July 2019 Edition

governor
the
July 2019
roads and education, we have 52 primary
schools in Odogbolu and a number of
secondary schools.
I have visited a lot and I remember when I
was in local government, I had the audit of
the needs of the primary schools in
Odogbolu. Some do not even have roofs.
There is a lot to be done and when you look
at those small but big needs and building a
model school, we now ask: Have we gotten
our priorities right? That is not to say the
idea of a model school is not a good one but
which comes first?
You were among the people that resigned
few months before Governor Amosun left
office. Is there any connection and would
you give us some insight as to what led to the
decision?
[You serve at the governor's desire and it is
for a period. It is no secret that things
changed in Ogun state: Political interests,
Affiliation, a lot of things were realigned and
I think I also had to realign.
As an indigene of Ogun State and a politician
who has worked both in the private sector
and public sector, do you think government is
taking the opportunity and possibilities that
public private partnership could bring to
development seriously?
I was part of the transition committee and I
also was in the project management unit in
the commerce and industry so I know the
recommendations and what we put
together. My experience, being in commerce
and industry, we met with a lot of
stakeholders and that informed our
recommendations. We are not instructing
but we are trying to ensure that we are
taking a client approach and not “Top Down:
This is what will happen!”
They were guiding us, telling us their plans
and what they expect which guided us in
going back to the drawing board to come up
with policies. The discussion has started and
there's going to be a lot more participation
and there is going to be a lot more
engagement.
He is going to formalise and there is going to
be a proper structure for feedback and for
engagement with the private sector. I know
the governor has said it openly that there is
going to be an economic advisory council
and that tells you how seriously he is taking
this.
He keeps talking about creating an enabling
environment. Closing of business is not
going to be our first approach; we are not
taking a punitive approach towards
attracting or keeping our investors. We are
going to take an incentive approach. Closing
a business will not be our first point of call.
Even when we have a business or an
organisation that is erring in one area or the
other, we are going to have engagements
and we are going to respect the rule of law.
Keeping this business open will be our
priority but not at the risk of lives or the
health of the community, No.