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| President Buhari and Amosun while commissioning a Legacy Project in Ogun recently |
By Alao Azeez Adelani
At the inception of his administration in 2011, no one had envisaged he would perform beyond expectations and set a legacy for both himself and the Gateway State.
Senator Ibikunle Amosun came into power at a time the state was at the brink of heading into oblivion and economic recession ahead of the nation. Why? The state economy was bad beyond repair. This is due to the truth that his predecessor ran a government of 'Je ki n je (chop make I chop)' administration. The state fortune was shared among few as politicians normally smiled to banks to the detriment of the masses.
Security in OGD days was bad to the extent that banks were closing down and people began to travel to either Lagos or Ibadan to do transactions. This is because OGD government has empowered enough 'boys' with guns and ammunitions that were sufficient for them to ran the state 'aground'.
Talk of infrastructure, little was done in this regards especially when it comes to road construction. 'Daa bo - plaster it' was the style and a road couldn't last more than three months in those days except for a very few ones.
As if not enough, the state resources were shared among political cronies and revenue was hovering between a paltry N500 - 700 million monthly. Now, Ogun generates at least, about N6 - 7billion on monthly basis. This is one of Amosun's wonder when Akinlade (Triple A) handled the state's IGR alongside capable hands with the help of the civil servants.
SIA as fondly called, neglected the old methods of his predecessors and chose a new path for the state. The path of total commitment and dedication to the growth of the state economy and developmental infrastructures that will attract businesses and grow our revenues for the betterment of all.
In eight years, SIA has completed over 439 km of standard roads, maintained about 385 roads, constructed 17 flyovers, and 13 bridges across the state. All these projects has helped the state attract investments from across the world. Ogun state is now the investment hub of the country courtesy of Amosun's wonder.
Security of lives and properties was SIA administration's priority. Amosun was a governor that doesn't give in to thuggery, hooliganism, armed robbery, cultism and banditry. Armoured Personnel Carriers and patrol vehicles were purchased for the police and other security agencies in Ogun to ease their jobs.
Also, local vigilantes were empowered to assist the conventional securities in curbing social vices in the state. According to security index, Ogun state is now the second safest state in Nigeria. Another wonder of a dedicated governor.
Apart from running a free education system from primary to secondary schools in Ogun, books were provided freely to the pupils and the state owned tertiary institutions fees were reduced by 40% in 2014 and part payments were allowed to avoid dropouts among the students. Uniform examination was introduced in the secondary schools, while he also settled outstanding WAEC fees, rehabilitated dilapidated schools and provided more than N5billion subvention funds for tertiary institutions. Ogun bursary and scholarship were also increased by over 100% in 2012 and has witnessed more than three successful disbursement via e-payment.
Health care deliveries in Ogun was rated 5th best in the country because it received proper funding under SIA administration. General Hospitals were upgraded, primary health centres were renovated and boreholes, electricity, and necessary equipments were provided to meet the WHO required standards. Less than 96 hours to the end of his administration, a 250 bedded modern multi-million naira hospital was inspected at 75% completion by PMB during his visit to commissioned legacy projects of SIA before he bows out of office in the state.
Farm settlements established in the first republic were resuscitated and over N1billion commercial agricultural credit loans scheme was provided for farmers. In fact, 125 hectares model farm was established in Ewekoro Local Government among others in the state.
Some legacy projects of Amosun are; Adire Modern Market, Ogun State Judicial complex, old governors office now modern Ogun state library, New Makun City, MTR Garden Isheri, Abeokuta City Center, MITROS RESIDENCES formerly gateway hotel, PMB estate, Orange Valley Estate, modern OGTV complex and digital studio, Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology, Abeokuta, Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia, Ogun model colleges. The list is endless.
Governor Amosun left the state with a debt profile of N90billion internal, and $102m external. It is good to note that he secured approval to obtain $350 fresh loans from world bank which will be take off funds for the new administration while the FG is owing Ogun over N126billion for the federal roads constructed by SIA administration in the state. It will be wicked to speak ill of Amosun's records for political reasons, because his legacies will forever be reckoned with by everyone in the state. He surpassed his predecessors, no doubt.
Heartily, I wish Senator Ibikunle Amosun an administrative farewell. The 'wonder man' that change the fortune of Ogun in eight years for good!
3 comments:
Fellow Patriots,
We have gotten to a point in our political setting that we should concern ourselves with how to move our state forward not by comparing one government with another.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun has done his bits, he gave us road, just road, I mean road at an exorbitant price, even at that we should thank him, even though lots of billions went down the drain, we still have these heavy infrastructures, even they wont last more than 4yrs after his tenure, still we got them.
My people want our lives depending on is more than heavy infrastructures, what is infrastruture without jobs, what is infrastructure without food, clothing and shelter, which are basic human needs.
