Losing in Osun is against the run of play
By Davidson Ayoade Ojeniyi
On Osun election, Oyetola lost the election not because he didn’t perform as a Governor. In the same token, he didn’t lose totally because he had a problem with Aregbesola. He lost simply because he governs a state of a generation which doesn’t seem to understand what it is actually looking for in governance. In those days, our fathers were farmers who also loved education and our economy was agrarian based so, they went for Awolowo who had sound programmes for agriculture and education. The aftermaths are there for all to see.
However, most of the present people in Osun State are quite insatiable. Tell me any government they have ever eulogised in Osun. Baba Akande was there building infrastructure here and there. What happened? They cried to high heaven.
Oyinlola came in and did his own. He established a university that is doing well now. He was not there without limitless complaints.
Aregbesola came in. He reduced the tuition fees of the University by half to make it affordable to the poor. He engaged in infrastructural development, he paid thirteenth month until financial paucity set in. Many indigenes of Osun were attacking him here and there. He owed 25% & 50% salaries.
Oyetola came in and started paying salaries and debts he met without borrowing a dime. Both PDP, a cross section of APC and those who do not belong to any party never leave him alone. If their wishes were for good governance they would have voted Oyetola in gladly for the second term.
Their problem in Osun is not good governance. It is majorly stomach infrastructure. It is there in our lives. We want where we can get free money. Any politician who is not ready to give free money cannot rule Osun successfully. Some people may say it is like that everywhere but that of Osun has no part II. We have a terrible sense of entitlement in Osun. Your brother thinks that you must pay his children’s school fees because you are his brother not minding your own responsibilities.
I bet you that very soon the party will be over before it begins. Majority of those who voted for Adeleke voted because they think that the wealths of the Adelekes will be made accessible to them. We experienced such during the time of Isiaka Adeleke. But they don’t know the difference among a philanthropist, a capitalist and a loafer. Time shall tell.
This is the time for the real progressives in Osun to work assiduously to make sure that they forget about their differences and work as one indivisible family. If we lose this opportunity to make a real progressive from South West the president, we may never get it till the end of time.
