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Tag: AREGBESOLA

  • Our administration is people oriented – Aregbesola

    Our administration is people oriented – Aregbesola

    The Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has described his administration as people oriented.

    In his last New Year address to the people of the state on Monday, the governor said his administration had strived to bring people-centred progressive governance to the state in the last seven years.

    In  the address entitled: “Homerun with Honour and Dignity,” Aregbesola said “the evidence of this progressive trend in governance are visible in our policies and programmes, including the youth empowerment,  care for vulnerable senior citizens and women empowerment, agricultural development, industrialisation, infrastructural development, education, job creation, human development, water resources development, urban renewal and many others.”

    The governor said his programmes have transformed Osun and projected it positively beyond what was on ground before he assumed office.

    He attributed the success of his administration to the support his government received from all stakeholders, saying the administration has “served maximally and given its best.”

    He said Osun State has now become the reference point in prudent management of resources and responsible governance.

     

  • NGO hails Aregbesola, Osun workers

    NGO hails Aregbesola, Osun workers

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Democracy and Good Governance Forum (DGGD), has hailed Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the workers’ unions for the prompt resolution of the strike the workers started last Wednesday.

    In a statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, by its Chairman/Convener, Tunde Oladunjoye, DGGD hailed Osun labour leaders for their “maturity and understanding of the realities on the ground regarding the drop in Federal allocation to the state, occasioned by economy recession”.

    The statement said: “The resolve of the workers to cooperate with Governor Aregbesola is a practical demonstration of genuine partnership and support for the governor’s unprecedented infrastructural and overall development of the state. The workers will occupy a golden corner when the history of the success of the current administration will be written by posterity…”

  • Economic challenge threat to internal security – Aregbesola

    Economic challenge threat to internal security – Aregbesola

    The Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the economic challenge facing the nation as a big threat to the internal security. Addressing staff and students of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, who paid a courtesy visit to him at the Government House, Oke-fia, Osogbo, he maintained that no matter the costs, commitments towards managing internal threats must never be comprised.

    The governor said the theme of the group’s tour “National Security and Youth Empowerment” was apt, stressing that youths’ engagement in economic activities will reduce crimes and youth restiveness. “I want you to take advantage of your study tour to understand factors that have contributed to peace and security in our state. Many of our youth empowerment programmes, including the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and Osun Elementary School Feeding, have been adopted by federal government.

    “The OYES has not only curbed youth restiveness but has also contributed to economic benefit, thereby placing Osun as one of the safest states in the country, The scheme has made Osun as one of the states with reduced poverty index economically, as well as one of the states that have high rate of human development. With this policy, higher percentage of our youths were empowered and engaged, thereby making it difficult for them to be involved in crimes. The youths rather focus their energy on being successful.”

    Wing Commander Abiodun Ogunmola, who led the team, said that the one-week study tour had helped the students to fulfill the requirements of their course of study at the college. He disclosed that Osun was one of the twelve states selected for study on National Security and Youth Empowerment, saying the students will understudy the empowerment policies and its link to national security, as well as write reports and make recommendations where needed.

     

  • Unite Yoruba across the world, Aregbesola tells Adams

    Unite Yoruba across the world, Aregbesola tells Adams

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has urged the Aare Ona Kakanfo-designate, Otunba Gani Adams, to unite the Yoruba race all over the world for “racial global collaboration”.

    The governor spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, when he hosted the Yoruba Generalissimo at the Government House.

    Aregbesola noted that by choosing Adams as Aare Ona Kakanfo, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, was apparently influenced by a divine vision to pick someone whose deeds, actions and steps had distinguished him as a man of heritage.

    The governor said he was happy that Adams was selected for his experience as a street protester, a social crusader, a right activist and cultural revivalist.

    “You underwent these stages in preparation for this heritage assignment,” Aregbesola Adams.

    He added: “Your new assignment bestows on you the onerous responsibility of ensuring the unity and stability of the Yoruba race within the territory of Nigeria, interface with the Yoruba inside Africa continent and network the Yoruba in the Diaspora for global collaboration in the areas of cultural integration, skills development, mental enrichment and social interaction.”

    Aregbesola advised Adams not to be perturbed by the common tale that the personage of the Aare Ona Kakanfo always die young.

