As you read this, the gubernatorial election in Osun State will be just hours away. Being a stakeholder, I am compelled to write on the subject for two following reasons: Number one – I am a son of the soil who is keen about taking part in any process that serves as occasion to effect change or foster continuity in governance in my land of origin; two – to briefly analyse some “achievements” of the incumbent administration.
Sometime in May, I was in Akure, the Ondo state capital, and noticed with admiration the great works going on. I then asked an artisan (despite knowing the answer) to tell me the political party in power. Labour Party (LP) he replied. I have also lived in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, Cross River in Calabar, both under control of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and observed the infrastructures in place as well as other remarkable projects. It is pertinent to note that these places have good roads, schools, hospitals, malls, etc., that are also being constructed by the “Change” Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But to many, especially loyalists and apologists of the latter platform, the party is the messiah the masses desire as if performances of its elected officials are out of this world. People who fall under this category hardly see anything good in officials on the other side of the fence. They cook up propaganda delicacies and pen down blind criticism of the national government, their own way of contributing to the growth, peace and stability of the country.
As the people of The Land of Virtue get set to cast their votes, one would like to quickly call their attention to some happenings that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
The celebrated distribution of tablets (Opon Imo) to students, remain a subject of controversy with arguments that rather than increase knowledge, learners are recording dismal results. A reference is the state’s outcome at the 2014 West African Examination Council (WAEC) assessment. The tablet which reached only a section of secondary school students was reportedly purchased through Ogbeni’s son Mr. Kabiru Aregbesola at 166,500.00 per unit!
And then, schools in each local government were demolished to pave way construction of ONE. Does this mean that kids in other communities must migrate or move long distance to enjoy dividend of democracy?
Among Ogbeni’s policies include taxing the poor pupils to pay N40.00 bus fare which is higher than the existing ‘Korope’ (public mini bus). That aside, the medium-capacity buses which even are part of federal government palliative, Subsidy Re-investment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), were converted to the state’s with the His Excellency’s name boldly written on them.
There are allegations that some positions in the local government service were outsourced to a consulting firm in Lagos. The import of this is a situation in which the poor staffs are short changed. Also, the present regime is accused of causing hatred and public confrontation within religious bodies in a state with high tolerance. This includes merging Muslims schools with Christian schools; same-sex schools with others alike without adequate consultation. Hasn’t this defeated the intent of the missionaries who sought to instil moral discipline to teenage–students of impressionable age?
Good people of Osun, we shouldn’t just think of the present; our future is in our hands. We do not need a government that has plunged us in debt of billions of naira borrowed from banks. We do not need a government that justifies demolition of heritage schools for erection of a shopping mall that could have been sited elsewhere. We do not need a government that asks for political party affliation before given out jobs to its indegenes
As history has shown, anything more than the first term tenure of most incumbent administrations result in performance that is below par.
Think wisely. God bless Osun State.
Adesunkanmi writes in from Osun and can be reached via: adesunkanmi09@yahoo.com
Comments