Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reiterated his administration’s commitment to turn around the state’s economy through massive infrastructural development and financial re-engineering.
Governor Aregbesola who promised to continuously live up to his statutory responsibilities regardless of the current economic misnomer said his administration would not derail from its determination to champion the general well being and prosperity of the citizenry.
Aregbesola stated this while presenting a whooping sum of N87,932,510 as compensation to the leadership of the Apostolic Church of Nigeria whose one of its churches in Osogbo has been marked for demolition on the ongoing construction of Olaiya-Ita Olokan dual carriage way.
Governor Aregbesola revealed that the church was valued at sum of N57.9 million, stressing that the state having considered the constant renovation of the church resolved to add N30million to its valued cost making N87.9 million.
Governor Aregbesola disclosed that his administration had paid over one billion naira (N1billion) as compensations to people whose properties and belongings were in one way or the other affected in the course of massive developments and all round transformation in the state.
Aregbesola stated that his government has made available N392 billion as compensation fees for 149 claimants being identified, saying his government has also made a meaningful resolution on how the funds would be dole out to the victims.
Analyzing the mode of compensation to the claimants, Governor Aregbesola said he has resolved to pay cash to those among the victims whose properties or belongings fall between Olaiya-Odiolowo axis, while those victims whose properties are to be demolished around Isale-Osun/Ita Olokan axis would be resettled to Awosuru area, Osogbo.
Governor Aregbesola said his government would not in any way trample on the rights of the citizens, saying the time has come for all and sundry to see personal sacrifice as a veritable tool to all round development.
Governor Aregbesola promised that his government would ensure due payment to the victims, saying he has commenced the release of compensation fees to those who were affected on the ongoing construction.
Governor Aregbesola said his government has no intention to neither victimize nor disturb the people of the state including the religious organizations, adding that he his religious loving government.
Governor Aregbesola who lamented over what he described as worrisome state of physical planning of towns and cities before his inception said his coming to the state as governor had given the state a unique look through his unprecedented infrastructural development.
According to him, “Despite the dwindling allocation and economic complications in the country, our government still deemed it fit to pay compensation to people whose lands were to be used for development.
“Before our administration, physical planning of our towns and cities was nothing to write home about as the state lacked availability of good access roads.
“I am confident that this era would go down in history and very successful, remarkable and meaningful in the history of our towns, cities and the people of our dear state.
“Our desire is to modernize our towns particularly the state capital and city centres at achieving general well being of our people.
“Our joy is in the fact that the leadership of the Apostolic Church of Nigeria has agreed on our government’s bid to demolish one of its churches in Osogbo for the purpose of upgrading and beautification of the state.
“Our government has set aside N392 million as compensation to our people whose properties are to be demolished in the course of the ongoing reconstruction of Olaiya-Ita Olokan
“We are doing this in other to give our towns a befitting look and guard against any form of human and vehicle conflict within our cities, dual carriage ways have been the priority of our administration since inception.
“Though we understand the fact that the church to be demolished must be suffering from the present location because of the floods, but as we are taking up the land, our government would ensure total transformation of the place and when the slip way that we intended to construct is completed, it would be name after the church.
“This church is in the waterlogged area. If you are going to be sincere with us, the main challenge we have is occasional flooding, but we thank God that you extended your cooperation to us.
Governor Aregbesola therefore commended the leadership of the church for being part of the state developmental process.
“I thank the leadership of this church for it willingness to be part of the progress of our state particularly the state capital.
“The state commend you on your general principles of cooperation, support and willingness to development and progress.
“We thank God that your church has really cooperated and supported us, infact this is win-win for us.
“We pray God to reward the leadership of the church, the members and those who contributed to the success of this agreement”, he said.
Earlier in his remark, the National President, the Apostolic Church of Nigeria, Pastor Gabriel Oladele Olutola commended the present government on its plethora of developments.
Pastor Olutola who expressed satisfaction over the decision of the state to compensate the church said Governor Aregbesola has distinguished himself as an epitome of transformation and performance.
He said the leadership of the church found it easy to cooperate with government on its bid to demolish the church simply because it has been the principle of the church to abide and support the authority.
Pastor Olutola therefore prayed for prosperity and abundance as the state is currently being tormented with economic crunch.
