The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has said that he believes that he is qualified to be the President of Nigeria, and if the opportunity arises, he will take it.
In an exclusive interview with ARISE NEWS Anchor, Ojy Okpe, the governor, who also spoke on his ongoing works in Osun State, as he said that he is working round the clock to make sure that Osun is seen as a great state.
When Adeleke was questioned on his future political ambitions and plans for the future when he leaves his seat as governor, he said, “I’m qualified to be the president of Nigeria, so why not? If God says that it’s time for me to become president, I will grab it and take care of my people. I’m not going to say no, anything can happen.”
Adeleke then spoke on the palliative measures that he has provided so far in the state to alleviate the challenges that the people may face, as well as the works that he has in mind for the development of the state saying, “I’ve already formed a lot of committees and they are bringing everything. I’m working 24/7 to make sure that Osun is great.”
The governor said, “I inherited a huge debt, about almost forty-something billion. So I started paying them half salary slowly, little by little. I think I have paid about four times now, the fifth one is coming. And then, the pensioners, I’m paying them too… I gave them free medical care and all that. So that’s part of the palliatives to cushion. Even the health care.”
Going on to explain his work in the health sector, he said, “All our primary healthcare, I went there, I visited myself. So, they told me that so a governor can come and visit? I said my own governor is different. They had to start fixing all the health centres, about 332 wards simultaneously, they were fixing it.
“Then of course, all the elders there, we gave them free medical care to the extent that we registered them, say you must come and register, and we give them a card. To the extent that if they go to another state, for example Lagos State, if they’re sick, they will go and get treatment there and they will send the bill to Osun government and we will pay for it, and they’re very happy.”
Adeleke also mentioned that he has started to work on the maintenance and fixing of roads in Osun state, as well as federal roads within the state, saying that he has approached the federal government to claim the funds he used to work on the roads.
He said, “I have suspended federal road, but I will complete the one that I started. So, I started fixing the state roads, and of course, hinterlands. I don’t just do surface. In fact, most of the roads that the APC are claiming that they fixed, it was through the federal government intervention. So, that means that they did not do any roads.”
Adeleke further touched on the work he is planning for other sectors as he said, “Part of my agenda – tourism, culture, and entertainment. And we have gold too, and they did nothing about that. So, we are doing a lot to improve our IGR. We have bitumen, we have a lot in Osun State, we have to just tap it. And a very serious government, when you are serious, Osun is not poor, Osun is very rich.”
The Osun governor then revealed that he has a cordial relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He said, “One thing with me is that whichever way he gets there, God wants him to be there. That is my belief. Since he’s there now, he’s our president, so we have to keep praying for him. For his health, for everything so that he can do well for us. He’s not there a year yet. We are praying and we are watching that the suffering of our people will change, that is just our prayer. We hope to see growth for better because people are suffering economically.”
Watch the full interview for more.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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