which has few months to leave office. Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, the new Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC in the state recently announced that the Osun Gubernatorial Election will be held in September this year.