On a moral ground, individual has their unique way of defining what good governance is, to Otunba Gbenga Daniel, road is good, but not at the expense of our education sector, road is good but not at the expense of our health sector, not at the expense pf providing maximum employment opportunities.
This is more reason why Daniel concentrated 30% ob road constructions and devoted the remaining 70% to ensure that other sectors blossom.
Before Daniel assumed office our General Hospitals were mortuaries, it was OGD's administration that revived our private hospitals, re-equipped them, employ more doctors to ensure proper health care and delieries, today, Amosun's govt has taken us back to era of no equipment, no drugs and no adequate capable hands, that doesn't erase the fact that Amosun gave us road o.
OGD gave us roads with tge help of our indigenous Engineers, leaving us with robust economy, cash was flowing left right and centre because our local Engineers were used rather than the recent cash flight by the Chinese handling road construction under Gov. Amosun's govt.
In analysing what development stand for in National or any reasonable state development, one cannot push away education, as many scholars have argued that mass illiteracy is one of the greatest bane of backwardness, the SIA's govt ha failed to take education seriously, remember he gave us roads, he took our education away, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic till date are still on strike, going to a year and half industrial action, the way the governor handled the issue got me thinking if we have committed a crime entrusting him with our mandates.To say that Gov.Amosun has killed education at the Tertiary level is an understatement, the most troubled and disturbing part is the non remittance of workers pension, with all lies ad needless promises.
While, I will still advise that we stay away from comparing, it is for thr record that I say that Gov Osoba embarked on rural deveopment, providing rural roads and electricity for rural communities.
By the time, OGD assumed office with his Urban Renewal Agenda, which Amosun's govt are boasting of. It is not out of place to say that OGD designed the master plan for the new Mega City.
Ajibola
In a short time, the Executive Governor of Ogun state Senator Ibikunle Amosun popularly known as SIA will be passing the baton of leadership to Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Governor-Elect that won the March 2019 govrnorship election in Ogun state.
The good people of Ogun state sometimes in 2011, when Senator Amosun emerged against Alh. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka of PPN and Dr. Tunji Olurin of PDP, many thought that Amosun will pursue an agenda that will build on the legacies of Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
It is worthy of note that some cabals within the state thought that the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel was too public oriented. Virtually all his programmes were centred on the well being of the people, therefore, the fortunate few felt that if the tempo is maintained Daniel is likely to close the wide margin between the poor and the rich in the state.
Although, most of the people with this high minded thoughts were from a very low background, yet Daniel maintained that government must be for the people and by the people. So when Senator Amosun came in, being an Accountant average Ogun indigene felt he is likely to use his professional experience to take the state to another enviable height, as his predecessor already secured the future of the people through massive employments which increased civil servants in the state to 17, 000.
We began the government with a New Dawn Mantra, with a mindset that Gov. Amosun will further enhance the good governance already initiated by H.E Otunba Gbenga Daniel, but it was sad that none of the life lifting projects of Otunba Gbenga Daniel received attention from SIA led administration.
The first job performed in office by Senator Ibikunle Amosun was to sack over 2000 workers employed by Otunba Gbenga Daniel, at this time, many said he was being frugal, he must ensure that there is no wastage, the Governor that just assumed office, saw massive employment as wastage. But in my own part of the world, we do not jump into conclusion until the ocean of our patience is dry.
Another job well done by Senator Amosun was that, the power project initiated by OGD led administration will equipment already purchased, was seen not too good for the people of the state.The project ought to have provided uninterupted power supply for people in the state helping small scale business all over the 20 local governments
Our Governor said the equipment are old, too old he said, but the already commisioned plant was not too old to be used by him at the Governor's Office, Governor's House and at the Commissioner's Quarter but they are old to be used by the good people of Ogun state.
The most interesting part is that, while it is a taboo for Ogun people to use the power project, Day Walterman, was placed on this 24hrs power supply. The interest of the Governor in Day Walterman was later exposed that his children were attending the school at that point in time.
The story is that Daniel provided electricity with tax payers money, but Senator Amosun felt it was too much to allow them have access to uninterupted power supply.
Isn't it surprising that this power project served Governor Amosun for almost 6yrs before they packed up for lack of maintenance.
Another project of Governor Amosun are 26 model schools constructed at the tune of One million naira per one, the total tax payers money that went into that project was #26bn, the model schools till date are not been used, a reliable source even confirmed that the Governor said that only two of them are of quality standard, with this #24billion has gone under the drain.
Apart from the fact that these model schools were built where kidnappers can gain unhindered access to whisk our pupils away, the project was a sheer waste of resources not worthy of pursuit by a reasonable Accountant not to talk of A Chartered Accountant for that matter.
Models schools were conducted with such anexorbitant money when our existing schools could have been revived with just #4billion.
SIA is a blessing to Ogun
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