It is my honor and privilege to warmly welcome our dear royal highnesses and majesties. This meeting is crucial as a critical stakeholders' gathering for updates on state governance. My presence here today is to brief you on landmark achievements of our administration and our plans for all sectors of the society, including the traditional institutions in the state.
Our royal fathers, you will recall my meeting with you after I took over governance of the state. I opened up state finance and gave you data and figures of Osun indebtedness totalling almost Five Hundred Billion Naira. This was outside multi-billion naira contractual debts and almost One Hundred Billion Naira in half salary and pension debts.
I remember we also agreed on “Igbadun Dende” as a mark of recognition for traditional institutions as a very important organ of state.
Yes, that “Dende” is not forgotten. In fact, “ Dende” is here.
But before I dwell on “Dende”, I wish to refresh our memories about the recent past. Ever since my meeting with you last year, we had faced series of challenges even as we worked hard to deliver on good governance. You remember we spent almost six months on litigation up to the Supreme Court. Then, and now, we struggle to rehabilitate vandalized government quarters and replace government vehicles diverted by previous officials.
Despite the difficulties we encountered, our administration created an annual development rolling plan, which we faithfully implemented . Our fathers here have severally testified to our service delivery in road construction, school rehabilitation, water provisions, health care access, workers, and pensioners welfare.
We crowned our one year super delivery with the unveiling of the multi-billion naira infra agenda designed to prepare Osun as an investment and global tourism destination. I am happy to report that the implementation of the plan has commenced statewide.
My highly revered royal fathers, we have been managing state finance with a high level of prudence and self-sacrifice. My security vote is going for state development. As we are tightening our belts, we are spending on infrastructure and human support.
We are tapping into new sources of revenue. The reform of the solid mineral sector is ongoing. The goal is to ensure maximum benefit for the state from her natural resources. We are working to improve internally generated revenue without imposing an excessive tax burden on our people.
We cultivated a culture of saving for project execution. Unlike practice in the past, federal interventions under our watch are judiciously administered. In recent months, following the economic crisis triggered at the national level, we implemented palliative administration in transparent and accountable manners. We did not hoard palliative materials. We rather allowed the public through various associations to handle the distribution.
In a demonstration of responsible leadership, we created a project account to keep the N7 billion naira federal intervention fund. As the state is spending multi-billion naira on the infra agenda, the N7 billion is an addition to contribute to the bridging of the state infra deficit.
Our governance ambition is multi-dimensional. Your government is pushing to achieve a decade old ambition within four years.
My friends tell me my plans are too ambitious, but I respond to them that we are too late to allow the sky to be our limit.
The Osun agro-sector must develop. We must grow our creative industry with the full involvement of our traditional rulers.
I dream of an Osun state with a booming agro-industrial economy combined with a global tourism destination.
We are matching with God towards that goal.
Now let me return to the “Dende” question. Yes, the “Dende” is here, I repeat.
I will first provide a background on why I have no option than to truly carry along our fathers in state governance . My father used to be the second in command to the Timi of Ede. I grew up to value and appreciate traditional institutions as a major pillar of society.
The second reason is the pivotal role our Kabiyesis played in the grassroots, socio-economic, and security lives of our people. Our Obas live and dine with the people. They are the custodian of our culture with deep affinity with the people. In Africa, productive collaboration with traditional rulers is therefore the foundation of successful governance.
Above explained why, despite the harsh financial situation, our administration still ensures all-around support for our royal fathers on various fronts. We need the support of our Obas to grow the state economy and sustain local security. I need your counselling on strategic state matters. I see and consider our kings as pivotal arm of the state.
Our fathers, please feel free to relate with me and my team.
Our administration will continue to support our Kings for the successful hosting of their town days. We will work on a public- private partnership for town development through town day celebration.
Medical support for our fathers will also be expanded. We will look into the possibility of health insurance enrollment as we did for pensioners in the state.
We have already increased the sitting allowances of our Kabiyesi. This has taken effect statewide.
We are addressing the issue of new cars for our Kabiyesis with all sense of seriousness. Gradually, we will be satisfying this genuine aspiration of our fathers in this respect.
It is however my singular honour to announce that within the first tenure of our administration, we will build a befitting Council of Obas Secretariat in the state. This will be fully equipped to fully recognise our fathers as a pillar of people’s government.
Dear royal fathers, you can feel “Dende” as I earlier promised. But just few minutes for more “Dende”
Going forward, I am using this opportunity to inform our royal fathers that Ipade Imole holds on a quarterly basis. I seek your regular attendance as a Council.
I thank you for your support and prayers. We pledge to maintain a responsive and consultative leadership driven by due process, rule of law, and fear of God.
To end my speech, permit me to whisper a secret to Baba Ooni of Ife.
HE, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Executive Governor of Osun State.
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