See full text of the speech Hon Dr Tella delivered below:
I stand before this Honourable House with deep sense of honour, responsibility, humility and commitment to the development of Abeokuta North Local Government and Ogun State in general as I deliver my inaugural speech.
In the first instance, I want to thank the Most High, the Mighty, Ancient, Durable and Immovable Rock that never die, never sleep nor slumber for granting me victory during the election.
I also want to thank the Governor of the State Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR, CON for his unflinching support during and after the election. In the same vein, I want to thank Mr. Speaker and this Honourable House for counting me worthy to be the Deputy Chief Whip of this 10th Assembly, I will never disappoint you and shall work tirelessly to contribute my quota in making impactful bills that will transform our dear State to a destination of choice in a committee of States.
Mr. Speaker, Distinguished Honourable Colleagues, I stand here today as the representative of the good people of Abeokuta North State Constituency –the voice for the aspirations, hopes and concerns. It is a responsibility that I take with utmost concern, seriousness and commitment towards ensuring that their voices are heard louder and clearer in this hallowed chamber.
My focus will be towards championing initiatives that address the diverse needs and concerns of my Constituent particularly in the area of education, health care, agriculture, infrastructure, housing and empowerment.
I will avail myself to working with relevant stakeholders and institutions to develop policies, legislations and interventions that will uplift our communities, improve their quality of life and as well as assist the Executive Arm of Government at the State level to remove encumbrances and hiccups that will affect bringing Dividends of Democracy to our people.In my journey as a Legislator within the next four years, I will be sponsoring impactful bills that will help to transform not only Abeokuta North but the whole of Ogun State.
This set of bills shall include; Rural Integration Bill: This bill has the primary objective of bridging the developmental gap between the rural and urban areas of the State. It aims to establish a framework to compel the Executive Governors in Ogun State to priotize the development of rural areas and allocate resources accordingly. Suffice it to note that, places you can call cities or urban areas in Ogun State are negligible and insignificant.
This means majority of the Local Governments fall in the rural areas. Places we can call cities or urban areas are; Abeokuta, Otta, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ifo Constituency II and Mowe/Ibawo Axis of Obafemi Owode Local Government.
This bill if passed will help to develop the rural areas of Ogun State and bring them totally out of neglect.Ogun State Housing Estate
Development Bill: This bill will help the government to focus more attention on the development and transformation of the old housing estates as they continue to establish new ones.Bill on
Cybercrime/Online Fraud: This will help our people being defrauded online in tracking the fraudsters with a view to compelling the banks for cooperation towards getting the stolen money back without hindrances.
Agricultural Revolution and Empowerment Bill: As we are all aware, agriculture presents immense opportunities for job creation and food security. This bill will aim at supporting initiatives that will promote modern farming techniques and infrastructures, access to credit and market by the farmers and as well encourage the participation of youth in agriculture.
Environmental Bill: There is need to look into the existing environmental law in the State to see areas that need to be improved upon so that we can have neater and cleaner environment. Having said these, there are areas that also need urgent attention and intervention of the State Government in the Local Government. They are; The road from Brewery to Ita-Oshin which is a Federal Government road and a road being plied by thousands of road users particularly those going from Abeokuta to Lagos need urgent attention.
The problem on that road has to do with the three large roundabouts; one at Brewery, one at Olomore and the last one at Ita-Oshin axis. These roundabouts are too large and cause traffic hold-up. I had tried my effort in the past as the Transition Chairman of the Local Government by writing the Federal Ministry of Works to re-design and reduce these roundabouts which is now old fashioned but without success. In the same vein, the potholes on the roads particularly after Brewery roundabout are already causing untoward hardship to motorists and other road users.
The place is always waterlogged during the rain and motorists spend hours to pass through the spot. Thus, we are using this opportunity to call on the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Works to do the needful on the roads. I however hope that if this House steps in, there would be changes. I am using this medium to appeal to the State Government to assist the people of the Oke-Ogun Communities of Abeokuta North Local Government in the area of road construction and repairs. It may sound funny to say that there are no good and accessible roads in that axis despite being the food basket of the local government.
