Former Secretary to Oyo State Government and leading gubernatorial aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli has said, “sports is a key priority to develop our youths, give them career hope, and excel in their choice when we pick the primary and win the election.”
Alli was speaking when he received the delegation of the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Inc (NSDFI) at the Ajorosun Club house in Ibadan with a promise to create wealth, breed champions and ensure the greater prosperity of the 42year-old Pace Setters state from 2019.
He thanked the brains behind the elite athlete development grant. He singled out Chief Mary Onyali “we used to follow your races with special passion when you used to make us proud in international athletics.”
Alli said, “every effort to make you clone yourselves will be massively supported and should be supported by every Nigerian. Your concept is so unique and hope-giving.”
The lawyer turned politician spoke on why he chose to lead the state saying: “I am on a rescue mission to bail the state out of excruciating poverty, poor educational system, irritating and parlous state of health facilities across the state, unemployment among the youths and drastic leap in agricultural sector to engender food sufficiency and industrialisation of the state to earn buffer revenue.
Alli assured his guests that the people’s confidence in him and the ADC would not be taken for granted if given the chance to fly the party’s ticket and win the 2019 gubernatorial race.
Said he, “what more can I ask for than to thank God for His mercy on me. The kind of support we have gotten from across the length and breadth of the 351 wards of the state is outstanding. It has shown me that this is God’s project.
“You remember under our leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, the endemic guineworm we met on taking over the reign of governance was wiped away within 12 months of our government. LAUTECH was adjudged best state university in our time; we implemented 30 pupils per class policy and workers welfare were the top of our priority and industrialisation of the state took off in grand style and indeed a number of investments were attracted to cater for jobless youths and wealth creation for our people” Barrister Alli said.
“I promised to reinvent those good old days under Senator Ladoja and prioritise workers and pensioners’ welfare like never in the history of the state. Our party, ADC has special interest in women and youth empowerment in addition to other programmes geared towards making life more abundant for our people. I shall listen to what the peoples’ needs are and from time to time, hold town hall meetings to bring governance to the doorsteps of the people. The issue of capital flight shall be a thing of the past because our local contractors shall get more jobs for the wealth to go round our people.
“With my experience as a former council Chairman, SSG, Senator-elect and of recent Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, the state will witness new lease of life. All the aforementioned and more shall be my focus and I know that by the grace of God I will be the next Governor of Oyo state come 29thMay, 2019 and I promise not to let the people down,” Alli assured.
Earlier, the delegation led by the Director General, Olajide Fashikun espoused the fact that we need 4.5million Nigerians to join our campaign. All we ask for is N200 or its multiples. We must change the future of funding sports. We want to deburden our governments. We must make our athletes and officials feel a greater sense of nationalistic support.”
