…Award based on empirical facts, indisputable statistics of his modest achievements so far — Management

The leadership and management of Vanguard Newspapers on Monday presented a nomination letter of the Vanguard’s Governor of the Year 2021award to Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

The Newspaper’s management attributed the Governor’s nomination for the award as a recognition of his modest achievements and sterling performance across sectors of the economy in the last three years of his Administration.

Management also said the Governor’s choice for the award was basically on empirical facts and indisputable statistics on the geometric transformation that the State and her people had experienced under his watch since assumption of office.

The philosophy of the award is to recognize and celebrate excellence, national pride and service to humanity.

Presenting the nomination letter to the Governor in his office at Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, on Monday, the Deputy Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Kunle Adekoya, said the Governor was voted by the Board of Editors of the Newspapers for his sterling contributions to the growth, development and upliftment of the people of the State in particular and Nigerians in general.

According to him, the Governor has successfully delivered the dividends of democracy without loans and that, it is on record that he has prudently managed available resources while his Administration has kept faith with the people and maintained fidelity with his electoral promises.

“The Board of Editors of Vanguard Newspapers writes and presents this letter to you so as to notify you that you have been voted as Vanguard’s Governor of the Year 2021 for your sterling contributions to the upliftment of the good people of Osun State in particular and Nigerians in general.

“Since assumption of office you have delivered the dividends of democracy without loans. It is on record that you have prudently managed available resources while your Administration has kept faith with the people and maintained fidelity with your electoral promises.

“As of September 30, 2021, the debt of Osun State has gone down to N132.644 billion, according to the Debt Management Office, DMO.

“Also, your leadership has helped in increasing the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of Osun State.

“Also, your Administration has engaged in transparent governance mechanisms which have led to the plugging of wastes and blockade of loopholes. These mechanisms have enabled you to pay salaries and pensions and to take care of other welfare issues, among others.

“Your leadership style also instituted inclusive governance and placed the people at the centre of all that you do.

“It is for these, and more, that we confer on you this well-deserved award, with great honour. We do the performance assessment annually, where we look at the development index, but we have been watching closely the performance of the current Administration since the Governor came on board. Having been aware of the noises and events in the political spheres, we have noticed, since the assumption of office of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, how he came about the dramatic change in the temperature and temperament of the people of Osun.

“As seen in the social media, the battle for the soul of Osun is about the welfare of the people of Osun which we have observed that the Governor had taken as a priority. First of all, why do we work? We work to earn a living and in the previous Administration, we know how it was and how it is now for workers. We can see that the people of Osun, particularly the workers, are living far more easily and better than before.

“We also noted the crisis in the education sector and how brilliantly the Governor has resolved it. One other thing we have seen is the character of Mr. Governor: no crisis, no rancour. In fact, we have seen the highest level of decorum in governance.

“So, what seemed impossible before is now being made possible under the leadership of Governor Oyetola. That is why it was deduced from the last primary election, ‘a battle between half salary and full salary’ as seen in the social media.

“Generally, this nomination for the award of Governor of the Year for Good Governance is actually an encouragement award on how the Governor has raised the pedestal of governance for the people of Osun and beyond”, he added.

In his response, Governor Oyetola expressed gratitude to the management of the Newspapers for counting him worthy of the award, promising to see the recognition as a challenge to do more for humanity.

Oyetola who described the award as the best to receive this year, said ” I am highly elated to receive this award coming from Vanguard Newspaper, one of the higly reputable newspapers in Nigeria.”

He added: “The reward for hard-work is more work. You have said a lot about our little contributions to advance the economy of the State and provide quality leadership for our people as regards our commitment to changing the narrative of Osun from being a civil service state to a highly industrial and commercial -based economy among others.

“I accept the award wholeheartedly. It is the best award I am getting this year.”