By now, Nigerians must have settled the idea of who actually governs legally in Osun,especially, after the pronouncement of the Supreme Court.That said, it is also a fact that, come November 27, 2019, Gboyega Oyetola will mark his firstanniversary as Governor of the State of Osun.&Perhaps, for the sake of argument therefore, letus remind ourselves that the governor has only two years left for real governance. Theremaining one year will, as it were, be devoted to ‘upandan’ politics towards determining thenext phase in the life of the 28-year-old state.&Well, there are those who would argue that history has within one year left compellingtinctures on Oyetola as a brilliant administrator who could use his vast experience torehabilitate Osun’s socio-economic pass. However, it must not be lost on Nigerians that,Isiaka Adeleke’s death, his younger brother, Ademola’s certificate scandals, and theinexplicable bungling of crucial judicial process by Justice Peter Obiora, were eloquenttestimonies to the inevitability of a destiny fated by the gods. Truly, ‘Ileri Oluwa kii ye!’Again, although I have no scientific evidence to show, I have a feeling that the opposition,which many people may think is passive, or has gone to sleep, is only working underground,looking for the governor’s failings. That the street gave its verdict on September 22, 2018,when, for the first time in Osun’s rich history, a popular government was almost deposedthrough the combined efforts of desperate political gladiators and the foot soldiers ofnegativism is an expression of our predicament as a people. Therefore, let the ruling partyknow that the honeymoon is just but for a short period of time. In other words, it’s time towalk the needed walk!Stated in clear terms, the political texture of Osun on Rauf Aregbesola’s assumption of officewas quite different from the prejudices which have now become the residual expression ofour helplessness. Given our circumstance therefore, that Oyetola’s hands are already fullneeds no further debating. Yes, his jobs are enormous; as such, require adequate efforts andcompetent hands. The good news is that Osun is not bereft of competent hands. Nevertheless,what is needed is not just competence but men with vision and character. At this crucialstage, what the governor needs is a team – a Think Tank; not a crowd of ‘come and chop’,smash and grab,&draw and drain, more-heat-than-light praise-singers; men of doubtfuldemocratic integrity who possess the dual quality of playing ball with contaminatedpracticality and rocking the boat with consummate gusto.Understandably so, democracy finds full expression when every citizen and community iswell and responsibly governed. By the way, how many of our people out there are reallyconscious of what the government is doing; consciousness, as defined by Karl Marx,especially, in this ‘everything-has-a-price’ society? The more reason Oyetola needs to cometo terms with the essence of time, divorce himself from himself in order to see himselfthrough himself, and pursue his vision for Osun with the consciousness of the fleeting timeand the type of legacy for which he wants to be defined. The cumulative effect of mumbo
jumbo approach and attitude to projects implementation will only amount to shooting in thedark and ultimately mess up the people’s mandate.The matrix of politics demands that Oyetola gauges the barometer of the people’s feelingsand political expectations and, thereafter, come up with concrete but specific developmentplans that would definitely mature by the third year of his tenure. While striving to ensurethat his policies have arrowheads for effective coordination, he must also strengthen thepeople’s perception of his effective leadership qualities and earn their trust and confidence inhis requisite ability to deliver the campaign promises. This will boost his political capital,broaden his acceptability and enhance his second term electability profile, What is manifestlyclear in every part of the state is that every section of its communities needs government’sphysical presence, that is, something that will positively affect its socio-economic andpolitical existence. Equally important are legacies that are central to the state. Let us be clearabout this: there is a phenomenal dichotomy between the needs of the state on the one hand,and the peculiar needs of the communities on the other. Government shouldn’t, and must notmix the two! For instance, an indigene of Ijebu-Jesa within Osun must have something tospeak to him on the birth of a new political dispensation and the concomitant hope of newdevelopment reality and socio-economic possibilities. After all, ‘Oyetola don becomegovernor!’ Even so, the central needs of the state must be seen to be general, not only inwords but also in deeds! This is one area where the governor needs competent hands.Given their potentials and attractions as metaphors for political expression, performance andpopularity are like Siamese twins whose friendship Oyetola must court in the remaining yearsof this tenure. While Muhammadu Buhari learnt his lessons rather too late, I doubt if BisiAkande will underestimate the dangers inherent in embracing one without securing theconsent of the other, were he to be given an opportunity to relive the May 29, 1999 to May28, 2003 part of his political life.This leads us to a peculiar issue between Osun and information management. While effectivecommunication is very crucial to development, the strategy has always been that people mustbuy into development plans for development strategies to work. Without doubt, theinformation management system of Osun is so crucial that it should not be managed byneophytes or get trapped in the vortex of incompetence. These are issues which Oyetola mustavoid! For this not to happen, the governor needs a grassroots revolution that will break oldbarriers, change the state’s image and positively affect the perception of the voting public.Since constant communication and feedback are essential ingredients of governance,government must devise means of creating an unofficial channel, a parallel informationmachinery as a way of reaching out and conveying its programmes and policies to the people.Prayers alone will not do it!May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Osun!
*KOMOLAFE writes in from Ijebu-Jesa,
Osun State,
Nigeria
(ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk)&abiodun KOMOLAFE,O20, Okenisa Street,PO Box 153,Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State.
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