GOVERNOR SEGUN ONI’S 49^TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY AND 13^TH YEAR OF CREATION OF EKITI STATE SPEECH ON 1^ST OCTOBER, 2009

My Good People of Ekiti State,

Today is another important day in the life of our dear state and our country.  It is exactly 13 years today that the geographical expression known as Ekiti State was pronounced as an independent entity.  As designed and decreed by God, just as today marks the 13^th Anniversary of our statehood, it is also the 49th Anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence.

The Almighty God deserves all adoration and profound appreciation for giving us the grace to see another First day of October.  We also thank God for giving us a state of our own.  Looking back at the 13years of the existence of our state, we, indeed, have every cause to celebrate, that our destiny is now in our own hands.

            The challenges facing us today, as a state, can be put in two major compartments.  First is the provision of basic infrastructure which this administration has been confronting with unalloyed determination.  The second challenge, which is woven with the first, is the development of a robust economy that would transform the state from a civil service only environment to a diversified society that would be able to create enough jobs for our teeming populace.

            We are aware that the expectations of our people are high. But we cannot reach the desired height in a day.  Since it pleased God to saddle us with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the state, a little over two years ago, we have been taking tremendous strides in areas of infrastructure.  We have also been working assiduously to achieve an appreciable growth in the economy.

            Today, to God be the glory. A critical and objective appraisal of what we have been able to put on ground gives us the confidence and the assurance that we are on track.  The outlook today is indeed very, very bright.

            I am very happy to inform you that the 132/33KV Power Substation at Omisanjana, Ado-Ekiti would be completed before the end of the year.  Towards this end, we have adopted a partnership approach with the Federal Government and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).  We have therefore committed substantial state money, to the supposed Federal Government project to ensure its completion, in the interest of our people.  In the present circumstance, we can not do otherwise because adequate power supply is central to the rapid transformation of the economic base of the state, which is one of our cardinal programmes.

            In the same vein, a comprehensive attention is being given to the provision of water, the availability of which was less than 10 percent when we came on board two years ago.  Today, not less than 65 percent of the populace have access to good water supply.  This is expected to reach 90 percent level very soon.  We are also working on a concession arrangement with private concerns on water supply.  In this context, water would be available but we would pay per cubic centimeter of water produced by the concessioner.  Latest, by June 2010, we would have more than the water required in the state because the operators would then have been producing at very appreciable capacity.

            Let me seize this unique occasion to reiterate, once again, that the mission of this administration is to transform this rural economy, in a rural environment, to a first class economy in a first class environment.  This commitment we would uphold tenaciously until the goals are attained.  Our determination is to take the state to an unimaginable height within the next two years and make it the haven of investors.

            In the package is the plan to pursue vigorously, the Construction of an Airport in the state within the next one year.  Also on the drawing board is the Building of a Standard Stadium and Re-construction of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium into a Modern Civic Centre and this is already ongoing.

            We are already constructing a Tennis Academy that would be a Centre of Excellence for Lawn Tennis in Nigeria.  The Academy, with high capacity training facilities, would be ready before the end of the year.

            Naturally and expectedly, our ideas, programmes and actions have been attracting both positive and critical reactions.  We want to plead with our people, to view issues objectively with spectacles beyond politics.  We are human, we are not perfect but we are more disposed to constructive criticisms than we are to destructive negative criticisms. What we are doing is laying a solid foundation for the future of our state.  The race we have embarked on is not a short distance one.  We are therefore not looking for ovations so early.

We believe in the philosophy of the sage that - if your colleagues are 25 years ahead of you, when you want to start, you do not start where they were 25 years ago, you start a step or steps ahead of where they are today and work 25 years ahead. The race we are engaged in is a marathon race.  What matters to us is to finish well and become reference point.

            My good people of Ekiti state, while we are looking far into the future, we are also working for the benefit and appreciation of the present generation.  We are erecting a new platform of competence, efficiency and sophistication at all levels of health care delivery.

            Happily, the standard and quality of health care service across the board in the last two years have earned us commendations and awards from recognized, competent and acknowledged professional bodies.  We are however set to step on a higher scale from this month.  The starting point would be the commissioning of the N130million Ultra-modern Theatre with a 60-bed Intensive Care Unit, which ranks among the best in Nigeria. 

Another innovation in the state’s new Health Revolution package is the coming on stream of the Personalized Primary Health Care Scheme that would take health care delivery to the doorsteps of the people by health workers who would move from their places of assignment to homes, schools and offices.  In a similar sense, Specialized Ambulances and vehicles for patients in transit will be introduced and made available in each of the 16 local government areas, designed for the movement of patients in transit, are to become operational any moment from now.