    He said: “The matter of life and death is within the exclusive domain of Allah, not of attachment to a title. There were many Aare Ona Kakanfo who were given the title at young age and lived long.

    “Aare Ogabi became Aare Ona Kakanfo at a young age and lived long.”

    The governor assured Adams of his support always.

    He said: “As the Generalissimo of the Yoruba army, who is leading us into a new paradigm of inter-ethnic cultural understanding, inter-continental race relationship and fostering better relationships among the Yoruba, I want you to see me as a reliable partner and supporter of all worthy endeavours of yours, which can add value to the title.”

    Aregbesola hailed Prince Segun Akanni, the Chief of Staff to the Aare Ona Kakanfo-designate for remaining loyal to Adams since the time the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) was in the trenches.

    Adams said he was paying a special visit to Aregbesola, who he said had been a reliable support and believer in the cause of OPC.

    The Aaare Ona Kakanfo-designate recalled several acts of good deeds the governor had done him and the OPC.

    He said: “I cannot and never forget your role as a bridge for the OPC and the government of Lagos State when you were the Commissioner for Works in Lagos State.

    “I cannot, of course, forget that you were one of the very first very important personalities and prominent Yoruba leaders who visited me when I was detained in Abuja in 2006. I cannot estimate your moral and financial support for me and my organisation in the past, hence it is sensibly normal for me to come here personally, not only to invite you for the installation ceremony but to formally inform you of my selection as the 15th Are Ona Kakanfo of the Yoruba.”

    Adams also expressed gratitude to Deputy Governor Titilayo Laoye-Tomori for her loyalty to the governor and the people of Osun State.

    He promised to live up to expectations by uniting the Yoruba race for global collaboration.

  • ‘Aregbesola ‘ll not compromise workers’ welfare’

    ‘Aregbesola ‘ll not compromise workers’ welfare’

    Ayo Akinola is a Senior Special Assistant to Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola. In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE in Lagos, he speaks on the people-oriented programmes of the administration and other issues.

    How cordial  is the relationship between workers and Osun State governor?

    The relationship is very cordial. This will surprise many cynics who stay far away from Osun and theorise about how things should or should not be, or on how things are. We are transparent and that is the major reason workers are behind us. The other reason is because Osun as a whole has not had it this good since its creation. And the good thing about it is that all government spendings are targeted at the masses, the ordinary people, and the vulnerable. That is why the governor has a cult following among the people. You need to come to the state anytime the governor has social outings. He is almost always mobbed by cheering crowds. You’ll see market women and men, children, the ordinary people abandoning their shops and wares to escort him any time he is in town, out of the office for engagements. As for the elite in the services and elsewhere who have been used to diverting developmental money for personal convenience, I can’t say if they love this government, and they are in the very minority. Note that empty barrels make the loudest noise, especially when things are no longer what they used to be for them. If the picture they are painting were true, it would have been a different scenario from the teeming masses. You know you can’t stop or gag them not to express their minds. In this country, we’ve seen when and where a governor or some governors were pelted with all kind of things to register their displeasure.

    You talked about transparency. What do you mean?

    I don’t know of any government in this country that has the confidence or temerity to engage any past labour leader, not to talk of a fiery one like Comrade Hassan Sunmonu. I was a kid in secondary school when Sunmonu then as national labour leader engaged the Federal Government led by Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari. It was as if we were in a war situation as far as his demands for welfare of workers were concerned. Up till today, I doubt if we have had a labour leader better than Hassan Sunmonu in the pursuit of welfare of workers. If this is the same man the government of Osun appoints to oversee the equitable distribution of resources of the state on a monthly basis, so as to ensure transparency, then, we need to appreciate the head of such government. In other lands, governments stay at bay from labour leaders, whether retired or serving, like, “don’t come near my government” because of skeletons they most often have in their cupboards.  This singular act says something about our governor and transparency. Till today, no worker has accused Comrade Sunmonu of betrayal. I think there’s need for commendations.

    Critics say the government is more concerned about building roads, flyovers and school than paying attention to workers’ welfare. How true is this claim?

