Oyetola: The worth of a ministerial community reception
By Jimoh Olorede
On Saturday, September 9, 2023, Iragbiji, the hometown of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, played host to a large number of dignitaries and all manner of personalities from all walks of life who gathered to celebrate the immediate-past Governor of Osun State, who is an illustrious son of the ancient town. Farmers didn’t farm and welders ceased welding, just as wedding ceremonies were cancelled for the Minister’s home reception. Mr. Adegboye Oyetola was born in Iragbiji in the same month of September in 1954. However, the grand reception organised for him by his immediate Community was not for the celebration of his 69th birthday.
On August 16, 2023, the former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, was appointed Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by President Bola Ahmmed Tinubu. This, of course, is celebration-worthy. But again, that was not only why the Community led by His Royal Majesty, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun IV organised the reception and played host to the mammoth crowd of eminent people of prominence who attended the event.
Obviously, the Minister’s exceptional sterling qualities, technocratic expertise, business-cum-political acumen, fiscal discipline, and antecedents both in his 30 years helmsmanship in the private sector and in politics, especially his achievements in Osun as former governor of the state, were the reasons for the celebratory Grand Reception. No doubt, these were the hallmark that made him fit the bill in the President’s assessment for his appointment as minister.
When Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola assumed office as governor on November 27, 2018, he met the state almost aground, but with his exemplary managerial ability, he had turned it around before leaving the office in 2022. His remarkable stride which earned the state the World Bank’s State’s Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) Award for Efficiency in Public Expenditure was what made his celebratory reception worthy.
His tenure as governor was almost marred by unprecedented unwholesome circumstances, and that he could still achieve so much was marvelous. It was only with a dint of fate that Oyetola escaped assassination during the EndSARS protest hijacked by hoodlums at Ola-Iya in Osogbo. This notwithstanding, the former governor, in his avowed commitment to peace, fairness, unity, justice, equality, and rule of law, and indeed, in his magnanimity, presented cheque of N53 Million and Two Hundred and Ninety Thousand as compensation to victims of police brutality in the state. This was yet another reason why Iragbiji indigenes celebrated the merciful and compassionate gentle man.
As the then governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola didn’t renege on his promises, as he maintained fidelity with his electoral promises. With his political will, he was able to deliver people-centered and masses-focused projects for the good use of the people of Osun.
Some of the laudable projects his government was able to deliver included the monthly feeding of 30 thousand vulnerable persons in the state through the Osun Food Support Scheme, and financial support for the aged and widows. He also opened up the Mining Sector with big investors’ attraction to the state. His reforms in the education sector included recruitment of 2,500 teachers, renovation of school building, provision of free education and free meals to pupils. These no mean feats and great achievements of an illustrious son were the reasons for hosting all the great minds present at Iragbiji for the Minister’s grand reception.
Furthermore, based on his high premium on education, Adegboyega Oyetola’s government upgraded the (now former) state College of Education, Ilesha to a full-fledged University of Ilesha. He revitalised 332 Primary Health Centres across all the political wards in the state and also revitalised and equipped the state Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro and also constructed 120-bed Ward and 30 Units of Doctor’s Quarters. Not only this, Oyetola’s government also rehabilitated Ejigbo and Ifetedo General Hospitals. The former governor’s governance was commendable for the institutionalisation of the Osun Health Insurance Scheme with its affordable healthcare service to the state workers some of whom enjoyed his disbursement of N250 Million Car Refurbishing loans.
The credit for the construction of the first most significant flyover at Ola-Iya, Osogbo, the state capital, goes to the Iragbiji-born, tycoon-turned politician of repute, the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), Adegboyega Oyetola. The number of roads and the kilometers constructed and rehabilitated by Oyetola’s regime are too many to enlist. It is in recognition of his remarkable achievements in this area and in fact every sphere of the state’s sector that several awards were conferred on him and by extension, the state.
Apart from the World Bank’s Award for “Efficiency in Public Expenditure,” the state also received in addition, the Award of Excellence for being the top performer in Domestic Revenue Mobilization. Other numerous awards received by the former governor were “Governor of the Year 2021 for Good Governance”; “Outstanding Leader in Public Service and Citizens’ Welfare” awarded in December 2021; “Best Governor & Man of the Year Award for outstanding Leadership Style & Inclusive Governance” received in November 2021; and “Workers Friendly Governor’s Award” received from the Nigeria Civil Service Union, South West Zone in August 2021. Others were “Governor of the Year 2020 Award given in June 2021; “Man & Governor of the Year 2020 Award” received in May 2021; and
“Best Governor of the Year 2020 Award” conferred on him in February 2021, among many others.
The foregoing describes Adegboyega Oyetola’s hallmark. No wonder the newly created and heavily-loaded ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in terms of Departments and high-profile agencies under it, was allocated to the former governor. President Bola Tinubu must have been well-convinced that Oyetola, given his antecedents as Osun former Governor and his exploits as an ace administrator in the private sector for thirty years, has the capacity to sail and navigate the Marine Ministry and turn it truly to a blue economy for the nation. It takes someone highly efficient in administration like His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, to take the helm of the big agencies under his ministry. We are cocksure that the Minister, given his high level of experience, expertise deposit, managerial efficiency, fiscal discipline and business as well as political acumen, will bring the vision for the creation of the new Ministry in relation to the President’s Renew Hope Agenda to fruition.
It was for this worth that Iragbiji Community, family, friends and associates, royal fathers, and indeed, dignitaries from different parts of the world gathered in Iragbiji to celebrate the finance-wizard, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dr. Olorede, a media Practitioner, Researcher and Lecturer, wrote from Iragbiji, Osun State, via [email protected]/08111841887.