            This month as well, the Special Eye Centre, the first of its kind in the West African sub-region would become functional.  So also are 115 of the 180 upgraded health centres, the Blue Centres, which are equipped to confront maternal and infant mortality - the rate of which has notably gone down in the state by more than 50 percent since the last two years.

            The stage is also set for the distribution of over one million insecticide-treated nets to every home in the state to fight malaria, the single most important impediment to the realization of Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 & 6.  With this development, it is hoped that we would meet the MDGs 4, 5 & 6 in 2010, five years ahead of the expected 2015 target.

            In furtherance of the entrepreneurial inclination of this administration, the School Enterprises Project designed to expose pupils in Secondary Schools to the knowledge of a number of selected trades such as Bakery, Carpentry, Block Making, Exercise Books Making, Shoe Making etc is to commence fully from this academic session.

            This administration believes that education should not be restricted to academic work alone.  Our children ought to be encouraged to develop their skills in tangible enterprise, through which they can also earn a living or complement their income in future.

            We are happy that the concerted effort of government to make the school environment conducive for learning and inviting to the pupils, is already yielding positive results.  A pupil of Igede Baptist High School came second in a national science competition held in Abuja a couple of months ago while another set of pupils from a public school at Ijero-Ekiti, also bagged the second position in the South-West Zone of a national debate competition.  A member of the team also emerged the best overall individual debater.

            As an acknowledged agrarian state blessed with vast natural endowment, excellent vegetation and a most conducive climate, there is a comprehensive, all- encompassing programme to revolutionize the agricultural sector, not only for food production but for massive employment generation through the establishment of micro agro-allied industries.

            The Bio-fuel and Ethanol plants to be established in the state, which expectedly would become operational within the next two to three years, have cassava and sorghum as major raw materials.  Hopefully, by the time the plants become operational, apart from putting the state on the world map as a major bio-fuel/ethanol producing state, the plants would also offer jobs to thousands directly and indirectly. They would also generate electricity.

            The effect of the current global economic meltdown is universal, hence the country, and our state are not insulated from the repercussion.  The development has led to a substantial reduction in the allocation to the state from the Federation Account.  We are therefore faced with the challenge of looking inwards to improve our Internally Generated Revenue profile.

            I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to our people, and corporate bodies, to pay their taxes and rates so that government could have an improved treasury to service the need of everybody.

            On our part, we would continue to be prudent and honest in the handling of state fund.  We have not been stealing your money.  It is not as a result shortage of ideas and tricks to employ, it is because of the covenant we have with God, who gave us the grace to be where we are, that we are going to serve you conscientiously with accountability, probity and selflessness and to ensure that we deliver to you competent governance as our guiding principle.  We would not renege on this promise.

            Before I end this address, let me assure you, my good people, and potential investors that the state is peaceful.  Security of life and property is also assured.  We have put in place an efficient Security Alert System that would ensure safety across the state with water-tight precision.  The equipment, which is being test-run, would even make little crime like pilfering very difficult to get away with.  By the time the equipment is commissioned, the state would be the best secured environment for residents and a safe investment haven, without the fear of any loss in whatever form.

            I want to appreciate the effort of all Security Agencies in the state for the much they have done to sustain the subsisting peaceful environment in the state.  Government would continue to assist them to enhance their efficiency.

            I also thank our traditional rulers for their support and for maintaining peace and harmony in their respective domains.  May divine wisdom continue to abide with you. 

I thank the entire workforce in the state public service for your dedication to duty.  Government would continue to put the welfare of workers on the front burner in all its considerations.

Finally, my good people, Ekiti State belong to all of us.  We all have a role to play to keep the present train of progress on track and in motion.  One is not too happy to observe that we are not all working in this direction. Naturally, we expect opposition even to the best intentions. We do not expect that destructive opposition however could be elevated to a trade.  Those in this bracket of perpetual antagonism should have a rethink.

Ekiti State, certainly, has to move forward.  We are ready to continue to propel the state along the path of progress and meaningful development. We are prepared to crush any impediment on the way of the realization of Ekiti of a great future of our dream. There is the need to straighten some areas of rot.  We would confront the areas of rot headlong. We would not be deterred.  We have told God and this is a promise and covenant we would do it for the good of our people.  With God continually on our side, Ekiti State would continue on the journey up the ladder of progress, greatness and prosperity for our people. I wish you all happy celebrations.

Long live Ekiti State.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you and God bless.