AMOSUN: EXEMPLAR OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP, REBUILDING OGUN IN THREE YEARS By Orunbon Ademola Ibrahim Soon enough, we will hit another milestone in our “nascent” democracy as governments at state and federal level will roll out the drums to celebrate yet another year of democratic government. In Ogun State it will be 15 years of democratic rule under three administrations. One is the pioneer administration of the 15 years under Chief Olusegun Osoba. The newest “kid on the block”, Senator Ibikunle Amosun will by May 29, 2014 clock three years in office as governor and it would be time to keep scores by the incumbent, the opposition and yes the good people of Ogun State that are not into partisan politics. Let me say here that the intent of this piece is not to keep scores or undertake appraisal per se. On a normal day I see such an exercise as tainted with credibility lacuna as well as fraught with accusation of subjectivity. That can only be so, far as any development expert would freely tell you, all government policies, no matter how good and well intentioned, have unintended, usually negative consequences particularly in the short run for some persons in the society. And it is a timid and impotent administration that will shy away from executing its policies due to its possible unintended consequences on some of its people. For any action oriented government, it rings true that eggs have to be broken to serve omelets now and in the future. So in this wise one will like to x-ray the philosophical underpinnings of Amosun’s administration in implementation of certain policies in the last two years. One such underpinning that is in the public domain is the concept of “rebuilding” of Ogun State. Being mostly in Abuja during the electioneering campaign that brought in Amosun, one is not sure whether this concept assumed the status of a mantra but suffice to say that it was writ large on some billboards as a “mission to Re-Build Ogun State”. And in the last three years, one has heard government functionaries mouth this slogan in the few public events of the State government that I have personally attended even to the extent of establishing an NGO with the slogan MITROS. It would not be out of place then to posit that Amosun got his mandate in whole or in part on his agenda “rebuilding Ogun State” in the five cardinal areas of focus for his administration namely; Affordable Qualitative Education, Efficient Health care Delivery, Increased Agricultural Production/Industrialization, Affordable Housing/Urban Renewal, Rural and Infrastructural Dvelopment/Employment Generation. Without doubt, Amosun administration can point to tangible results in some or all of these cardinal areas and one can at least swear by the road he constructed, a 6-lane road with fly over bridge and pedestrian foot bridge along Ita-Eko/Sokori/ Totoro area, with ongoing 6-lane road along Lanfenwa/Itoku/Sapon, likewise Omida/Isale-Gbein/Imo to Grammar School, and the reconstruction of Sagamu-Benin Expressway Junction, Ilo-Awela Road in Ota, OGTV- Brewery Junction, Mudasiru Lawal Stadium-Abiola Way in Abeokuta, Ilishan-Ago Iwoye Road, Lafenwa-Ayetoro Road, Ejinrin Road-Oluwalogbon Junction in Ijebu-Ode with fly-over bridges, Magboro-Underpass, Moriamo-Olorombo Road and Ojere-Asero in Abeokuta also as well as the reticulation of pipe borne water across the state that has remained dry for so long. These roads will redefine the landscape of Ogun State, and the focal point of the urban renewal and rural infrastructural development programme of Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration, with the temporary pains will soon yield to significant gains. But as aforesaid this piece is not about project execution or appraisal. It is all about policy analysis and future developmental scenarios in Ogun State. The same way Governor Amosun is looking forward to the commissioning of the new fly-over bridge in Ijebu-Ode, which named after the Paramount Ruler of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona and of that Lagos-Benin Expressway fly-over bridge, and 6-lane roads being constructed in Ijebu-Ode with walkway and streetlights, with promise to replicate them in other local government across the state. On agricultural and housing, works are in high gear. For example, there is on-going construction on Owowo farm settlement and the reactivation of the existing ones in Ilaro, Sawonjo, Lomiro, Apoje, and Odeda. In the housing sector, construction is in progress on Workers Estate at Kemta while the construction of the City Centre in Abeokuta and the Industrial Park at Agbara are also in progress. On transportation, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, on light rail mass transit that will link major cities in the state and help boost its economy. The signing of the contract would also fast-track economy of the state; there can be no development without putting necessary infrastructure in place. This infrastructural revolution, which is said to be first of its kind in the history of Ogun State government, has been consolidated by acquiring 77 buses for the newly introduced Bus Mass Transit (BMT) projects. The BMT, with a unique ticketing system, comprises of fleet of buses servicing commuters, within the state and beyond run by team of professional drivers and conductors. The scheme has not only helped in empowering some indigenes but has also provided a far better alternative to the old cab system for travelers. Ogun State government acquired and distributed about 150 fully-air conditioned saloon cars with another scheme called Ogun Metro