It was unmistakably eloquent that the Franchise demonstrated by the good people of Osun State in favour of His Excellency Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola as the Governor will forever remain as the best gift of the year 2018. Am a fanatics for sound education with score cards of sound debate on Television Continental and Channels, I feel confident in the capability of the new governor, to fly the government of Osun State to a destination that is uninterrupted and interestingly accompanied with dividends of democracy. However cloudy the weather is, nothing can stop the sun from shinning.
The exigency and necessity of a paradigm shift to good governance in Osun State in premised on a leader with intellectual and administrative socio-economic navigation in ensuring that a mighty ocean is produced in the desert.
His choice with the collective franchise of Osun State electorates is a testimony of rational thinking. Immediately after the primaries of all political parties for the gubernatorial elections of Osun State, with my journalistic microscopic assessment of their capabilities in analysis and professional expertise in addressing the issues of governance in the state, I wrote a widely circulated write-up on social media tilted “A message for Ipetu – Ijesa Electorates” I told them that a tree must obey the direction of the wind.
We cannot repair a faulty generator by painting it. Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola is undoubtedly prepared with fecundity of imagination to make a difference in the new dispensation between the government and the governed. Governance is a serious business, electing someone with intellectual deficiencies and embarrassingly (F9) is a colourless political symbol of a state in need of a golden fleece. I am particularly impressed that a bad precedent is not laid in a state of the footprints of the late Cicero of Esa Oke, Chief Bola Ige and more importantly a state where Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, is situated. The choice of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola has excellently passed the democratic credential that will make a State Executive council meeting, a very engaging one. Ideas must contest for acceptability.
I was flabbergasted but least surprised with the gubernatorial election even before the re-run. The result was not because both candidates are at par in global accessment, Oyetola is a product of the prestigious University of Lagos up to post graduate level, at least if not the most educated governor in the history of the state in the areas that is crucial to socio-electronic Engineering in addressing the scale of preference of that state.
The election result before the re-run was a protest against the All Progressive Congress ruling party in the state. The ruling party disobeyed the law of caution and was not in anyway prepared to win election in their governing antecedent in the State. This was evidently indisputable. The administrative style was vindictive. There was no diplomacy between the sensitive civil servants and priorities of welfare of the living things was obviously disregarded for an unknown destination of dividends of democracy. There was no synergy in the campaign team. It is indeed congratulatory for the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola because the exigency of that election is a symbol of a paradigm shift to a government that connects to the governed in all ramification to avoid a re-occurrence of Emperor-like administration.
Admirably essential as an ingredient an paradigm shift is the application of both native and modern wisdom of the Governor elect to have a formidable cabinet members. Your team is a standard of assessment. Show me your team I will tell you who you are. A state executive council meeting must be ideas salivating. Potentials must be harnessed. You cannot think alone. I agree that a party’s interest is important but a right peg must be fixed in the right hole. Osun State has potentials that must be driven with ideas. Irons sharpen irons. The governor should not make a mistake of appointing someone he cannot respect his opinion and input as a cabinet member. The party should know that the score card of a party depends largely in the ability of the government to use the best players to score in the field of good governance.
Interestingly tested is the spirit of the governor to harness potentials in the areas of commerce and managerial skills. This singular attributes is convincingly conspicuous that a paradigm shift has been established. He is from Iragbiji in Osun State. I can say this on good authority that people from his background are naturally endowed with business acumen.
I am a native of Ipetu – Ijesa in Oriade local government, 70 percent of the commercial activities in my home town are controlled by the Iragbijis. They love commerce and farming. The Iragbijis love adventures and highly disciplined, they navigates a lot beyond the shore of their background. The emergence of the Governor from such environment will fuel the wheels of a new dawn from economic stagnation to a more define three basic necessities of life in our state.
This, in my argument, is supported with the professional colouration and credentials of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola to pilot economic blueprint of our state to a promise land. He is a product of the prestigious University of Lagos, a degree in insurance and post graduate study in finance. He has worked in Leadway Assurance Company and a Managing Director of Silvertrust for 20 years. Such a fellow has in my opinion passed examination score cards of ability to pilot both human and material resources to re-write the excruciating story of that state to a more promising one. Without any spirit of immodesty, his managerial knowledge is a strong instrument of putting food on the table in the new dispensation of Osun State.
In a nutshell, the new administration should instill trust, confidence and hope in the psychology and well being of the people of Osun State. The Oyetola-led administration policies within the ambits of his administration policies should attract welfare of the people, regular payment of salaries, creative internally generated revenue (IGR), promotes reasonable level of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in sensitive area of needs, facilitates proposals and memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will attract both foreign and local investors for the economic emancipation of Osun State.
He must marry theoretical, financial and managerial skills of the prestigious University of Lagos in defining a new dawn for Osun State. The government must apply wisdom and diplomacy where necessary. Town hall meetings must be prioritized. Osun State Chief Executive Officers (Osun CEO’s Forum) both at home and in the diaspora must be connected to the living spring of modern business network. As a member fourth estate of the realm, the role of the media in integrating government policies in providing a sense of direction is essential. Investment in mechanized farming is a brilliant addendum in reviving the economy of Osun State. We must play around our natural endowment to enhance comparative advantage.
It is my opinion that I am convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that Osun State is in good hand. Without being hyperbolic, the institutional and business profile of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola will add value to governance in the new administration. Fear should not be entertained. This is evidently a new dawn. A paradigm shift has been established.
Afolabi Akinola who is the Head of Commercials, Unilag Radio 103.1fm & Television, is a senior staff of the University of Lagos. He can be reached on afolabiola2002@yahoo.com or via Whatshapp 08034434757.
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