Editors say Gov Aregbesola has done well

Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, was on Saturday described as a visionary leader who has not only opened up Osun to the entire world, but who has also set the State on the right path of development.

President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mrs Funke Egbemode, stated this in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

Egbemode led the NGE Standing Committee members on an inspection tour of projects across the State.

On his part, Governor Aregbesola attributed the nation's economic problem and the poverty ravaging millions of people to lack of productivity.

Some of the projects visited by the NGE team included the 18 kilometre Oba Adesoji Aderemi East By-Pass; 3,000 students capacity Ataoja Government High School, Osogbo Government High School, Nelson Mandela Freedom Park and Atewogbeja Fountain, rehabilitated Nigeria Railway Terminus and park.

Egbemode attributed the development and progress of the State to the atmosphere of peace and security being enjoyed in the State.

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Egbemode, who is also the Managing Director of the New Telegraph Newspaper, said however ambitious any chief executive of a State is, he can only achieve little without peace and security.

She said it is obvious that something has changed in Osun and there has been a significant improvement in terms of infrastructure in the State since the present administration came on board.

She added that it is gratifying to know that the state of Osun, especially the state capital, is now looking cleaner, more developed and beautiful.

She said, "Obviously, so many things have changed in Osun. I am from this State and I come home occasionally and each time I come there is always a new thing to see.

"I am so happy that we now have a cleaner and more beautiful State, it is great to see that there is a lot of improvement in Osun.

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"A Governor that is able to attract businesses and investors to his State through direct mass-oriented programmes like the O'Meal, O'yes and others has done well."

In his response, Aregbesola said more than 70 percent of the nation's oil resources goes to less than one percent of the total population, thereby leaving large numbers of the populace living below poverty line.

He lamented that the huge resources in the hands of this few was not even channelled to the development of the nation.

Aregbesola said "If we have ever paused to ask why we are how we are in this nation, we will discover that lack of productivity is at the root of our economic problems.

"The large chunk of the nation's wealth is in the hands of a few while majority wallow in abject poverty. And these resources are not utilised for any development.

"Sadly, work does not pay in Nigeria today as those who work very well are the most poor. Our inability to develop values out of nature brought us to this abysmal level of poverty.

"Therefore, for as long as we don't work for this wealth, it will lead to lack of productivity. Work must be the major attraction for all of us rather than our heavy reliance on rent seeking oil economy of the present."

Aregbesola cautioned media practitioners on the need to be conscious of the impact of what they write on the society.

The Governor said a serious minded Governor will not be averse to criticisms because it serves as a means to gauge performance.

He however noted that criticism must be constructive and done in good faith.

"Criticism is an elixir of life. If you want to get far in life you must be willing to accept criticism.

"But then, journalists must be conscious of what they feed the public and be mindful of its repercussion".