27th August, 2014
By Ade Osijo
Whenever a situation compels me to travel outside my populated abode in Apapa, Lagos state, as a matter of choice and as a way of feeling the pulse of the people vis-à-vis the state government’s impact and popularity, I usually opt for public mode of transportation; buses, taxis, motor-bikes (a.k.a. Okada).
Therefore, when duty beckoned on me to hop into the next available taxi to Abeokuta, capital of Ogun state, I was filled with trepidation, curiosity and perhaps great expectation. I arrived the rocky, hilly and sparsely populated state, in the early hours of the day; and due to the sweet air and seductive aura in the state, I call home to inform my wife and kids that I had discovered another home away from home. Throughout the duration of my stay, I ended up spending three days and three nights in a guest house tucked inside one of the many hillysides of Abeokuta (known as Goshen Estate – very close to the only private radio station – Rock City 101.1 FM, in Asero neighbourhood.
Interestingly, the first impression that caught my fancy was the smooth ride, devoid of potholes – except for the dangerous speed breaker a stone’s throw from the governor’s office Oke–Mosan.
From my interaction with some citizens, perhaps the greatest gift they seem to appreciate is the handful of bridges Governor Amosun is constructing at areas known for traffic congestion.
Amongst other things, the interviewees confessed that it is on record that Governor Ibikunle Amosun is the first (either as military or civilian) governor to construct a bridge in the ancient rocky town – Abeokuta. To this category of people, that remains a great feat and something to sing about. These newly built, yet-to-be-commissioned and on-going bridge construction are noticeable in areas like Ibara, Totoro, Sapon, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode and the first ever to be built bridge, in Ita–Eko commissioned two years ago. I was also made to go and see another beautiful one on Itoku and Oke–Ilewo.
Confidentially, later in the night of my second day in Ogun state, I was privileged to watch the soft-spoken governor address the rampaging students of Olabisi Onabanjo University.
After counselling the students who he said had the right to express their grievances – but, not by vandalizing properties, he later said, “I, Senator Ibikunle Amosun will strive to do my best for the state. I do not want to be a politician, I want to be remembered as a statesman”.
In the course of my three days vacation in the state, parents and education enthusiasts were equally appreciative of the giant strides of the governor in the area of education, describing Ogun state as one of the frontline states in the area of educational advancement and funding from the state governments.
Some parents and educationists said Ogun state is always clinching awards during the annual awards for teachers and administrators and Ogun state is also known to invest heavily in the re-training of teachers, towards enhanced productivity. During the annual NNPC Quiz competition, Ogun state is always leading or coming second. And in the area of literacy population, Ogun state has the least with only a two percent population of enrollable pre-school children. I was also told that the best secondary school teacher award was won by Ogun state with Mrs. Sesanwo of the Girls Secondary Grammar School, clinching the number one trophy. Similarly, I was also told of the quality of free text books given to pupils; and regular maintenance of infrastructure.
According to the Ogun State commissioner for Education, Barrister Segun Odubela, amongst the five cardinal programmes of the governor, education occupies the number one position because of the high premium the governor places on empowering tomorrow’s leaders: the youths.
Hear Odubela, “Unlike in the past, Ogun state was notorious for delaying the issuance of certificates to graduating students; but all these are now things of the past. The administration of Senator Amosun also inherited a backlog of debts, which has been taken care of by this administration.”
The West African School Certificate Examination are funded by the State government as a way of reliving parents of this burden as part of the State’s Social responsibility.
He adds “Whenever the governor is driving past a street, if he sees a child of enrollable age wandering or loitering around, the governor stops to ensure that the child is enrolled in a school by getting across to the parents of such a child.”
Besides, I also saw evidence of development with most families being encouraged to go into subsistence farming, as a way of boosting food production.
Similarly, I also saw new buildings and new settlements facilitated by the state government; saw a clean state devoid of refuse heaps and filth; I saw evidence of good driving culture; constant electricity supply; roads devoid of potholes; and much more.
Based on these, I was tempted to ask some of those I spoke with why some people are saying he should not be allowed to bid for a second term in office. In the words of one of the commercial motorcyclist who confided in me, “It’s all because the governor is tight fisted with state funds. He believes in using the allocation for the state for developmental purpose, rather than being Father Christmas.
This fact was corroborated by a few others. A particular respondent was even bold enough to exclaim, “Is it roads we would eat, let him give us money”.
Conclusively, throughout my three days stay in Abeokuta and other areas in the state, I was told there is nothing like prostitution or street begging, while crime has been reduced to the barest minimum.
May the voice and votes of the citizenry see Governor Ibikunle Amosun through in his aspiration to seek a second term. And may peace continue to reign in the state.
•Osijo, wrote from Lagos.