Politics of 2nd anniversary in Osun

There is no doubting the fact that November 26 of every year will  remain significant in the life of Mr Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the governor of Osun State. His mandate was restored via a court judgment, delivered on that date in 2010 at the Federal Court of Appeal, which sat in Ibadan, the political hub of the South-West.

The Nigerian Tribune’s investigations indicated that he may have succeeded in creating a distinct identity for his state, with the introduction of some schemes, apparently packaged to reposition some ministries and service delivery agencies of the government. These include O-Schools, OYES cadets, O- Trans, O-Meals, with the intent of ensuring qualitative service delivery and also engaging the army of jobless youths in the state. Addressing a quarterly press conference recently, the state deputy governor, who also doubles as the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori said, “The programme has since impacted positively on school enrolment with an increase of about 38,000 pupils, representing 25 per cent increment within only four weeks of introduction.”

But instead of rolling out the drums and popping champagne to celebrate his perceived achievements in critical socio-economic sectors, the governor jolted many, including his loyalists and supporters, when he placed an advertisement in the press, instructing politicians, institutions and corporate bodies not to congratulate him on his second year in the saddle of governance in Osun. In a paid advertisement personally signed by him, he said “We seek the support and partnership of our many friends who plan to congratulate us on our 2nd year anniversary and urge them to donate funds earmarked for congratulatory message advertising messages to the state’s vulnerable citizens initiatives.” He said these initiatives include “the Osun Feed a School Child Initiative (OMEAL) and Osun Care for the elderly initiative (Agba Osun).”

Some analysts hold the notion that opting for a celebration devoid of fanfare may be part of a political arithmetic to outsmart his potential opponents, who may plan to contest for his plum job in Osun. His government has already completed some capital projects,  including Obada Market Junction to Ife-Ibadan expressway, Ikire, which gulped N67.784m and Itamerin-Oba Omowonuola road, Ejigbo, estimated at N58, 323, 614.50m.  

According to one of the pundits, who pleaded anonymity, “The governor is witty and from available information, he has completed a few capital projects and recorded some progress in revolutionising the agricultural sector, with major emphasis on the agro-allied sector. But he is seemingly saving the best for last, taking into cognisance his moves to re-contest in 2014. By the middle of next year, he may kick start the commissioning of his projects, exploring that as a platform to re-launch his camp for re-election.”

Another school of thought contended that Aregbesola was being judicious with the resources accruable to his state, saying that his directive to his fans and friends was a practical demonstration of the governor’s trait when it comes to money matters. But findings showed that the governor may have committed himself to the simultaneous implementation of many projects, ranging from road construction, urban renewal, agriculture and other small scale schemes. But he is now getting stuck, owing to paucity of funds to deliver the projects, coupled with the sharp drop in federal allocations to states since March, 2012, a development which is grossly affecting states the most especially states that not producing oil.

Since assumption of office, the governor has put in place some reforms, with a view to pruning the expenses of governance and tackling corruption associated with transactions of business with the (state) government, through the introduction of e-payment, a development which had gone a long way to discourage alleged bureaucracy and bribery. But the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa disagreed  that there were no funds to complete projects embarked on by Aregbesola, allegeding that he lacked the ability to govern a state like Osun. In a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune in Osogbo, he asserted : “Let us face the obvious fact; Aregbesola has already wasted two years in the history of Osun State without any meaningful achievements to show the public”.

According to the statement: “The people of Osun State are not fools to decipher the difference between right and left as far responsive governance and masses’ oriented policies are concerned. If the governor had done something meaningful, he would have been able to list such projects for commissioning instead of barring individuals or corporate bodies from placing advertorials in newspapers and other media organisations to congratulate him.”

If this political strategy by Aregbesola to delay the commissioning of some of his completed projects is anything to go by, would it work to his electoral advantage as the build up to 2014 governorship election in the state beckons?

The governor insisted that “It is obvious to the entire people of the state that the landmark development initiatives of the administration have brought hopes back to a hitherto despondent citizenry.” Aregebsola, who spoke in a statement signed by his Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon stated that, “Concrete achievements in the areas of education, agriculture, roads infrastructure upgrade, urban renewal and health care delivery have been recorded. Our determination to change the face of education is paying off noticeably as illustrated by the emerging new infrastructure in the schools, development of new school curriculum, substantially increased funding of schools, innovative projects such tablets of knowledge, school uniforms, school feeding programmes.

“On agriculture, the people have come to embrace our strategic transformation towards massive food production with loans to farmers and assistance towards formation of more productive cooperative societies; introduction of scientific approach to animal and crops productions. The acquisition of lands for agricultural purposes and training of young farmers in the use of modern methods to make farming more attractive and lucrative have all shown that the current administration has changed the game towards wealth creation,” the statement noted.