Mr Nigeria

One of the leading aspirants for the Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government in the forthcoming local government election in Kwara State, Hon. Abdulhameed Oladipupo Alli known as ‘Mr Nigeria’ said he would follow the template of development laid by the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in moving the Council forward if elected.

Hon Alli is contesting under the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) following the collection and submission of his intent form to the state secretariat of the party.

Hon Alli was among the frontline aspirants who participated in the party’s screening exercise.

Unveiling his manifestos in Ilorin on Friday, Hon Alli said the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had set templates for incoming local government Chairmen to work on to ensure overall development of various councils.

“Look at what the Governor is doing in the Ilorin Smart City and the state master plan. I have a project that is going to key into the Governor’s master plan programme and we are going to replicate some of his laudable programmes in our local government.

Hon Alli said he would ensure access to market centers for some wards and communities through the construction of modern markets.

The aspirant also promised to revive existing markets in the council in order to make them attractive to the international community.

He said social development and infrastructural programmes would top his agenda. “We talk about having ‘Mekunnu’ agenda programmes like social development and social infrastructural programmes, it is going to be a replica of what KWSSIP is doing”.

“When I was in the office as TIC Chairman, I started Ilorin West Radio and TV, we are going to revive it and it is going to be on course.

“We are going to make Ilorin West the food basket of the state through our agricultural policy known as operation feed Ilorin West. To achieve this, we will procure modern farming equipment, while farmers are going to be encouraged.

“We are going to build a special hospital for the old and aged people in order to give special attention to their health.

“I talk about my agenda for Ilorin West children, we don’t need to only celebrate them on Children’s Day. We are going to replicate what the state government has done on Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP). We are going to have a VAPP centre in each of 12 wards for enforcement of the law and marriage counselling”.

The aspirant who is the former Chairman of Transition Implementation Committee in Ilorin West, said his administration would accord traditional institution due respect in order to keep the institution as sacred as possible.

The programme featured launching of people magazine and award presentation to some of eminent personalities including retired Grand Khadi of the state, Justice S.O. Muhammad who bagged Father of the year Award.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar Bata appreciated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq whom he said God has used to achieve the success stories being celebrated today not only in the administration of the third tier system but the State at large.

“To the convener of today’s event, I want to thank you for your zeal towards the upliftment of the local government administration and the State at large.

“Focusing on today’s theme “Local Government and Rural Development in Kwara State: Evaluating the Impact of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Administration”, in order not to bother ourselves much about the previous state of the Local Government System and the State at large before the present government came onboard, the State Government under our amiable Governor set the ball rolling by assembling seasoned technocrats and administrators with responsibilities to right the wrong of the past administrations by prioritising the welfare of the employees under the payroll of the local government and by ensuring capital projects are embarked upon based on the request and needs of the benefiting communities.

“With its determination and commitment to improve the well-being of the citizens, several intervention projects that cut across every sector were embarked upon and completed by all the sixteen Local Government Councils across the State.

“I want to categorically mention that since the inception of the present administration, full autonomy has been put in place in the local government system without any interference from the government.

“The Ministry under my watch, is saddled with the cabinet responsibility to monitor the activities of the local government by way of policy formulation and being an advisory role to the council ensure that the lost glory has been restored back to the third tier of the government, these includes: prompt payment of salaries to all the Officials under the payroll of the local government (SUBEB workers, local government workers, payment of pension and gratuity, payment of traditional rulers among others”.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Director Personnel Finance and Supply, Mr Michael Oyelowo, appreciated the outgone TIC chairmen and their members for their numerous efforts and giant strides during their stay at the helm of affairs of various local government councils.

He thanked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for clearing the backlogs inherited by present administration at various local governments.

“Although government is continuum both in asset and liability, it should also be noted that this present administration inherited humongous liability from past government that runs into several billions of naira as outstanding salary arrears, promotion backlogs and also pension and gratuity.

“The issues of minimum wage and consequential adjustments were also not attended to by our predecessor, I want to heartily say that today, the government has cleared all the backlogs, which can be testified to by the beneficiaries.

“Furthermore , I want to categorically say as it stands today,all the 193 political wards have benefited in several projects by the state government through which cut across many sectors such as health, education, agriculture, roads among others, this singular action has further reposed the confidence of the people in the present administration”, he said.

Justice S.O. Muhammad was represented at the by Alhaji Ahmad Abdulkadir, while the Directors of Personnel Management of all the 16 local governments among other distinguished personalities also received awards at the event.