    Nothing could be farther from the truth. We are also aware of this assertion, but government is not bothered because it is mere hearsay. People make statements without even making efforts to look into records. At least we already have the Freedom of Information Act which empowers every citizen to seek and get information on how they are governed. Why can’t they go to government to obtain facts and figures? It is because they themselves lack credibility and focus. In matters of public administration and policies, you don’t make assumptions. You go for the source of information and obtain it.

    The truth of the matter, as I often say, is that quite opposite is the case. Let me say here and now that payment of salaries and pensions, in the past seven years of this administration in Osun have, in fact, stunted the growth of this state to no small measure, and this is so sad that our future as a state is bleak if we continue in this way. Let me also tell you that this governor has over-leaned on the side of workers, trying hard to please them, most times to the detriment of real growth. How do I mean? At the inception of this administration, some of us thought that the best thing to move this state forward would have been to ration the work force. We thought, and rightly too, that the workforce the new government met on round would be detrimental to the true growth if we didn’t downsize. The government thought otherwise, to the extent that in other climes, the workforce is the pivot of growth if every single worker contributes value, real value. Look at China and other Asian countries like India. They have huge workforce, in line with their huge population and everyone, to no exception, works towards the growth of the economy. Somebody some time ago, described the average Chinese as a working ant. Do you take time to study the ant? Every single one of them works to the betterment of the colony, without exception. That is Asia for you. Look at the Asian tigers; the Four Asian Tigers, Four Asian Dragons or Four Little Dragons, are the economies of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, which underwent rapid industrialisation and maintained exceptionally high growth rates (in excess of seven percent a year) between the early 1960s (mid-1950s for Hong Kong) and 1990s. It was their workforce that brought this to bear. So, a huge workforce is good inasmuch as everyone takes on the gauntlet of work and work, work and work in the private and public establishments. With this huge workforce, we will witness fast and best development. But what do we find here generally with the black race? Consumption without the correspondent will to create. It is so sad. Professor Niyi Akinnaso once wrote an article ‘What is wrong with the black man and Africans?’. It is pathetic that a continent that prides itself as the cradle of human race, human civilisation, human development, in arts, science, medicine and crafts is now the docility of the modern world; it’s now the most backward human race; the butt of jokes of the modern world. The world has left us behind in all factors of development. We are now at the bottom pit. Religion is now our pride which we shamelessly export and showcase to the originating nations, milking and under-developing ourselves in the process in superstitions. Modern religions started in the east, modernised by the west. But, both have moved forward, but we are still holding tight, not to let go because we’ve refused to think.

    To answer your question, we went into government financial and expenditure records and the findings were disheartening. Within the seven years of the government of Rauf Aregbesola, a whopping N200 billion was spent on payments of salaries, allowances and pensions while a relatively paltry sum of N60billion naira went into infrastructure, or what we call capital projects. This translates to 77 per cent to 23 per cent respectively. The reverse should have been the case. No nation develops this way and it is so sad. So, when people falsely declare that Osun government is building infrastructures to the detriment of workers’ welfare, it is laughable.

    A new national minimum wage is in the offing. What is your take?

    I was in this country, though a child, when the minimum wage was raised to N25 in the early seventies during the General Yakubu Gowon military era. Civil servants went on a spending spree, buying television sets which were on “four legs”, drinking to stupor from night parties organised by civil servants, who just received the Udoji Awards. During the time of Hassan Sunmonu as labour leader, the minimum wage went to N125 or thereabout, from a demand of N300 by organised labour. What did we have in result? We had galloping inflation to the detriment of same workers. General Ibrahim Babangida’s military administration raised wages more than six times during his tenure. Did it serve the average workers any good? Why do we like doing things the same way and expect to see better results? Can’t we be creative for once? I’m not saying raising workers salary is bad. But we must be scientific about it. Wages must be commensurate to real productivity, not a sweeping raise where the productive and non-productive workers are lumped together. It is detrimental to growth.

    Why can’t we spend money to encourage the creative industry and discourage going into the civil services? When you pump money into the civil service, you’re encouraging an upsurge in youths going there, which does little to explore and explode their creativity. But if you put money largely into cottage industries, similar to the N-Power initiative, as well as the back to land initiatives which Aregbesola has been engaging in, you’re encouraging creativity and productivity. This is what can take us to the Promised Land, not putting the entirety of our resources into the civil services which engages less than one percent of the total population.

