Except Mike Omotosho of the Labour Party (LP), all other standard bearers of the political parties billed to participate in the April 11 governorship election in Kwara State, were absent from the state's governorship debate organized by Kwara Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (KWACOBPA).

The non-partisan, non-governmental coalition had extended invitations to three other candidates, including those of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nevertheless, the organizers commended Omotosho for his promptness and comportment during the programme, stating that by his appearance, he has keyed himself into one of the visions of the body to promote the best business practices for a sustainable economic growth of the state.

Fielding questions from the panelists on how he intended to turn the economic fortunes of the state around, the LP guber candidate said "all you need is to create enabling environment and naturally, foreign investors will come. It is a wasteful venture to travel abroad looking for investors."

For Omotosho, "our overdependence on oil is very worrisome. We need to lower our expenses, increase turnover and reduce waste. We should look at where the purse is leaking, and we in the Labour Party don't encourage godfatherism. We will not make any return to anybody on monthly basis."

According to him, "agriculture is the mainstay of any modern economy. 75 per of land in Kwara is arable. The rejected stone will soon become the cornerstone of the house because we will let people see and lead them into potentials in that sector of the economy."

Promising prompt resuscitation of science and technology education and involvement of the youth in the scheme due to its proficiency in creating job opportunities, he noted that "the richest 100 people in the world today never worked as employees under anybody. They are all entrepreneurs.

Besides, we have observed that the knowledge of qualitative education is shallow in Kwara schools. We shall increase bursary and make it regular. Non-natives residing in Kwara will not be discriminated against."

He disclosed that only 14 pharmacists were currently employed by state government, out of which four are directors, therefore Kwara hospitals lack adequate manpower.

Most of the renovated hospitals in Kwara are death centres for lack of personnel and facilities and that is why our people don't patronize them," he said. "If we put better equipment and personnel, even non-Kwarans from outside will patronize the hospitals."