IT IS NOT TOO LATE: AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR IBIKUNLE AMOSUN.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE: AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR IBIKUNLE AMOSUN.

I want to use this medium to acknowledge the service to humanity effort of our amiable Governor in the person of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the  chargé d'affaires  at the seat of 

government in Ogun state. His exemplary style of Leadership has stood him out from the crowd of many state administrators in Nigeria, he kick-started his agenda with the mindset of positively touching the lives of people resident in Ogun state by creating an enabling environment for investors as well as opening up the potentials inherent in the rich econo-cultural values of the state. Perhaps, Governor Amosun may have copied the Lagos state model of development in re-engineering the process and structure needed to put Ogun State in the proper perspective, this notion could be alluded to the choice in the composition of his cabinet members who mostly consists of cosmopolitans, technocrats, experts/professionals who had ply the trade in either Lagos or outside the country, not to mention various consultants handling different projects across the state.

I was at Agbara industrial estate few months back and was astonished at the level of foreign direct investment impact going on in that axis; you need no soothsayer to reveal the presence of the massive industrial/manufacturing firms springing up at Agbara Industrial scheme. Also, we’ve not had it so pleasing to witness housing development in Ogun state as much as we have seen in this Amosun short stint at governance, so many housing estate adorn the corridors of the state now than ever before, Abeokuta is busy with housing construction here and there. Whoever has not been to Abeokuta lately might be held back to think Fashola is the only Governor working in Nigeria, alas, Amosun will prove you wrong with conspicuos projects that ordinary citizens will be the major beneficiary. The Ijebu-Ode-Benin-Ore road junction fly-over is completed if am not mistaking the fact, If0-Ijoko-Agbado-Akute-Alagbole-Ojodu-Berger road with Over-head bridges at various points is a wonder not seen before in the history of the state since February 1976 when the state was created. The previous administration equally embarked on projects that really do not give a multiplier effects on the residents, reason for its unpopularity and rejection at the 2011 polls.

But before it is too late, Governor Amosun should have a re-think on the modalities for spreading the dividend of democracy across the state, a situation where state development is tilted towards a particular senatorial district will not leave a vestige of repute. Apparently irked by the disproportionate level of development in the state, some aggrieved individuals and groups of people have decided to slug it out with Governor Amosun come next year election which is few months away before the campaign starts proper. People of Ogun west Senatorial district has time memorial been clamoring for equal/proportionate representation at all level, it is the only Zone which has not produced the Governor of the state in its 38 years of state creation. As for me, I do not particularly care who steer the wheel of governance, so long as welfare of the common man is adequately catered for without fear or favor.

Similarly, people living at the border towns in Ogun state are less favoured in terms of infrastructural developments; local government such as Ifo L.G.A needs no introduction in the mention, people residing in this areas such as Akute, Ajuwon, Isashi, Ojodu Abiodun, Olambe, Agbado, etc suffers a lot. Access to basic amenities such as:

1.    Fire-Station

2.    General Hospital

3.    Ultra-Modern market

4.    Pipe-borne water system

5.    Waste management facilities

6.    Good roads

7.    Street lights

8.    Drainage system

9.    Housing Estate

10.                       Sports and Recreation facilities, etc.

All of these and many more has marooned the resident of this area and relegated them to the background in the scheme of things. At the commencement of construction work on Akute and Alagbole bridges, residents were very enthusiastic that reprieve had finally come their way, it was a warm reception for the governor and the consultants handling the construction jobs, however, motorists and commuters have been groaning day and night going by the hardship caused by the temporary closure of the right of ways arising from the doctrine of “overriding public interest”. It is like merry-go-round to navigate around Akute and its environs, the few alternate roads are recipe for constant medical and mechanical checks. Now that the rain is here, it is a double jeopardy for residents as access roads are either not motorable or completely cut off. A case in hand is the Iju hill-Grail land access road, just a rain shower last week sends a red-alert signal of the dangers ahead, a boy was swept away in the flood as he was trying to dogde a keke marwa coming from Ishaga. Also, since the Alagbole road is not accessible to Tanker drivers and heavy duty trucks temporarily, the Iju hill axis becomes the best route for commuting; the impact of this is that there is always heavy traffic on that route causing loss of man-hour and productive time, frequent accident as a result of impatience of the danfo drivers and other educated illiterates of “my car” segment. To add salt to the injury, the Iju hill road is caving in into the canal day-by-day, passing through the road everyday gives me so much worries, sometimes I ponder and wonder if the new road being constructed is not a “greek gift”, this could be a disaster in the waiting but I pray it does not consume any live whenever it happens.

Lastly, the Governor should arrange for a stakeholder’s forum to determine palliative measures that could be initiated by the government in order to cushion the effect of the hardship experienced by the residents pending the completion of these laudable projects. I believe Amosun is a listening governor and hope to see a change in this direction as engaging the people will further lay credence to the goodwill already garnered in his 3 years of good governance in Ogun State.

Long Live Ogun state

Long Live Nigeria.

‘Lekan Olanite.