  • Fuel scarcity: Aregbesola warns against hoarding

    Fuel scarcity: Aregbesola warns against hoarding

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has warned petroleum marketers to desist from hoarding fuel, which has created artificial scarcity in the state and other parts of the country.

    Aregbesola noted that sharp and unethical practices had worsened the plight of residents and commuters travelling for the Yuletide.

    The governor said such attitude negates the Omoluabi ethos the state exemplifies.

    In a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Solar Fasure, the governor said the fuel scarcity had affected the joy of the Yuletide season.

    The statement said: “It has come to the attention of Osun State government that the peace, joy and serenity of this Yuletide season is somewhat being marred by fuel shortage being experienced all over the country. This is most regrettable.

    “The state government sympathises with the people of the state whose movements have been restricted or have had to spend valuable time on queues at filling stations.

    “However, we have received assurances from the Federal Government and not less a person than President Muhammadu Buhari that the situation is being addressed, that more barges of fuel are being received and distributed at the moment and that the crisis will soon be over within the shortest possible time.

    “The state government, therefore, urges fuel marketers to desist from hoarding, profiteering and other sharp and unethical practices that could exacerbate the situation, worsen the plight of residents and detract from our Omoluabi status.”

    The government also enjoined the residents and fillings stations to conduct themselves peacefully in the sales of fuel, where the product is available.

    Aregbesola said: “There should not be more than a single lane of vehicles on the queue, to prevent traffic congestion and accidents. On no account must any road be blocked or made impassable as a result of fuel queues. Filling stations must observe all safety rules to prevent accidents and fire outbreaks.”

    “Law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), should properly take charge of the situation and do the needful to maintain law and order, prevent unruly and disorderly public conducts, protect lives, ensure public safety and free flow of traffic.”

  • We’ve shown good leadership, says Aregbesola

    We’ve shown good leadership, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said his administration has fulfilled promises it made while seeking election.

    The governor said the government had exhibited a genuine, sincere and exemplary leadership, as manifested in achievements recorded in the last seven years.

    Aregbesola spoke on a live television programme of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Good Morning Nigeria.

    He said: “Regardless of what anybody might have read about us, we got to power at a time when life was absolutely hard for the people. We knew it was so. Therefore, we set a standard to developing strategies that are capable of enabling and enriching the lives of our people.

    “We first of all started to provide succour to a huge number of youths who, hitherto, had no hope. We set up the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). Under the scheme, we brought in volunteers to help their communities in social works, such as clearing the drainages, removing refuse, feeding the pupils and directing traffic, where such was necessary, among others.

    “And we engaged, through this scheme, 40,000 youths. From that, we were able to remove extreme poverty from Osun. It is through this arrangement that several programmes, such as Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme, emerged.

    “Thousands of pupils are fed on every school day while the state recruited thousands of young women as food vendors discharging the responsibility of cooking and serving the pupils in all government elementary schools with delicious and salubrious meals.

    “We also invested hugely on school infrastructure. This initiative brings about the successes we have recorded in our massive school infrastructure development.

    “Osun, with the exception of Lagos, remains the state that has concentrated the largest chunks of its resource to meaningful development in education.

    “We didn’t stop at that; we provided necessary infrastructure to aid quality and functional education, which we called infrastructure of the mind, regardless of what you read in the papers.

    “I don’t think there is any state in Nigeria today that could rival us in the provision of massive quality infrastructural facilities as we put down at both elementary and secondary education in Osun.

    “If one is current about the reports from the National Bureau of Statistics, one will find a reasonably high level of human development index that Osun is being positioned at toady.

    “Our programmes, like Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (O’REAP), Osun School Infrastructure Development Programme, among others, are basically designed to take our people out of extreme poverty and make life more abundant and worthy of living for all.

    “So, as a genuine government, we believe strongly that good leadership must be exhibited at all levels in the society because without leadership, we can’t build a functional, meaningful, civilized and humane society,” Aregbesola said.

    Decrying the state of the nation’s economy, Aregbesola said: “It is unfortunate that Nigeria’s economy is built on a very weak production arrangement.”

    The governor advocated productivity among Nigerians, saying the nation should focus its education on youths’ critical thinking, problem-solving and character-building.

