Omisore tasks Aregbesola on infrastructure growth

…commends citizens

Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has commended the people of the state for their steadfastness and perseverance in the face of the present economic adversity facing the nation.

Omisore, who was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 2003 to 2009, representing Osun East senatorial district, in his New Year message to the Apesin Oodua of the Source who recently graduated with a Ph.D in Infrastructure Finance from the International School of Management, Paris, France, reassured the citizens of Osun and Nigeria in general that the current recession facing the nation will soon become a thing of the past.

Making reference to the ‘2017 budget of Recovery and Growth’ presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Omisore averred that “with the renewed efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration at reinvigorating the economy and if the 2017 budget is anything to go by, the economy should be able to pick up by second quarter of 2017.

“With about N2.243 trillion earmarked for capital projects and N2.9 trillion as recurrent expenditure out of the N7.28 trillion federal government budget for 2017, the economy should begin to experience growth and stability as soon as possible. Many of our people have been pauperized; state governments have not been able to take care of their recurrent expenses leading to a static situation while civil servants are the worse hit. In the face of all these, our people have remained peaceful and loyal to their nation. They deserve commendation and appreciation”, says Dr.Omisore.

He advised both the federal government and states governments to make welfare of the citizens paramount in their planning. He emphasised the need for infrastructural development at both state and federal levels expressing positive feelings on the 30% of the 2017 federal budget dedicated to capital projects.

He however, stated that the best way to infrastructural growth is to embrace fully the practilisation of the Public Private Partnership model as being done in all developed economy.

“Public-private partnership is the only way to cover up the country’s infrastructure deficit. There is no government in the world that can fund infrastructure alone,” he says. “But if it is a private sector partnership with the government, the private investor knows his money must come back to him, and he would be diligent in what he is going to buy. He would look for durable materials. That is why the PPP option is what I have been canvassing. Apart from the fact that the fund is enormous, it brings integrity into the process. It guarantees durability and reduced cost.”

Omisore says when he was in the senate he had tried to bring his ideas of infrastructure financing to bear on government business but was often frustrated. “I called inter-ministerial meetings to try to bring the ministers together, but they frustrated it. Because of the structure of government and the ego of our people, they find it difficult to work together.”

Omisore equally suggests ways out of the current financial crunch in the country. He says, “The Central Bank of Nigeria must come out with a standard exchange rate for everybody,” because, according to him, the current multiplicity of exchange rates for different purposes creates room for corruption. Secondly, he recommends the elimination of deficit budgeting, saying, “We have to find a way of financing our budgets.”

IyiolaOmisore sprang to recognition and prominence with his people as a result of his philanthropic activities over two decades ago. At the last count he has personally funded or facilitated the funding of over two hundred and fifty (250) projects widely spread all over his home state of Osun and in other states in Nigeria.

Senator IyiolaOmisore who is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, is a grass root Politician, a political mobiliser and a community man, who has always been involved in development efforts in his place of birth, Ile-Ife. He has been conferred with over twenty (20) traditional titles by different communities, where he has won the admiration of the people. He is a free mixer and could be found in the circle of both high and the lowly throughout Nigeria. He is also very much at home within the academia and has presented several academic papers at various academic functions.

Speaking about ways to improve development in Yorubaland, Omisore, a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, England and Wales said, “All Yoruba indigenes should go back to the core values of the Yoruba which emphasizes more on honesty, love, reputation and good names instead of wealth and fame”.

Senator Omisore holds many top level chieftaincy titles in Yoruba land. He is Apesin Oodua of the Source; High Chief Lisa of Osogboland; Bashorun of Ijeshaland; Asiwaju Balogun of Ibadanland; Akinrogun of Edeland; Maiyegun of Ijero Kingdom; Seriki of UsiEkiti; Agbaakin of Ila Orangun; Ashipa of Inisha Kingdom; Otunba of IpetuModu; Akinrogun of Ede; Otunba of Odo-Eku, among others.

The recognition of his community service, traditional actions and philanthropy are not limited to Yoruba land. Dr.IyiolaOmisore has been further honoured with the title “ZegeHuror u Kwande man ishanna” a title gotten from Kwande, Benue State in the Northern part of the country.

He is the son of Oba David Olajide Omisore and the grandson of LowaOmisore, both of Ayepe, Olode.

Iyiola is also the grandson of the Late OlufewaraKabiyesi Oba Titus Adetoba of the Oseganderuku ruling house in Ifewara where his mother, Princess EmilaAdejola ruled as Regent until her death in 2006.

In August 2006, his father was crowned as the first Olu of Olode Town in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State.