By Adeola Badru

IBADAN — AHEAD of the 2019 governorship election in Oyo State, a governorship aspirant on the platform of Alliance for Democracy, AD, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, has promised to build on the legacies of the Preimere of the defunct Western Region, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo if elected governor of Oyo State.

He also vowed to transform the state to an industrial hub in Nigeria if elected the governor. He made the vow while declaring his interest to contest the governorship seat of the state at the party secretariat in Ibadan.

He promised to focus on power generation which would guarantee the realisation of his dream, adding that without uninterrupted power supply, there could never be rapid industrialization as envisioned by him.

Alao said: “Therefore, power generation will be one of the programmes which my administration will give immediate attention to, from my first day in office.”

He recalled that since the creation of the state from the glorious administration of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whom he said, laid a strong and solid foundation for its development, no government has attempted to surpass his landmark and monumental acheivements.

The governorship hopeful added that it was this yawning gap that he felt he could fill and that he has made himself available for the task.

He noted that the democratic principles and ethos of AD as progressives party resonated deeply with his hopes, dreams and aspirations, especially going by the ideals of justice,  peace and progress encapsulated by its founding fathers who were die-hard Awoist and strong proponents of Awoism.

According to him, in a state whose population figure,  going by the 2006 Census statistics, stood above give million, a workable mechanism that would reduce poverty to a whisper must be urgently devised.

He noted that that his administration would facilitate a process of socio-economic empowerment that would conscript penury into the dustbin of history.

He said : “My government will introduce a well-developed and socially impactful youths empowerment scheme which will help in making kit youths employers of labour.  Education in my administration will be given proper and adequate attention.”

“As a matter of urgency,  my government will embark on a massive agricultural revolution that will help in boosting of,  not only food production, but also the internally generated revenue of our state,” he stated.

In his remarks, state Chairman of the party, Mr. Michael Akinropo maintained that the party would ensure level play ground for aspirants vying for the governorship seat, adding that it would also encourage free,  fair and credible selection of governorship flag bearer for the party.