By Ayodele Oni
The new Deputy Governor of Ondo state, Dr Olayide Owolabi Adelami has declared that his loyalty to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa will be total.
He spoke in Akure on Thursday shorty after he was sworn in by the governor following his clearance by the state House of Assembly last week.
Owolabi stated: “I stand before you today on this historic occasion with due reverence to the Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and the designer of our lives.
“The Almighty God arranges our lives the way it pleases Him and gives positions to whom He desires because we are instruments in His hands.
“Therefore, at all times and in every situation we must align with the Will of God for the actualisation of our destiny.
“Your Excellency, the Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, I thank you, on behalf of my dear wife, Mrs Abosede Olubukola Adelami, our children, family members and associates across Ondo State.
“Mr Governor, I hereby wholeheartedly accept to be your Deputy and my loyalty to you will be total.
“Mr Governor my wealth of experience in both public and private sectors coupled with my connections nationally and internationally are available for you to explore for the wellbeing of our people.”
Earlier, Governor Aiyedatiwa had highlighted various efforts to keep government running immediately he was sworn in on December, 27, 2013.
“You are well aware that upon my inauguration on 27th of December 2023, we immediately set out to hit the ground running in order to sustain the path of accelerated development bequeathed to us by our late leader and former Governor.
“Within the short span of barely one month of assumption of office, our score card has shown that the people of Ondo State are pleased with our various policies and actions so far.
“Apart from accelerating the preparation of the 2024 Budget of the State which I signed into law at a time when hopes of its possibility were gloomy, we also flagged off the payment of N1.2billion gratuity to pensioners.
“The salaries of workers are being paid as and when due, even as we have demonstrated commitment to our words by off-setting the 2017 outstanding salary arrears of workers last week.
‘We are very pleased that the workers are happy. Besides, we have ordered all contractors back to sites and construction works are going on across the State.
“We have also been able to restore the confidence of the public service and the generality of the people through various public engagements, touching on their humanity.
“The implementation of palliative measures occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy is also on course. We promise to sustain this tempo in the months ahead.”
On the dissolution of the state executive council inherited from late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa explained that “I must reiterate that our decision to dissolve the State Executive Council precisely on Wednesday, 24th January was in good faith.
“The decision was borne out of genuine response to the yearnings and aspirations of the people as well as the need to rejuvenate and reinvigorate this administration for maximum delivery on our mandate.
“We also needed to minimize unnecessary distractions usually associated with Cabinet Members and other appointees in an election year like we have in Ondo State.
“This is the standard practice in sane climes. It is important for government to be less encumbered by politicking and pave way for interested individuals to pursue their aspirations, while simultaneously guaranteeing continued enjoyment of good governance to our people in the Sunshine State.
“We have a sacred duty to our people not to sacrifice good governance on the altar of individual, though legitimate, pursuit of political aspirations. We harbor neither ill-wind nor animosity towards no one.”
He challenged the new Deputy Governor to handle his portfolio in a manner to sustain this euphoria, because as it is often said, it is easier getting to the top than to remain at the top.
