SDP guber candidate pledges to stimulate economic growth

Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Kwara State, Dr. Joseph Olajide Adebola has unveiled his plan to stimulate state economic growth through Rapid Agricultural Reform Initiative (RARI). Adebola made the revelation on Monday in an interview with Daily Times, in Ilorin. According to him is intended to shift the state economic focus towards agricultural business and entrepreneurship. “What we intend to do with that is to create jobs for as many people and investment opportunity for as many people in agriculture. “By 2021 RARI seeks to employ 200, 000 youths and by 2022 each one in the agricultural business chain will be self-sufficient”, he said. The governorship hopeful explained that the gap in the state in agriculture was low domestic production and lack of market access among others. He asserted that RARI centre would be established in each local government based on the agricultural product that is most available and that the soil type can support.  This, he said would increase the revenue base of the state and create employment for the jobless, reduce unemployment of the youth and reduce youth restiveness. The 43 year-old added that fisheries would be set up in area closed to water body in the state. On road infrastructure, Adebola promised to make Kwara a transportation hub of the country. “In 2015, there was a study done by the Kwara state which showed that infrastructure gap in the state is about N255 billion. “That is a lot and it is not just road, but other infrastructure like health, education etc. “Our orange vision intends to map out the state into six socioeconomic development zones using road networks. “We will ensure that rather than our citizens going through Oyo state to get to Kaiama, Baruten, the road from Bode Sadu to Kaiama to Gure is fixed and create another one in such that one becomes busy. “If that is done, it will facilitate movement of goods and services. “As part of our infrastructure plan for transportation, one of the goals is to make Kwara a transportation hub for goods and services in Nigeria”, said the governorship candidate. Speaking on his decision to vie for the coveted seat, Adebola pointed that the challenges that was facing institutions in the state required technocrats like him to be part of the political system so that they could add value. “Moreover for Kwara state, which is my state, as a young boy my father was a civil servant and had a privilege of living with him in several communities during his postings as far as New Bussa, Igosun, Offa, Omu-Aran among others. “That gave me a big opportunity to appreciate the communities; their challenges and problems. “If we are not part of political system, we can’t solve the problems of the people and the challenges have remained if not worse than when one was growing up till today”, he said.