…From Dele Ogunyemi, Ibadan…
As the 2015 general elections beckon, the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi has tasked the electorate to subject people seeking elected public offices to scrutiny and demand for their antecedents and achievements in their chosen career whenever they approach them to canvass for their votes.
By so doing, Governor Ajimobi said, it will make the electorate to arrive at a wise decision and vote for right candidate.
The Governor threw the challenge in Ibadan on Monday while delivering the 56th Founder’s Day Anniversary and 1st Distinguished Alumnus Lecture of Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, of which he is an old student.
In his lecture entitled “Democracy, Leadership and Equitable Governance: Sustaining a Tripod for
Meaningful Development”, Ajimobi declared pointedly saying “You must screen anybody wishing to occupy elected offices.”
“If he/she approaches you, ask for his/her antecedents if he/she had served before. If he had not served before, ask for his/her achievement in his/her career; Whoever wants to serve you must have a good track record,” the Governor urged the electorate.
In attendance at the lecture were eminent personalities including Otunba Alake Adeyemo, the State Deputy Governor; Bashorun Kola Daisi; Chief Adebayo Akande, Chairman of Splash FM, Ibadan; and Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Lekan Alli, among others.
While telling the gathering that anybody aspiring to lead people must, in addition to possessing the intellect to visualize, be transparent and courageous, he will as from next month commence a stewardship programme where he will meet people of the state on monthly basis and give them accounts of his governance.
He explained that occupying public offices should be seen as holding something in trust for the people who have elected to put their fate in the hands of whoever holds that public office, pointing out that in
return for the free food, free transport and free accommodation that a governor enjoys, for instance, he is supposed to execute programmes that will bring positive development to people.
Earlier in a welcome address, the National President of Lagelu Grammar School old Students Association, Dr. Harry Taiwo Oyeyinka, had commended the old students for their support to the
school, while urging them to do more, especially in the areas of need by the school which include the rehabilitation of the school’s main road, provision of a new school bus and well equipped science
laboratories, among others.
The occasion had brought together, several alumni of the school, some of whom had not met one another since passing out of the school while it also brought out fond memories of the good school days.
Lagelu Grammar School was established on Monday, January27, 1958 by the then Ibadan District Council (IDC) while it was the first local secondary school by the grassroots government of the day in Ibadan, apart from the few missionary schools that were already on ground then.