Aregbesola Scales Down Predecessor’s Projects, Says No To Waste

OSUN State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the socio-economic conditions of the people of the state.

Aregbesola stated this on Thursday at a meeting with some contractors handling stadia projects in six zones of the state.

The governor said the priority of his administration is a firm commitment to the welfare and socio-economic needs of the people while placing preference on education, health, roads and provision of beneficial social infrastructure.

Aregbesola said even though resources available is too meager to execute all intended projects, yet his administration would not condone waste but rather channel it towards projects that will benefit a greater percentage of people.

Six stadia contracts were awarded by the past administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. They were to be built in Iwo, Ede, Ikirun, Ilesha, Ile-Ife, in addition to an upgrade of Osogbo township stadium.

He disclosed that apart from the Osun township stadium, which he said would be upgraded to international standards, the other five would be scaled down to athletic and football facilities.

“Instead of building six stadia, we should concentrate on upgrade of the Osogbo stadium, which is in the capital of the state, to international standards with all sporting facilities and equipment, while the other stadia would simply be provincial with some sporting facilities and not as elaborate as originally intended.

“Save the Osogbo stadium, all other stadia could have, at best, pitches for athletics and football. I need enormous resource to serve the core social needs of the people of this state. For that reason, I want to scale down, considerably, the facilities previously provided for in the stadia you are all handling,” the governor said.

Aregbesola said he made the decision in the interest of people of the state and without intention to hurt or spite the contractors.

The contractors expressed satisfaction at the way government handled the issue, promising to support the administration’s effort in serving the people of Osun State better.