A front-runner in Ogun 2019 governorship race, Mr Gboyega Isiaka, says the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will set up Border Towns Development Agency if voted into power.
Isiaka, a.k.a GNI, who is launching a third-time shot at the position, decried the neglect of border communities such as Agbara where substantial revenues is generated by the present and previous administrations.
He said the agency would collaborate with adjourning states of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo and Benin Republic to address their infrastructural challenges.
The ADC guber hopeful identified the neglected eight out of the 20 council areas in the state as Ado-Odo, Ota, Ifo, Ijebu East, Ogun Waterside, Odeda, Imeko/Afon and Sagamu.
“The agency will tackle the problems of flooding, roads, healthcare facilities, schools, markets and so on.
“The eight council areas have been identified by the party as Development Pressure Areas that need urgent attention.
“Lagos State for instance will provide good roads and other infrastructure for its communities at Ogun border leaving our people to suffer serious neglect.
“In the course of my electioneering I called a boy at Ibafo and asked him `where is your school ?’, he said it is in Lagos. Such lop-sidedness and neglect will be corrected,’’ Isiaka said on a live radio programme on Monday hosted by Faaji FM, Lagos, a stable of Daar Communications Ltd, owners of AIT and RayPower FM.
The programme was transmitted simultaneously on the networks of Paramount FM, RockCity FM, Sweet FM and Family FM, all in Abeokuta from 8.00 am to 10.00 am.
Isiaka, the pioneer MD of Ogun State Gateway Mortgage Bank and indigene of Imeko in Yewa area of the state, also lamented the 22nd position of the state out of the 36 states with road infrastructural deficit.
According to him, rural road construction will be accorded priority by his administration to facilitate intra-state transportation of goods, services and people.
On education, the ADC candidate and PDP guber candidate in 2011 and 2015, announced the intention of his party to re-introduce free education in secondary schools scrapped by the Gov. Ibikunle Amosun’s administration three years ago while bursary and scholarship board will be resuscitated for students in tertiary institutions.
Isiaka also plans to rebuild existing schools in the state to create a conducive learning environment while teachers will be motivated to impart knowledge to students.
“I will re-introduce Principal-General in the three education discticts in the state to put senior principals at par with Permanent Secretaries in the Civil Service, stop deductions from workers’ salaries and pay outstanding deductions.’’
On graduate unemployment, Isiaka promised to use four core areas – sports, agriculture, ICT and entertainment – to create jobs for youths.
In addition, he said the curriculum of state tertiary institutions would be tinkered with to make their graduates employable.