    He added: “Our nation today is built on a very weak production arrangement. We all live on rent from oil, especially post-Independence Nigeria, which is run on commission from oil; whereas our nation, from the colonial period before the military interregnum, was run on the productivity of our people.

    “Until we are back to production and productivity, we will just be emotional, sentimental and rhetorical in our analysis of how to escape the worrisome situation we are in now.

    “Though oil revenue will help to jump-start the process, but it can’t be the financial basis for our economic development. A nation that cannot produce what it consumes is doomed. Therefore, we must see productivity as panacea to our socioeconomic challenges…”

     

  • Osun 2018: Quest for Aregbesola’s successor

    Osun 2018: Quest for Aregbesola’s successor

    In this piece, LANRE AMINU highlights the qualities the next governor of Osun State should posses so that he can continue the people-oriented programmes of the Aregbesola administration.

    It is better for a city to be governed by a good man than by good laws”- Aristotle

    Edmund Burke also says: “A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation”. There is no gainsaying that the outgoing governor of Osun state, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is bearing the travail of a reformer.

    At the risk of being label a sycophant, spin-doctor or worst still a paid image maker, I make bold to say the man, Aregbesola in the captain’s seat of the ship called Osun state would have match, if not surpass Chief Awolowo’s land mark achievements in the old Western region if he had not being hampered by the wasteful expensive presidential system of government we have being practicing and bad leadership in the state of Osun nay the centre.

    It bears repeating that he is bearing the scars of the woeful failures of most of his predecessors with the exception of the civilian administration of Bisi Akande. Governor Aregbesola deserves commendation for his laudable developmental giant strides in the state. He is a man who works quietly while positively impacting on the lives of his people. Before he came on board, many people in the state had looked on with gloom concerning the state of affairs in that land. Indeed, people were not happy at all with the administrations of most of his predecessors, especially, Oyinlola led PDP administration, whose twin legacies are profligacy and ineptitude. Aregbesola became popular in Osun mostly because of the incompetence, greed and cluelessness of some of his predecessors.

    However, all that has changed now. The people of the state are now proud to associate themselves with the affairs of the state. There is no gainsaying that Ogbeni Aregbesola has taken governance beyond the pedestrian mark of paying salaries and constructing roads.

    The records of his achievements in all sectors are on ground and verifiable. He has won many laurels for his trail-blazing feat in Osun nay Nigeria. He has redefined development in Osun state by investing in policies and prorammes which we and our children children’s will benefit from. Rauf Aregbesola is that “miser” very much hated by the vampires of Osun politics and the beneficiaries of the old other for his uncompromising refusal to throw the usual party, where money belonging to the state is shared out in Ghana- must- go bags. Rather, he “stubbornly” and against the usual practice, invested in education, healthcare, infrastructure, human resources, youth empowerment, thereby, preparing to bequeathing citizens and unborn citizens of the state, so much to live for today and so much to hope for tomorrow. If there is one major challenge that has faced Osun nay Nigeria in more than half a century of her existence as an independent nation, it is incompetent, clueless and corrupt leadership. Before the advent of the corrective regime of Aregbesola, the leadership deficit that assails us in Osun is so legendary that from all indications, the state has continued to lag behind in an emerging world other that emphasizes clear-headed and able leadership. Since the creation of the state in 1991, Osun has been struck by a string of incompetent and corrupt leaders who have being gradually running the state aground before Aregbesola came on a rescue mission.

    The first civilian administration in the state headed by late Isiaka Adeleke and Aregbesola’s immediate predecessor in office, Oyinlola led PDP administration are the worst culprits. It is on record that Adeleke and Oyinlola’s watch, humongous amount were voted for projects without execution. The level of rot and decadence and N18 billion suffocating loan Aregbesola met on ground constitute a cog in the wheel of redemption and progress of the state.

    In view of the above, it should be glaring to any discerning mind that Aregbesola is bearing the scars of the woeful failures of his predecessors in office and that of the profligate Jonathan led PDP government who robbed the states of its share of billions of naira of statutory allocation. The foregoing explains why most states, with the exception of Lagos and Ogun can no longer pay its workers salaries and pensions as at when due.

