Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo
State has assured that pensioners and workers in the state’s public service
will celebrate the coming end-of-the-year festivities with. smiles with the
expected refund of the Paris Club excess deduction to the state.
Ajimobi made the promise in his
address during the Mawlid Nabiyy (celebration of Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW)
birthday) at the Government House Arcade, Agodi, Ibadan, on Friday.
The Governor who said he was
pained by the cash crunch that had made regular payment of salaries and
pensions impossible, expressed optimism that the state would be able to pay at
least two months salaries, out of the three months arrears, before the coming
celebrations.
With a workforce of more than
40,000, which he said was one of the largest in the country, Ajimobi said that
the administration had been very prudent in the management of the dwindling
accruals to the state.
He said, “Let me assures citizens
that we will spend the Paris Club excess deduction refund being expected from
the Federal Government prudently. We have that record of spending past refunds
and budget support fund judiciously.
“Workers and pensioners will
celebrate the coming festivities with joy, because we should be able to pay at
least two months from the three months arrears we owe workers before the
holidays.
“We are ruling this state with
the fear of God. And I’m confident that those who are yet to come to terms with
my positive interventions will sing my praise at the end of my tenure. Those
abusing me today out of lack of understanding will celebrate me tomorrow.”
He said the essence of the
Prophet’s birthday celebration was to remind the people of the need to love and
respect one another and fear only the Almighty in all their endeavours.
An Islamic preacher, Sheik
Muyideen Ajani Bello and the Chairman of the state’s Muslim Community, Alhaji
Kunle Sanni, said that Ajimobi deserved all the plaudits he had so far received
from the Islamic faithful.
Judging by what they posited as
the governor’s spirited efforts at ensuring that Muslims were not relegated in
the state affairs, the Muslim leaders said it was natural that the adherents
reciprocated the governor’s gestures.
Bello said, “If your (Ajimobi)
predecessors had performed well as he is doing now, Oyo State would have
developed more than this. That is why I will reiterate my admonition to you to
ensure that your successor will be
committed to building on your
legacies.
“Let your successor be someone
that fear God like you. We are not interested in the person’s level of
education, political weight and other sentiments. The person we want for Oyo
State should be someone that will
continue from where you will
stop.”
Sanni then advised those he said
were criticizing the Muslim Community for honoring Ajimobi to wait for their
turns.
He said, “I want to make it clear
again that we are not politicians. We are celebrating Ajimobi because of his
fair treatment of Muslims. I will advise those criticizing us now to wait for
their turns if they want to be
governor. If they treat Muslims
fairly, they will also be celebrated.
“We were not induced with
anything other than the governor’s fairness and equity in dealing with us. We
did agitate before he permitted our children to wear hijab. He was the first
governor to authorize Hijrah (Islamic New Year) as public holiday. What about
the large expanse of land he gave us to build our secretariat, among his
several good deeds”.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Shameless power drunk, you had better live as the governor forever
ReplyDelete