Gbenga Olorunpomi: Oranmiyan Movement – The people’s revolution that has come to stay. Sadly, no government, no matter how good, exists without detractors and Osun state has more than its fair share. However, it is comical that the loudest of the doomsayers are those who held the great people of Osun back for years and denied them good progress. Only last week, the ex-Egyptian President, Mohamed Morsi, was chatting with a few loyalists in his home when the news came that he had been deposed. It couldn’t have been more shocking to him, even though he had only been president for one year. He probably knew the same tsunami of proteststhat paved a way for him to get elected at the polls was still strong enough to send himpacking. He must now wish he never stood in the way of the people when they demanded he changed tactics and acted more democratically. He stood in the way of a movement. The movement swept him away. In the State of Osun, Nigeria, a different kind of revolution is going on. It is one led by the People’s General and the enemy here is Poverty. This is the Oranmiyan Movement and all forms of human deprivation seem to be in danger of being swept off to Neverland. One by one, by God, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is removing every obstacle that stands between the people and their economic, social and political prosperity. As the phrase, “Oran Mi Yan” means “My Issues have been resolved”, their leader is settling the matter of his people. And he is doing it his way; he is practicing “Government Unusual” In late May, I honored the invitation of a friend to visit Oshogbo, the capital of Osun State. As I had never made the trip before and could not find anyone to drive me there,I opted to go by public transport. The questions pulling at my heartstrings were numerous: how will I find my host? How comfortable will the hotel be? How many hoops will I have to jump through just to meet my host? I really shouldn’t have bordered. Since I began interacting with government people in 2008, I have never been privileged to witness a more organized unit like the guys working for the Ogbeni Aregbesola-led administration. Like a well-oiled machine, mytransition from a Lagosian to an Oshogbo guest was smooth as Cold Stone ice cream. With a smile on his face, my handler, Kunle, made sure I was satisfied with my hotel arrangements, well fed and had access to transportation. When I told him I was not sure if I would enjoy my 3-day stay in that town, Kunle looked at me and with a sly smile on his face, promised, “Bros, you will enjoy your stay and even spend one day more.” He was right. Keeping promises is one of the hallmarks of the current Action Congress of Nigeria-led administration in the State of Osun. Ogbeni Rauf is a man on a mission and has been single-minded in his approach to see his beloved land be a success story much like Lagos state. Within the first 100 days of his administration, as promised in his manifesto, 20,000 youths were employed under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, OYES. After two years, another 20, 000 replaced this first set, making 40, 000 beneficiaries. This is an initiative that is now being replicated by other states – including the federal government – and has won high praise for its ingenuity and implementation by the World Bank. OYES acts as a conduit forthe introduction of N200 million monthly into the grassroots economy of the state. I met a lady who used her money to set up a kerosene business after her two-year deal with OYES elapsed. She can now stand on her very own feet after serving her community. There are countless success stories like her around. OYES is such a success that the Oyo state governor also launched his version of the programme and tagged it ‘YESO.’ Recently, even the World Bank confirmedthat it’s Youth Initiative with the Federal Government, The Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) is primarily inspired by OYES. If this is not an endorsement of good governance, I don’t know what is. I was quickly made aware that the government truly wanted to hinge its success on that of its educational programme, hence the investment of N30billion into that sector. First, the uniforms of the children in all public schools were standardized. Because of this unification and the fact that the government was paying for the first set, Sam and Sara, a major garment making enterprise in the country has builtthe biggest Garment Manufacturing Factory, in Western Africa in Oshogbo.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 10:56:01 +0000
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