    With the above revelations, it is patently clear that the burden of inability to pay full salary to some categories of workers as at when due would have been minimal if Aregbesola’s predecessors had done the job they were elected to do during their era. There is no gainsaying that the mess of Oyinlola led PDP government better forgotten years cannot be cleared by four generation of successors. If Osun must stay on its current course of rebirth and renewal, if there is a need to sustain the momentum and build on the solid foundations of Aregbesola led APC government, then, we must not make the mistake of allowing our state to go to a wrong hand after Aregbesola’s purposeful administration. There is nothing harder to bear than the reverse of fortunes.

    I strongly believe we the people of Osun are not prepared to move backward. We have poised to be on the move until we get to the promised land. Osun people are too wise to succumb to the promises of a new beginning. It is common knowledge that Nigeria still remains a potentially great nation because of inept, clueless and corrupt leadership it has being inflicted with and lack of continuity of programmes.

    Developmental programmes are better sustained if allow to strive and endure over time. The antics of political hirelings, rudderless opposition, professional bootlickers, paid image makers, crumb grazers and unconscionable trumpet blowers must be forestalled by the electorate. The point must not be lost on us that 2018 represents our water shed year, a year will must take our destiny in our own hands, a year that will determine whether we will continue to make progress as a people or bear the reverse of fortunes, God forbid! This time around however, the brilliant and the highly politically sophisticated people of Osun must not, shall not allow ourselves to be hoodwinked as we were in 2003.

    The greatest mistake any one would be making at this point is to suggest that the state be give to just any one to manage come 2018. Yes, Osun may appear too weak and fragile now to attract quality minds, it should not be thrown to the dogs. Its journey back from Golgotha must be smooth, steady and assured. It will however, will be too stretchy for a short- distant runner and too cranky for the faint-hearted to drive.

  • Aregbesola: Seven years of good governance in Osun

    Aregbesola: Seven years of good governance in Osun

    In this piece, Lanre Aminu examines the achievements of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the last seven years and priorities in the last year of the administration.

    The difference between a good and bad government sometimes lie in the number of obstacles we can remove from the path of our citizens or put before them.”- Al- Makhtoum

    The true import of a man’s activities becomes clearer many a time with passage of time. For time indeed is a great revealer. With time, we have the benefit of hindsight; with time, whatever falsehood that may have been used to encapsulate the truth usually gives way; indeed with time, a clear verdict can be passed on the activities of any one for then the benefits or otherwise of such actions become evident. One major area that time clearly demonstrates this reality is leadership.  With the tenure of a leadership coming to an end, we can safely begin to pass a verdict as we usually can then begin to see such actions in their full essence.

    A leadership may be unpopular and accused of all sorts of evils whilst in office but quite often with the passage of time and when the activities of such a leadership are viewed against the backdrop of posterity and history, a positive verdict may emerge.  Abraham Lincoln today is regarded by many worldwide, including Nigeria as a visionary leader. This was not the case when he was in office. In fact, he was accused of all sorts of evil at that time which unfortunately culminated in his assassination. Such allegations and accusations may have been popular at the time but the passage of time has revealed that such accusations were not only puerile but were patently unfounded. Centuries on, with the passage of time, an x-ray of lincoln’s leadership against the backdrop of posterity clearly point to a patriot and visionary leader. Conversely, some leaders may have seemingly been popular for a season in their times but the passage of time revealed some other things that placed a big question mark not only on their leadership, but even on their sanity.

    The duo of Adolf Hitler and former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria are good examples. It bears repeating that Obasanjo is the architect of the present socio-political and economic woes of Nigeria for daring to unilaterally imposed the duo of misfit, late Umaru Yar’Adua and a rogue, clueless and incompetent man, Goodluck Jonathan on his party, PDP as the presidential and Vice-presidential candidates for 2007 presidential election and went ahead to rigged them into power. We are all paying dearly for that infraction till today. History thus offers us the greatest opportunity to pass a verdict on any leadership. To build our nation, it is my firm belief that we must develop the capacity of X-raying the activities of our leaders not only when they are in office but more so when they are out of office, for then the import of their past activities begin to bear fruit. We can then pass a verdict as a pointer and guide to others who may yet emerge as leaders.

