Three committees have been inaugurated by the governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday.
The Committees are Asset and Liability Sharing, Boundary Adjustment and Take-Off for Local Governments and the newly created Local Council Development Areas, Area Offices and Administrative Offices in the state.
Performing the inauguration ceremony, the governor explained that the committees are saddled with the task of proper take off of the newly created councils in Osun State.
Aregbesola named Justice Kudirat Akano as the chair of a seven-man committee on Asset and Liability Sharing, while Justice Akinwale Oladimeji will head Boundary Adjustment Committee, and former Executive Secretary of Ilesa East Local Government, Lanre Balogun, will head the Take-Off Committee.
The governor said the goal of all should be how to use what the state has to kick-start development and make life better for the people, instead of fighting bitter war over assets that will fuel another round of bitter feuding between communities.
He urged residents of the state to strive more for development of the state, saying whatever asset any of the local government has should be seen as starting point for development.
Aregbesola charged the committees to be fair and just and avoid any form of partisanship, bias and favouritism.
He urged them to carry out their assignment with the fear of God and follow laid down procedures, rules and regulations to prevail.
The governor explained that, “Assets sharing is like an inheritance in which everyone wants the best portion for himself or herself. Where there is a will, it is easier, and contestations are often without rancour, although wills also are often contested. Where the deceased died intestate without a will anything can happen.”
Speaking further, the governor said, “It is not less so with government assets. Oyo and Osun, those who could remember, fought bitter asset sharing war at the creation of Osun in 1991, which still reverberates till today. This is unsavoury and clearly avoidable for the same people who have the same history, culture and have lived together since time immemorial.”
Aregbesola stressed that, “The greatest asset really is human beings. They are the basic instrument of development. It is humans that think, conceive of ideas, create and engage in economic production. This is why at any time, we should strive more for human development.”
According to him, his goal is the development of Osun with the revenue it is able to generate and the councils are at the centre of such development, adding that the era of free and unearned money is gone.
“We are in a new era of compulsory wealth creation. Be assured that anyone coming into any elective or appointive position in our state is coming to work, real hard work,” the governor declared.
In his remarks on behalf of the three committees, the Chairman of Boundary Adjustment Committee, Justice Akinwale Oladimeji, said the committees would execute their assignments with high sense of nationalism and patriotism.
“We pledge and promise to perform to the best of our ability. We will do the job you gave us with the best of nationalism and patriotism. We assure you, Mr. Governor, that we are not going to be influenced in any form or by any extraneous or political factors.
“We are men and women of integrity and we have been known never to compromise our integrity. At the end of the exercise, Mr. Governor will see the confidence he reposed in us,” Justice Akinwale said.
