New Year:Babayemi Advocates Grassroots Development

A prominent figure in All Progressives Congress (APC) of Osun State, Omooba Dotun Babayemi, has called on government at all levels in the country to place premium on the grassroots development in the new year.

Babayemi who expressed concern, said that the call had become imperative in view of the neglect and degradation being suffered by the people at the grassroots.

In his New Year message released by his media office, the popular APC chieftain and the leader of the Ireti Osun Movement said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Program (RHWDP) could be used as launchpad to achieve this.

“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 being palatable as it shows a people going through excruciating pains and completely cut off from modernity” he decried.

Babayemi further lamented that absence of basic social amenities such as good roads, potable water, electricity, schools and hospitals, among others,were the hallmarks of the rural areas.

While commending President Tinubu’s ward-based model under the aegis of RWHDP, he stressed that if thoroughly handled and pursued,it could be used to change the face of Nigeria for the better.

“Development of the grassroots will never vitiate the urban renewal agenda.The pursuit of the nation’s growth would speedily be enhanced if attention could be given to our villages and communities which have always been in the doldrums” he maintained

“President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Program (RHWDP), will surely be good in this regard. One commends his vision. Relevant authorities and stakeholders must key into this vision so as to allow for an all-round growth and turn around in the country”the APC chieftain further enjoined

In related development, the Gbongan-born Prince noted that the relevance of the local government in this quest, could not be wished away, pointing out that it was the closest to the people.

“The much talked about local government autonomy must be allowed to take shape, moreso 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 the topographies” he added

Babayemi expressed the optimism that the New Year would usher in fresh hope and new beginning, calling on the people to take advantage of it for personal development and the growth of the nation.

“I wish us all the best in the New Year and beyond. Let’s join hands with those in authority to move our country forward. It’s the cooperation of all that can make things work” he added