    To be quite honest, the battering of our national psyche as well as the mindless looting of our public treasury by unscrupulous and so-called leaders has seemingly turned us to perpetual cynics, critics and naysayers. The result is that we do not even actually bother to get the truth before we pass a verdict on our leaders, especially if they have the fortune of serving our nation in any capacity. In fact, once an allegation is made against any one in a leadership position, no matter how baseless it may be, we are now disposed to hold it as truth such that even when the truth becomes obvious we tend to still crave to hold on the false allegation! This kind of attitude is capable of sending a wrong signal to our best materials who might be discourage from seeking political power for the fear of not being appreciated no matter the efforts they put in to lead us well.

    Aregbesola took over from former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who spent seven and half years in office. Some may say that time is yet too short to try to look at the Aregbesola administration with a view to hazard the verdict of history at this point in time. But a look at the past and a periscope into the future gives me the confidence to attempt to do so. I believe we do not have to wait for centuries before we can pass a verdict. I happen to have come across the manifesto of Engineer Rauf Aregbesola,titled: My pact with the good people of osun state through my six point integral action plan pre-2007 gubernatorial elections recently. The manifesto set me thinking of what verdict of history will pass on the Aregbesola administration. In that manifesto, Aregbesola set out a laudable agenda for himself and the state whilst requesting for support of the people for his candidature.

    Aregbesola clearly desired a better Osun state according to the contents of the manifesto, and passionately so too. An objective and dispassionate analysis of the agenda viewed against his seventh year of being in office interestingly reveals that the agenda was generally fulfilled to the benefit of the state. In view of the foregoing, one can safely assert that Aregbesola delivered on the clearly laudable agenda for the state. However set against the background of a post- rabidly corrupt, visionless and dictatorial rule pre-1999, with the attendant malaise of a poverty epidemic in our society, Osun people nay Nigerians became engulfed with unrealistic expectations at the dawn of democracy. The result is that we all generally want all problems solved at once but the unpalatable truth is that positive socio-economic change in fortunes from desperate poverty and decaying infrastructure takes a bit of time.

    Many find this reality hard to accept and it is quite understandable. However we must begin to take pragmatic and realistic view to issues in order to better the lot of our people. To get a clear view on the verdict of history in the Aregbesola administration in Osun state, we must put aside partisanship, narrow-mindedness and ignorance and put on the lenses of objectivity in looking at the last seven years of Aregbesola administration.  To live in the age of giants and tower above them is indeed a claim to greatness, one that is seldom witness in the history of mankind. Except for implacable critics and those averse to change, that is, beneficiaries of the old order who are used to the culture of sharing money that is voted to be spent on projects that will benefit the generality of the people, many will agree with this writer that Aregebesola, a social entrepreneur, visionary leader, an innovator and change gent has inscribed his name permanently in the heart of the good people of Osun state. He has proved to the people of the state that he is a gifted idea practitioner, accurately determining the needs of his people, empowering them and creating a high impact solution to their common needs. In his ill-fated 1968 campaign for the presidency of the United States, Robert F.Kennedy was wont to invoking the inspiring words of George Bernard Shaw. Indeed, these words virtually became Kennedy’s campaign slogan. Some see things as they are and ask why? “I dream things that never were and ask why not?” Whether Aregbesola was ever fired by George Bernard Shaw’s stirring words or not, we shall never know. What seems beyond debate is that Rauf Aregbesola is a man with the fire in the belly. Such was his doggedness, steadfastness and his single-mindedness in his efforts to bequeath an enduring legacy to generations yet to be born.

    A view at the activities of the Aregbesola administration in the last seven years reveals that Aregbesola has set the foundation for the irreversible transformation nay greatness of Osun state. It is on record that when Aregbesola took the reigns as the Chief Executive of Osun state on November 27, 2010, the state was in dire strait and needed to be saved from itself. The state groped in the dark in search of a true, sincere, honest and a God fearing leader. Then came a man of unblemished integrity, indomitable courage, the savvy, unassuming manager, Aregbesola.

