‘Our Government is about the people’
Gov Abiodun
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has faulted the 2019 Budget prepared by the immediate past administration, claiming that it was obviously not designed with the ‘Building our Future Together Agenda’ of his administration in mind.
The governor disclosed this at the Ogun East senatorial district town hall meeting on 2020 budget, held in Ijebu Ode, on Thursday, noting that despite the lacuna in the budget, his administration has made the best use of that budget to deliver on his campaign promises across the state.
The town hall meeting is one in the series of three town hall meetings which will hold in all the three senatorial districts of the state as part of the processes towards the preparation for the 2020 fiscal year.
According to Mr Kunle Somorin, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Prince Abiodun said: “We will all recall that, over the years, people were usually gathered for the town hall meeting at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. The people were mobilized for the meeting from all the three senatorial districts, and, thereby making the journey uneasy for some stakeholders and impossible for some others.
“Apart from the fact that this meeting is a way to, once again, meet with the good people of Ogun State, it will also help us to achieve a strategic allocation of resources towards the projects and programmes that will have the optimum impact on the people.
“This is the underlying factor behind our administrations mantra of ‘Building our Future Together’. To achieve this, it is important that the government carries the people along when making crucial decisions, most especially those that affect the people, such as the budget preparation.
“This town hall meeting, therefore, is a symbolic representation of our administrations commitment towards inclusiveness, people-centred and participatory governance. We strongly believe that governance should be a participatory process and an inclusive one.
“Achieving the Ogun State of our dreams will require the inputs of all; it is our belief that the people should have a say on issues that concern them and they should, therefore, be allowed to take their rightful place in the governance process. This is the main reason for the hosting of this town hall meeting.”
Furthermore, he expressed: “In ameliorating these challenges, we have decided to take it a notch higher by organizing the town hall meeting in all the three senatorial districts of our dear state. On one hand, we are achieving Goals 10 and 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that is, Reduced Inequalities, and, Partnership for the Goals, respectively.
“And, you will agree with me that these two Goals will greatly impact the successful implementation of government policies and programmes for the achievement of the other 15 Goals of the SDGs. We believe that, in doing this, our budget preparation will be more inclusive towards rekindling the hopes of our people and reawakening their confidence in their government.
“Therefore, it strengthens the bond between the government and the people government and people becoming the two sides of the same coin, rather than two different entities. This is the partnership that drives sustainable development.”
Meanwhile, Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebu land, His Royal Majesty, Oba Sr. ISikiru Adetona ably represented by HRM Oba Yinusa Adekoya Dagbuwere of Idowa in his good will message from Ijebu traditional council, commended the governor for taking budget stakeholder and town hall meeting outside the state capital
He said this will give opportunity to the people at the grassroot to have input in the governance. He tasked the government to take proper care of the traditional ruler and look into the issues and matters in the traditional council.
Also, Oba Adetona urged the governor to fix all the dilapidated roads across the district, so as to ease the stress motorists have been passing through on daily basis, and to access cost analysis benefits and management practice that will enhance effectiveness of the budget.
In the same vein, Akarigbo and Paramount ruler of Remo land was left out of the discussion while many other community leaders, party faithfuls were compelled to express their inputs into the budget.
Similarly, consultant to the governor on budget and planning, Olaoluwa Olabimtan, appreciate the governor for dis-centralised 2020 budget town hall meeting across the three senatorial district of the state.
He emphasised that governor Abiodun administration is committed to good governance delivery, and sharing the dividends of democracy across the state, while urging every citizen to support the government and ministry of budget and planning to contribute meaningful well to the 2020 budget preparatory.
