Four out of the thirty-nine gubernatorial candidates jostling to succeed the incumbent governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Friday engaged each other in a live debate and promised the people what they intend to do when elected.
The four gubernatorial candidates, who expressed similar and divergent views in different areas; such as health, education, security, agriculture, empowerment, workers welfare spoke at a gubernatorial debate organised by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Yoruba service in Ibadan, the state capital.
The four that attended the debate held at Professor Theophillus Ogunlesi Hall opposite the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, were former governor of the state who doubles as the candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and Mrs. Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu, candidate of the National Interest Party (NIP).
It was, however, shunned by candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engineer Seyi Makinde and his Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), counterpart, Barrister Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli.
The debate, according to the organisers was put up by the corporation to allow the candidates to tell the people about their manifesto. The election is billed to take place on Saturday, 2nd March 2019 in all the 33 local government areas in the state.
Head, West Africa BBC news, Toyosi Ogunseye, while addressing the participants shortly before the commencement of the debate tasked the audience to maintain decorum with a charge that the intention of the debate was to let the candidates meet tell the people on their aspirations.
Ogunseye, while speaking, warned that the platform was not a political gathering.
She said, “Good morning. Please, we want us to know that this is not a political gathering. This is not a political party thing. This is not a political gathering. We have done it in Lagos and we will do it in Kano and Enugu. We are live and the while world is watching us live from here.”
When asked what role age and experience play in politics, the duo of Alao-Akala and Lanlehin argued that politics is a venture to be proud of, a mix bag of good and bad people, and needed people who were of age and experienced.
The duo of Adelabu and Sarumi-Aliyu, while answering the question maintained that age is not a factor for good governance but experience in administration even outside occupying political offices.
While Adelabu bemoaned that politics overtime had not been a venture he was proud of, Sarumi-Aliyu on the other hand said she will surround herself with experienced persons.
The four gubernatorial candidates while promising to revive the education sector in the state, promised to renovate schools, give incentives to teachers and make available modern facilities to aid teaching and learning.
The four gubernatorial candidates all promised to ensure that the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) owned by both Oyo and Osun states, is solely owned by Oyo state.
Sarumi-Aliyu and Lanlehin spoke further by expressing commitment to free primary education while Alao Akala assured that deserving students would get scholarship.
Alao-Akala, while insisting that he is the most experienced the state needs in 2019, said he will ensure that pregnant women access free health care and equip all hospitals with drugs and equipment. He also promised to provide employment through a focus on Agriculture, accord payment of salaries and pensions priority and have an office to attend to persons living with disabilities.
He stressed that while in office during his first term as governor, he ruled the state with the fear of God and now ready to do same and even more to make the people of the state happy.
Adelabu while speaking further said his government will repair dispensaries and maternity centres to enhance Primary Health Care, adopt a preventive and combative approach to security, employ experts to manage BCOS and ensure payment of salaries by 25th of every month through an increase in IGR and stopping dependence on allocation from the federation account.
Lanlehin on his part, promised that his focus will include embarking on project that directly touch peoples welfare, engaging local contractors for projects, revitalising farm settlements, awarding scholarship to brilliant disabled persons and conducting local government elections as soon as he assumes office so as to have a people-driven government.
Sarumi-Aliyu on the other hand, said she will re-orientate thugs to shun thuggery and violence and provide employment, cut wastages and boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
She added that she will partner with the BBC to revive the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS).