Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State at the weeekend presented the instrument of office to the Okere of Saki, Oba Olatoyese Kelani Olarinre II, with a promise that his administration would continue to accord priority to the welfare of traditional rulers in the state.
The governor, who performed the ceremony at the capacity-filled OYSADEP Sports Complex in Saki township, noted that since the inception of his administration, provision of social welfare and prompt payment of salaries to traditional rulers had been of utmost concern.
He, however, charged royal fathers to reciprocate the good gesture of his administration by ensuring a conducive atmosphere in their respective domains.
Ajimobi also appealed for the cooperation and collaboration of the entire citizens of the state to his administration for the successful execution of its programmes.
“As the government is committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property, the citizens too must be law-abiding and also channel whatever grievances that they may harbour through legally acceptable means and to the appropriate channels,” he said.
The governor expressed his administration’s sincerity towards improving the welfare of the citizenry of the state, citing the employment of 20,000 youths under the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State as a further confirmation of the sincerity.
“I promise our good people of Oyo State that all the cardinal programmes of the Action Congress of Nigeria, as reflected in our manifesto, will be fully implemented to revamp the downward socio-economic situation of the state,” he stated.
Ajimobi thanked God that the coronation and the official presentation of the instrument of office to the monarch, which ought to have been performed since 2007 by the immediate past administration, had eventually come to reality.
“This is a further confirmation of the fact that this administration is a believer in and a promoter of justice and the rule of law. We do not believe in half measures of justice. It has to be full and in its totality,” he said.
While congratulating the royal father and all the sons and daughters of Saki on the occasion, he implored them to work together as a people for the progress and development of the town and the state in general.
“There are always gains to be derived from a collective sense of community. Even the holy writ testifies to the fact that it is always a thing of joy for people to come together and celebrate like this in a peaceful atmosphere,” the governor said.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, who also graced the occasion, went down memory lane on the history of the Okere stool and the genealogy of the Saki people and prayed for the peace, progress and development of the town and the entire state.