The more the date of the 2015 general election approaches, the more it generates debate among Nigerians. From Akwa Ibom to Sokoto, Ekiti to Benue, the story is the same; anxiety and hope. The circumstances that surround Ogun State make its politics and campaigns deeper and diverse than many states. Unlike some states, where the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress are the main contenders, there are some dissident voices in smaller parties like the Social Democratic Party and the Labour Party that cannot be outrightly be ignored.
But despite this, the incumbent governor of the State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, still maintains a clear lead in popularity rating and share of voice among all the governorship candidates. Aside words of mouth, there are many signals and local research that affirm his popularity. Because Amosun and his team are not known to rely in frivolous propaganda, even when the administration is believed to be performing wonders, it may be dangerous for any politician to dismiss his popularity. One major thing that is working for Amosun is practically his achievements in virtually all the sectors of the state.
But the major question that is begging for answer is whether all these are enough to save the governor in the gubernatorial election. Will Ogun State indigene be willing to trust him again? Will he survive the strong opposition mounted by PDP and SDP in the state? Will Amosun’s performance speak for him this time?.
When he took over in 2011, the governor had decried the then state of affairs in the state. He said in one of his speeches: “With the terrible decay in infrasture and poor state of health and education, the grim picture of the state is clear. In the face of these, I have found more compelling reasons to lead the mission to re-build Ogun State.”
Based on these scenarios, he evolved a five point agenda, that he believed would transform the state and give it its traditional pride of place among the comity of states in Nigeria. He hinged his mission on providing affordable quality education, efficient health care delivery, increase agricultural production and regenerate Industrialisation, provide affordable housing and embark on an urban renewal scheme and put renewed focus on rural and infrastructure development and employment generation.
Four years down the line, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has made efforts to positively deliver on all aspects of his five-point agenda.
In education, over 1000 classrooms were said to have been constructed and renovated with furniture supplied to all of them. The state now has free education up to primary school level with free books for students. Teachers have been paid salary arrears to boost their morale and there is an all year training programme created for them. There are unified examinations for pupils in the state and a standardized syllabus to enhance performance. Although opponents of the administration point out that the government has not done enough, the Amosun team posit that the process is continuous, and is progressing in the right direction and will take some time to fully address all issues, because of the level of decay found on ground.
The administration is also making tremendous impact in health care delivery to the people of the state. In the first 100 days of his administration, he rehabilitated 50 health centers across the state by providing boreholes, toilets, generators, recruiting etc. The administration is building comprehensive health centers in all federal constituencies in the state and has recruited over 700 health personnel. Ogun state has exceeded its target in immunizations, introduced community based health insurance schemes; introduced a drug revolving scheme in hospitals and computerized operation in her health institutions.
In its bid to put her arable land to good use, the administration has established a rice farm in Egua, a 20-hectare cashew farm in Imeko, cassava farms in Ibiade, poultry and tomato farms in Kotopo, fish farms in Ilaro and Ogun waterside, and also established the Owowo farm settlement for graduate farmers.
Ogun state has attracted over 57 industries just within the past four years with investments totaling over $100 million.
The Amosun administration has also recorded tremendous progress in her urban renewal/affordable housing drive with the development of numerous housing estates across the length and breath of the state. These include Igbara and Orange Valley Estate handled by OPIC, Plainfields and Degun mission Estates, Kobape Estate, Makun city in Sagamu, and quite a few others.
In the area of employment generation and security, the state has made progress too. Ogun state is now amongst the most secure states in the federation. This was achieved by providing vehicles and communication gadgets to the security forces, as well as the establishment of a Security Trust Fund.
So far, the state civil service has employed over 15,000 indigenes of the state while grants and soft loans have been given to women, farmers and cooperative societies to enhance their productivity and engage more persons.
In spite of all these achievements, however, the Amosun Administration has been criticised by opponents because of the impact of these developments on the people of the state. Chief Akin Odunsi, the SDP gubernatorial candidate for the state has complained that, “The urban renewal programme of the state is in less than 50 percent of the local government headquarters.” The state publicity secretary of the PDP, Waliu Oladipupo has also been reported to have said, that, “There’s no gainsaying the fact that the Amosun Administration has failed in all fronts. It has dashed the hope of the good people of Ogun state, despite its pretensions to some achievements. What would have been the biggest achievement of the administration – urban renewal – has been blighted by the untold hardship, pain and anguish that have become the lot of the good people of Ogun State whose ancestral homes, shops and property are being destroyed in the name of urban renewal without compensation.”
What does one make of such allegations? The State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun admits these challenges but opines that owners of properties affected by the demolition are all adequately compensated. According to Amosun, “The challenge I have is when I have to demolish homes of the people to pave way for road construction. I am not happy at all because this has been the abode of people for ages and now they have to move to make way for a road. I am sad, but we have to plan for our children and work for their future.” However, he added that he is excited when these roads are commissioned, because people whose homes were demolished waved at him, an indication that they had seen the benefits of the construction to their daily lives.
The popular adage is that there is no gain without pain. If the people of Ogun State expect to march into the 21st century as a developed, virile comity of States in the federation, they should be prepared to accept such pains that are a stepping stone to development. But as Nigerians await the outcome of 2015 elections, it is obvious that Ogun State will be a state to watch and where many are expecting the status quo to remain because of the foundation the current administration has laid. However, the yam and the knife are in the hands of the people.
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