A former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Dotun Babayemi, has urged governments at all levels in the country to place a premium on grassroots development in the new year.
Babayemi, who expressed concern over what he described as worsening underdevelopment at the grassroots, said the call had become imperative in view of the neglect and degradation being suffered by the people.
In his New Year message released by his media office on Wednesday, he said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme could be used as a launchpad to achieve the needed grassroots development.
“At the risk of sounding immodest, I can talk about my state, which has 332 wards. Out of these, I visited 299 wards, with 33 remaining. I can safely say that the experience was far from palatable, as it showed a people going through excruciating pains and completely cut off from modernity,” he decried.
Babayemi further lamented that the absence of basic social amenities such as good roads, potable water, electricity, schools and hospitals, among others, were the hallmarks of rural areas.
While commending President Tinubu’s ward-based model under the aegis of the RWHDP, he stressed that if thoroughly handled and pursued, it could be used to change the face of the country for the better.
“Development of the grassroots will never vitiate the urban renewal agenda. The pursuit of the nation’s growth would be speedily enhanced if attention could be given to our villages and communities, which have always been in the doldrums.
“President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme will surely be good in this regard. One commends his vision. Relevant authorities and stakeholders must key into this vision to allow for all-round growth and a turnaround in the country,” he added.
Babayemi noted that the relevance of local governments in the quest for grassroots development could not be wished away, pointing out that they were the closest to the people.
“The much-talked-about local government autonomy must be allowed to take shape, more so that the apex court of the land, the Supreme Court, has ruled to that effect. Council areas are germane to the development of their areas because they understand their needs, challenges and topographies,” he added.
He expressed optimism that the New Year would usher in fresh hope and a new beginning, calling on the people to take advantage of it for personal development and the growth of the nation.
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