Ajimobi Reiterates Govt.’s Commitment to Agric Revolution, Inaugurate 320 Tractors

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Thursday inaugurated a total of 320 tractors, reiterating his administration’s commitment to revolutionizing agriculture as a means of alleviating poverty in the state.

The 320 Massey Ferguson tractors, purchased by the state government, in conjunction with the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), will be distributed to 20 local government councils at 16 per council.

The remaining 13 local government councils had in November 2012 benefitted from the 39 mini refuse trucks also procured by the state in conjunction with ALGON.

While acknowledging the collaborative efforts of ALGON in his administration’s strive at improving the economy of the state, Governor Ajimobi described local governments as veritable avenues of empowering the people.   

``This is why any government that is desirous of enhancing and empowering people at the grassroots cannot but partner the local government as a tier of government.

``The local government is essential in networking governmental aspirations in the provision of public amenities such as good road network, rural integration and transportation facilities. It is this synergy that has become the testament of our administration and which gave birth to this event,’’ he said.

The governor also emphasized the importance of agriculture, adding ``not only is it a major kernel of our cardinal programmes, it receives daily attention of government in our constant search for succor for our people’’.

This, according to him, is because agriculture holds the ace of providing job opportunities forthe teeming unemployed youths, as well as combating hunger among the populace.

Aside providing means of livelihood for the people and thereby alleviating poverty, an agriculture-centred economy, he said, could effectively eliminate the recourse to criminal acts by the youth, thereby combating social vices and enhancing trading and commerce. 

Governor Ajimobi said that this underscore of agriculture was in line with the transformation agenda of his administration, which he said, was a people-oriented programme that would put smiles on the faces of the people.

``Since our administration swore on oath to lend its shoulders to the discomforted to lean on, by providing succor for our people, we are merely walking according to the stated testament of our promises,’’ he said. 

The governor, however, implored the people of the state to join hands with this administration in maintaining perfect peace, stressing ``we cannot afford to allow divisive politicians to sow the seeds of discord into our midst. Development thrives only in an atmosphere of concord’’.

The ALGON Chairman in the state, Mr. Yekeen Popoola, in his address, said that the project was borne out of the peculiar need of the people of the state at different times.

He said that the procurement of the tractors would enable his colleagues to achieve one of the cardinal goals of the Ajimobi administration in the area of agriculture and rural development.