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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has reiterated his administration’s dedication to fostering development from the grassroots, asserting that genuine progress can only be achieved when local communities are empowered and actively involved in governance.
Speaking through Dr. Biyi Odunlade, Commissioner for Political Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, at a grassroots engagement forum held at Abere, yesterday, the governor emphasized the importance of community-oriented projects and inclusivity in state policies.
“Every politics begins at the grassroots, if politics is not strengthened from the grassroots, we cannot have development,” Adeleke said.
The forum gathered community leaders, market women, students, youths, and artisans to assess ongoing development initiatives and identify new community needs. The governor expressed gratitude for their support and assured attendees that his administration would continue to prioritize rural areas in its policies. “You will never regret supporting this government,” he promised, emphasizing that their focus on the people would yield celebratory results.
Hon. Adetunji Ajala, the organizer and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Rural Development and Community Affairs, explained that the engagement aimed to enhance dialogue between the government and the people. “We want to hear directly from the people — what has been done and what still needs to be addressed. That’s how governance stays relevant,” he said.
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Ajala highlighted various projects, including rural electrification, feeder road construction, farmer empowerment schemes, and the “Rara Project,” which aims to improve the transportation of farm produce, as significant achievements of the administration.
The Commissioner Rural Development and Community Affairs, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa also detailed the progress made under the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), where communities contribute 5% of project costs while the state covers 95%. He announced that several World Bank-assisted projects, including roads and transformer installations, are set to be commissioned by November 27.
Market leaders, like Alhaji Ismaila Olaiya, Chairman of the Osun State Market Association, praised the Adeleke administration for its accomplishments in infrastructure, education, and community development. “Governor Adeleke has shown that governance is about people, not politics,” Olaiya said.
Alhaji Agbajelola Salam, Chairman of the Community Governance Council (CGC) in Osun State, referred to Governor Adeleke as a “Godsent” for the people of Osun, noting his impactful achievements within three years compared to previous administrations. “People should be ready to vote for him for a second term,” Salam urged.
He explained that the event’s focus on grassroots improvement, highlighting a shift from traditional communal practices to modern Community Groups (CGs) across Osun. “We have about 3,000 CGs with representatives from each community throughout the state,” Salam noted, crediting the governor with enhancing rural life significantly.
Olaiya commended the government’s performance in various sectors, including infrastructure and education, calling on Osun residents to vote en masse for Adeleke in his second term, describing him as “the man of the people.”