    With his shrewdness and practical knowledge, especially in the business of governance and activism, he swung into action with steady but assured steps and began pulling Osun out of the doldrums into which it had being plunged at the time by its predecessors in office (except for the brief interregnum of Bisi Akande administration which made some impact). Under Rauf Aregbesola’s watch, seven years after, through good governance and well-thought out policies, Osun has made a quantum leap on development. The health sector has been revived, education has taken its pride of place, infrastructure and basic amenities are now in top shape, the economy is bustling with activity with Osun now serving as the bride to investors, to mention a few. Most importantly, unlike during the PDP reign of terror, the state now enjoys a peaceful ambience devoid of political upheavals.

    Today, among other states, Osun is regarded as a state of many first. It has become a model being emulated by other states and even the Federal government.  In fact, Aregbesola’s achievements are said to be more than that of all the previous governors of the state put together! Need we wonder why Governor Aregbesola’s strides in the last seven years have continued to draw plaudits and win him awards and recognition? He has won awards for the uncommon development of hi state and for introducing new norms in governance. In the area of creating a comfortable environment for good governance, no one can deny the fact that Aregbesola has laid a foundation that will speak for many decades to come. Against all odds, Aregbesola has successfully turned Osun state into the hub of socio-economic as well as political activities not only in the south-West, but In Nigeria in the last seven years. The attendant economic benefit to the people is confounding.  To my mind, looking at the activities of Aregbesola in the last seven years as governor of Osun state and the obvious future benefits that will accrue to the state as a result in the years to come, it is my firm conviction the verdict of history will be kind to Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. The verdict of history will clearly be that of an astute leader, who displayed clear insight, dashing courage and a humanitarian disposition in improving the lot of those God gave him the opportunity to serve.

    Aminu is the National Coordinator of Oodua Youth for Good Governance and the Head of Media, Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance, Oshogbo.

     

  • No comeback for PDP in Osun, says Aregbesola

    No comeback for PDP in Osun, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has ruled out the possibility of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) coming back to power in the state.

    He said the all-round development witnessed in the state during his administration has shamed the opposition.

    Aregbesola spoke at the kick-off of the distribution of over 15,000 health incentives to expectant mothers at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo, the state capital.

    The governor, who said the residents had compared the “wasteful reign of the PDP and that of the progressives”, added that the people would not vote for the PDP in the coming elections.

    Also, Aregbesola hailed traditional rulers in the state for supporting his administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The governor said over 15,000 health incentives would be given to expectant mothers in a programme, tagged: Saving One Million Lives Programme For Results (SOML PforR), Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Mama Kits Distribution, an initiative supported by the World Bank.

    He said his administration would continue to pursue health policies and programmes with commitment.

    Aregbesola reminded the residents that his major campaign promise was the restoration of healthy living among the people.

    The governor recalled that since inception, his administration had embarked on the renovation, rehabilitation and upgrading of the nine state hospitals.

    The effort, he added, was geared towards providing increased accessibility to qualitative healthcare services in all parts of the state.

    The governor also recalled the Public Private Partnership (PPP) which entails the outsourcing of the pharmacy units of all State Hospitals in order to have regular availability of effective and safe drugs.

    On the giant strides of the Osun Ambulance scheme, Aregbesola said it had saved thousands of lives since the programme started in 2013.

    He said: “With all we have done to develop the state, it is highly impossible for the PDP to ever have a say in the governance of this state. With their wasteful seven and a half years the people of the state have totally rejected them.

    “As we promised the good people of Osun during our campaign, restoration of healthy living among our people is one of the six integral action plan of our administration and I am proud to say that we have delivered on our promise and will continue to pursue this policy with all doggedness and commitment.

    “Our administration has since inception recorded remarkable achievements in the health sector. We have put in place an enduring healthcare delivery system capable and has been protecting all residents of Osun from avoidable deaths due to emergencies, disease conditions or nutritional deficiencies.

    “Also, we have been providing and will continue to provide essential drugs and medical consumables in all our hospitals. A new concept we also introduced is Public Private Partnership (PPP) which entails the outsourcing of the pharmacy units of all State Hospitals in order to have regular availability of effective and safe drugs. This has kick-started and is faring well.

    “O’Ambulance is another success story. The scheme was introduced in 2013 when 50 state of the art ambulance vehicles were put on the road for medical emergencies, a scheme which has been used to save a lot of lives in situations of emergency in the state. In 2016 alone, O’Ambulance saved 1774 lives. Between January and March this year, it has also saved 630 lives.”