The roads that need intervention in that axis includes; Imala-Olodo road, Oyan-Dam road, Isaga road, Olorunda-Ilewo road, Ilogun road, Ijale road, Kuta-Kurere road, Idi-Ori-Aaka road, Isaga-Agunmona road, Tibo-road, Begbinlawo road, Ipaya road, Ibara-Ijale road, Ponkuku-Koosa-Aaka road, Ika-Ajibefun via Gloryland Estate road Idi-Ori, Ponkuku-Atapa-Ikoyi road, just to mention a few.
Apart from the issue of road construction, Oke-Ogun community lacks basic social and physical infrastructures such as electricity, access to clean water supply, primary health-care facilities and agricultural support and empowerment.
There is also shortage of Teachers in the schools in the area most especially at the Primary School level. The linking of the popular ‘Gada Aro’ from Agbeloba to Ita-Oshin with modern bridge is long overdue. If this bridge is constructed, it will ease the burden and traffic hold-up that usually occur on Ita-Oshin – Lafenwa road. This bridge will serve as a kind of shortcut for vehicles entering the town who have no need to go through the busy Lafenwa road.
This will also affect businesses positively. The road that passes through the Local Government Secretariat at Akomoje from Iberekodo to Mawuko in Odeda Local Government is an eyesore, and that is the area where we have the Ogun State Water Corporation Dam that supplies water to the whole of Abeokuta.
The road is begging for urgent attention and we shall be glad if the State government helps in this direction. Same goes for Elega road leading to Bode-Olude in Odeda Local Government Area of the State.
I want to thank the State Government for the construction of Lafenwa-Rounda road. However, we shall be glad if the second part of the road is started in earnest to save our people from avoidable accidents.
There is no gainsaying the fact that, it is a busy road that leads to the largest market in Ogun State on one end and the border between Nigeria and Republic of Benin via Olorunda/Imeko/Ilara on the other end.
Be that as it may, I want to thank His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR, CON for his efforts at ensuring that we had peaceful and rancour-free inauguration. I hereby appeal to our colleagues to let us work together to achieve the reason why we are here and also promise to use my role as the Deputy Chief Whip to foster unity, cooperation, camaraderie and togetherness among members irrespective of Party affiliation.
In the same vein, I want to liken this House to a perforated pot full of water, for the water in the pot not to escape; we must all put our fingers on the perforated areas. As long as this is done, the House will be an enviable, peaceful and enjoyable place to behold.
At this juncture, I want to commiserate with the people of Gbagura Land over the demise of their Traditional Ruler the Agura of Gbagura Oba Saburee Bakare. He was a first class Traditional Ruler being loved not only by his people but by everyone in the Local Government.
I can never forget the support he gave me as the Transition Chairman of the Local Government. May his soul rest in perfect peace. As if that was not enough, the APC Ogun Central Senatorial District also lost his Chairman in person of Chief Fohunola Abiola. He participated fully during the last Elections and gave up the ghost in active service during the visit of the President of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Ake Palace. May his soul rest in peace. Mr. Speaker, I would not mind if a minute silence can be observed in respect of these great sons of Egbaland.
Nevertheless, I want to end my speech by borrowing from the word of Harold Laski in his book titled “The Grammar of Politics” he said and I quote “Any time an intellectual has the right to speak against injustice, and yet remain silent, he contribute to the moral paralyses and intellectual bareness that grips the affluent World”. I will work along with others to ensure fairness, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity among members so that together we can carry the destiny of the hallowed chamber in our hands.
In conclusion, the whole State is looking unto us to bring development and transformation to Ogun State by ensuring that impactful and necessary bills that will help this process are passed and by also discharging our other duties diligently. Ijoba Ipinle Ogun…Ajose Gbogbo Wa Ni!Long Live the 10th House of Assembly!Long Live Abeokuta North State Constituency!Long Live Ogun State!!Long Live Nigeria!!!