Taxis Scheme otherwise known as “Irorun De”. The Bureau of Transportation has deployed over 150 traffic sign posts across major roads to ensure safe motoring and installed traffic lights at major junctions with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV). The Bureau has also done lane marking on roads for smooth driving experiences of motorists, safety of pedestrians, its awareness and sensitization programmes on safe motoring and okada riding are vigorously being pursued via electronic, print and social media. With this, the population of the Gateway State would rise and its economy would blossom and provide job for the local people and help the unskilled ones to gain adequate knowledge through training and involvement in the whole process. The concept of re-building in policy terms assume that there are structures on ground to be rebuilt. That assumption is fundamental to the concept for without it the concept falls flat on its face. Without doubt Ogun State since its creation has structures and infrastructures that even date backs beyond its creation in 1976 courtesy of the Obafemi Awolowo government in then Western Region. Successive government in their own way had ensured that certain social amenities like road, water, health care, education, urban renewal, infrastructural facilities etc are in place in one form or another in most part of the state. So Amosun certainly have structures to “re-build” in virtually all sectors of the society. Another assumption for the “re-building” concept is that structures on the ground are in a state of despair, disuse, disparate or outdated as not to serve present and modern realities or incapable of serving projected future needs. Certainly many existing structures in all sectors suffer from these shortcomings in areas like provisions of water, roads and educational facilities that this writer experienced firsthand. Apparently based on the above Amosun was on point in his “re-building” strategy and the mandate he got from the people. But apparently, the people were not prepared for the unintended consequences of the “re-building” agenda of Amosun. This understandably have fuelled emotional out-burst of even persons who are enlighten enough to appreciate that “birth pains” are not “death throes” in this rebuilding strategy. In construction terms to re-building, you have to destroy-read demolish-some or all of existing structure to give way for a larger or more befitting edifices. It is in this light that one can situate the road dualisation projects at Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu-ode, and Ota, Igua, Ijoun, Ilaro, papalanto and many more roads in the State. There is no way rebuilding these roads will not involve destruction/demolition of existing structure of private citizens in public interest. Apparently public interest has to override private interest in this matter of developing the society. But due process and adequate compensation must be applied in this “re-building” strategy. The same is applicable to urban renewal, which it must be noted is visible in Abeokuta, Ijebu-ode, Sagamu, Sango-Ota, Igua, Ilaro, Oja Odan/Idi-Iroko and Papalanto and many more. Except the Rock City as Abeokuta is known want to maintain its old and rustic look with ancient family houses and compounds, then some structures have to give way for modern structures and facilities to spring up in the State. It must be pointed out however that in the provision of new infrastructure and amenities, the people has to be carried along to minimize the negative impact of unintended consequences. One is talking about sensitization and mobilization. A 6-lane road, flyover and foot bridges are certainly novel thing for many motorists and pedestrians alike. Enlightenment is needed for the people to appreciate that these facilities requires new attitudes and modification of behavior. But beyond re-building physical infrastructure in all sectors, there is a more urgent and pressing one of “re-building” political culture and tolerance that have gone awry in recent times. One is privilege to have been in government/observe governance under military and democratic administrations in Ogun State. Part of political culture prevalent in Ogun State as I known even during military era was political tolerance. Friends and business associates belong to different political parties and will stand their ground based on their political affiliations. This hitherto does not stop them attending social functions etc of their opponents. This has changed in recent time to a situation where some have been known to lose offices or other advantages for associating with “wrong persons”. People now mind what they say and who they say it to in order not to incur the wrath of power that be. Such political culture needs “re-building” to reposition Ogun State to its first position in most things in Nigeria. In all one must accept the need to “re-build” in Ogun State with all its unintended consequences. Let the government do more within its resources and forget about opprobrium from some quarters on its priorities. As Amosun himself poignantly puts it at a public forum, when 3rd mainland bridge was built during General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida administration decades ago, some people and majority Lagosians would have thought it a misplaced priority. Today the road is even inadequate at some points. Such may be the case of some of the current “re-building” strategy. Looking forward to “Rebuilding Ogun State in Four Years”.
Posted on: Sun, 25 May 2014 10:39:39 +0000
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