Just yesterday, I was soliciting support for GSM to actualise the true trait of Pacesetting at least in Oyo State since Nature or the debt of every human took the second term jinx breaker barely after a year of his two terms as Governor.
The reason for this gesture is not far fetched, by every standard, I am trained to see positive things in circumstances even if the odds are enormous but from the showcase of brotherhood and statesmanship displayed in Lagos State yesterday at the reception of the President of Nigeria being their own and their leader, I got moved and can only hope this is domiciled in Oyo State if it could not be the pacesetter being the political headquarters of the “then” west. However, GSM can set the new pace in Oyo State. I crave and seek that we rise above party sentiments to make Oyo state so enviable as demonstrated in Lagos state yesterday. History was made and the foundation for consolidation.
As an active participant in Oyo politics, I bet my last 14-20 months have shown me dimensions I never read in any political book or experienced. I will leave details till the right time and appropriate platform where learned lessons would be useful. “Democratic Pavilion” to which her vision is “to be a vibrant and transformative hub of democratic education, inspiring an informed and engaged citizenry, and fostering a just and participatory society”. To this end, I like to comment on the two focal examples in the GSM message from this news item.
First of all, it is the tribrid power system – the 11MW Independent Power Project (IPP, which is ongoing) as the main source of power with gas generators and inverters as a backup. The striking thing about this is the foresight. It means the project was near completion in the first term. Yes, maybe not sufficient for the need of Oyo State but it’s preparation that meets readiness. Less than a month, in fact about the tenth day, the PBAT administration signed the Electricity Act 2023. This replaces the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act 2005. Under this Act, among other regulatory details, States can issue licenses to private investors who can operate mini-grids and power plants within the state. Limiting it to this for the benefit of this response means GSM is visionary.
Democratic Pavillion (DemPav) looks forward to Oyo state citizens also supporting the democratic government of Governor Seyi Makinde (GSM) to utilize the opportunity therein particularly as enshrined in the Act in question which states that anyone may construct, own or operate an undertaking for generating electricity not exceeding 1 megawatt (MW) in aggregate at a site or an undertaking for distribution of electricity with a capacity not exceeding 100 kilowatts (KW) in aggregate at a site, or such other capacity as NERC may determine from time to time, without a license.
Secondly, Tourism is one of the sectors that we will be focusing on during this tenure to drive our economy. And so, we will be decoupling the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism. So, we will have the Ministry of Information headed by one commissioner, while another will head the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. These were GSM words and very explicit.
DemPav believes this is very strategic as it would create jobs, strengthens the local economy, contributes to local infrastructure development, and can help to preserve the natural environment and cultural assets and traditions and to decrease poverty and unevenness.
Summarily, this stimulates the Transportation, Agriculture, Trade, and Housing sectors without the exemption of private investments from individuals or corporate entities. What environment can be better enabled?
‘Hafiz Oladejo
