The city of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday became the cynosure of all eyes as traders, artisans, Students’ Union body and other professional bodies
converged on the ancient Mapo Hall, Ibadan, to stage a peaceful solidarity rally in support of Senator Abiola Ajimobi led administration in the state.
The solidarity train which comprised of over hundred groups took off from Mapo Hall, through Beere, Oje, Gate and finally ended the peaceful rally at the Governor’s Office Secretariat, Ibadan.
While addressing the mammoth crowd, Governor Ajimobi lauded the commitment and maturity with which the rally was organized, pointing out that the leaders various groups displayed sincerity of purpose and high sense of maturity.
Ajimobi said that the rally reflected government’s honesty and sincerity on various issues that came up for discussion at the recently held stakeholders’ meeting.
He said, “I want to appreciate the commitment and maturity of each of the groups present here displayed today during this rally. In fact, it was a reflection of honesty and sincerity of purpose, openness and transparency.”
“This rally is in support of our democratic commitment to people of the state and the promise we made when we assumed the mantle of leadership for the second time. Democracy is about discussion, consultation and all of us must participate in it because there is no other way out other than to ensure the continued progress and development of our state and the country at large.
“Dialogue is the potent weapon in any dispute and that is what I have been advocating. It’s good to jaw-jaw instead of war-war, the governor opined.
Speaking on the proposed education policy in the state, Ajimobi reaffirmed that his administration has no plan to sell any of the secondary schools in the state, adding that it was a misconception and misinformation by some enemies of government that the government was planning to sell its schools.
“I am directing you to go back to your various climes and spread the information that the state has no intention of selling our schools but to partner willing members of the society like alumni associations, mission bodies and corporate organizations to rejuvenate our education system in the state.”
“Even the free education policy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo attracted interventions from private bodies. During former Governors Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala’s administrations, there was what they called ‘Adopt-a-School’ policy.’
“So there is nothing new in what we set out to do. We have nothing in mind other than the ultimate goal of re-invigorating our education system.”
The governor said that government would not shirk its responsibility of providing qualitative education for those he called the future of the state.
Ajimobi called on people to always embrace dialogue and consultations on issues bothering on the progress of the state rather than unnecessary confrontation.
Similarly, the governor appealed to labour leaders and the striking workforce in the state to call off the ongoing strike to give room for further dialogue geared towards finding lasting solution to the issue of payment of salaries.
He said it has become imperative for the labour leaders to call off the strike to enable workers resume work in their own interest and that of the state, while appealing to them to imbibe the culture of dialogue.
Ajimobi said, “I am appealing to them to imbibe the culture of dialogue. We want them to come because we are not quarreling with labour; we have no dispute that might warrant labour leaders to direct workers to embark on strike.
“We don’t have problem with them, except for some that are being politically motivated. It is just a few who are using politics and are being influenced by failed politicians who wants to get through the backdoor what they failed woefully to get from the ballot box.
Ajimobi maintained that the industrial action was ill-advised since labour had no dispute with the government prior to the strike nor gave the government any ultimatum in compliance with labour laws.
The governor decried the poor attitude of some parents whom he said were not prepared to contribute anything to the education and development of their children, but a situation where they wanted everything for free.
“We are just discussing this proposal, It is not yet a policy because we have not concluded the ongoing consultations. That is why labour and everyone who wants to partner with us should come and contribute to the discourse,” Ajimobi disclosed.
The representatives of various bodies that spoke at the rally enjoined the labour union to embrace dialogue with the government in the interest of peace, adding that the governor had made it clear that he was not selling schools in the state as being peddled by some misinformed people.