The Osun Masterminds, a civil society organization in Osun state have described the recent initiative of Osun State government to sink 332 boreholes ahead of his 100 days in office, as an unprogressive step in the state.
Addressing pressmen in Osogbo, the state capital on Friday, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli who is the Executive Director of the group said they have followed the recent announcement of Senator Ademola Adeleke-led government initiative and that it’s concerned that a State Government cannot look for other sustainable means of providing portable water than to start sinking boreholes across Osun.
Oyedokun-Alli said, “In trying to pursue a comprehensive water supply policy, the Governor is not supposed to take populist steps such as sinking of boreholes at this time in history, but look more at water supply solutions that are more comprehensive and more relevant on the long term.
“There is the pending llesa water project. There is also the abandoned mini water scheme of the Oyinlola administration. There is also the abandoned mini water projects of the Federal lawmakers that represented Osun between 2011 and 2015. Those projects are more comprehensive and provide more practical solutions to the water supply problems in the State.
“We also dare say that it is demeaning and when considered carefully, unhealthy to sink public boreholes that community people will walk long distances to access. We can find more pragmatic solutions to the water supply problem without resorting to primitive and populist approaches that do not guarantee water supply on the long run.
“The State is also not supposed to abandon projects on which several billions have been spent in the past, for such non-pragmatic projects like boreholes.
“We advise that the Governor reviews his government’s decision in this regard and take more futuristic steps on issues of governance going forward, as the goal of government is supposed to be long-term security of the livelihoods of citizens and not short-term applause.
Speaking further, the group also challenge Adeleke to swiftly take action on the matter of insecurity and kidnappings, which according to them, is now rampant in the state, to avoid the Osun being tagged “unsafe”
He said, “Away from election-related violence, we also find it quite unfortunate that in very recent times, cases of kidnapping for ransom is now on the rise in Osun State. In times past, the security situation in the State was such that one could boast that Osun was almost-immune to the kidnapping menace that was enveloping some sides of the country.
“Sadly, we are now having increased cases of abduction and this is quickly unsettling dwellers of the State. We do understand that this particular issue of insecurity has become Nationwide and has been on the increase all over the country.
“The Osun State government must as a matter of urgency, re-engineer the State’s security policy with a view to putting security agents on their toes, to ensure the security and safety of lives and properties. This is urgent and important and the Governor, Sen. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, must act with dispatch to disallow Osun under his watch, from becoming an unsafe State.
The group also used the medium to advise the state government to ensure stricter coordination of Transport management system that just got introduced.
“Finally, we want to briefly advise the State Government to ensure stricter coordination of men of the Transport Management System that just got introduced.
“We are aware of several cases of battery of Okada riders in the name of coercing them to purchase tickets; we are also aware that certain elements who now consider themselves having control of the State’s transport architecture, have been going about threatening rival groups within the old union.
“The transport management system must not be allowed to become a tool in the hands of unscrupulous elements that they will use to throw the State into crisis. Osun cannot afford any reintroduction of thuggery, cultism and hooliganism in the name of Transport Management. They concluded
