Ogun: My State, My Pride

What a Paradise we see and live in! I keep wondering how my state will look like if others who will come after him can emulate him, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the Executive Governor of Ogun State. As a good Citizen of Ogun State, I have the obligation to access the beautiful works of the incumbent Governor of Ogun State and to my greatest surprise, everything is as changed as the weather, I can see the environment is as clean as a whistle, the beautiful structures are as solid as a rock, the flyovers are as solid as the ground we stand on and all things are as different as day and night.

It will be very unfair of anyone to subjectively compare what we used to have in Ogun State of six years ago to what we all can see now. Gone are those jesting days our friends from the other States of the Country used to make jest of us anytime they visited us. Then, they used to complain about poor social amenities, zero infrastructural development and all that. But thank God, we now make jest of them. Without arguments, things have really changed in Ogun State in terms of infrastructural development, education, security etc. We all know that except for the find of cheap and mere political points.

It will not speak well of this assessment, if I refuse to acknowledge the engineer who has made all these boasting things a reality in Ogun state. Therefore, at this juncture, I want to sincerely appreciate the Beautiful works of His Distinguished Excellency, *Senator Ibikunle Amosun FCA, CON, the Executive Governor of Ogun State*. Once again, ever since the inception of Ogun State in 1976, There has not been this massive  development being presently witnessed in the State and with this, I can boldly say it that we are fortunate in Ogun State and grateful to God Almighty who has sent us an angel in whom our State is being transformed into Paradise on earth.

Having traveled round Ogun State in the last six years, that is, from Egba (Central) to Ijebu/Remo (East) down to Yewa/Awori (West) and I can confirm to you that the kind of development going on in all these areas of the State is more tha what a mouth can report. Hence, we have nothing to tell God again than to continue thanking him for sending us a rare gem and Messiah.

Having said all these, what other names can we call someone who has indeed made us proud if not to regard him a leader, gem, sage, rebuilder and architect of modern day Ogun State.

 Just of recent, I heard one of my friends in the opposition, claiming all the gigantic projects being embarked upon by *His Excellency, Governor Ibikunle Amosun*is an avenue to personal embezzlement and stealing of public funds.

Although, this is laughable but attracts a reply. Either personal embezzlement or general embezzlement, what any right thinking individual may be interested in is visible or concrete evidence of spending or utilization of public funds through social amenities or infrastructural development such as what we are presently seeing in the State. If Governor Amosun is embarking on all these developmental projects because of his pocket has he claim, and we can all see those things he is doing around, that means the Governor is wise, smart and brave. Comparing him to others who did not embark on projects as these, and yet still embezzle the Government fund is faulty. trust me, many of them may end up dying in jail.

To educate ourselves more on who the incumbent Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun is, I shall further discuss what differentiates him from the others.

Just as we know that a vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others, Governor Amosun means different things to different persons. To some, he is one stubborn Owu man who wears a trademark long cap. To others, he is one daring Governor who has a penchant for embarking on projects that many of his predecessors and contemporaries would naturally shy away from. Some see him as a bold and courageous, yet others see him as ambitious. But in the midst of this diverse descriptions, who really is the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun? For me, Governor Amosun is a sage, mentor and rebuilder who with a great vision, has been able to transformed Ogun State completely and is one visionary who is undeniably driven by a mission to rebuild Ogun State and make the Gateway State an envy of others in the comity of states in Nigeria.

No doubt, this is a comprehensive explanation of the passion and unmistakable resolve with which he pursues his vision. It is a pity that  creatures such as Governor Amosun are scarce in the real market of life. These creatures are leaders who with a great courage will decide never at any point in time be discouraged or distracted by anyone, whenever they are at their  visionary works that ordinarily will be rejected by their people but which latter become  precious properties worth proud to them.

Another good example of such leader is our late sage, Obafemi Awolowo who decided on the constriction of the new popular Coco House in Ibadan, the South West Nigeria. History has it that the project was not considered popular or expedient. Many who were around then did not see the need for a 25- floor building at a time when a two – floor building was considered a wonder. Also, baba Awolowo was criticized for ideas like the establishment of the first television station in the tropical Africa, which began broadcasting on October, 31, 1959.

At that time, those ideas were wrongly criticized and considered over ambitious. Yet, there were visionary just like the many projects currently being undertaken by the Senator Ibikunle Amosun – led Administration in Ogun State.

To further my claims on His Excellency, Governor Ibikunle Amosun performances in Ogun State, I shall discuss more of his good works and how well a sage just like the incumbent, can be accessed in respect of time.

Leadership it is said to be a responsibility but not position. One leads to serve and serves to lead. This is in line with the responsible and responsive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun FCA CON, as the evidence of his good works are obvious that even the opposition and critics of his administration cannot deny. His performances in the last six years have override all achievements of his predecessors.

I have a friend who always complain about the people’s governor that his government is this and that. But I keep asking him one simple question which he has not till today, given me an answer at least. Same way I will ask others reading this little piece, ‘Ever since the inception of Ogun State in the the year 1976, has anyone performed equally or beyond the incumbent, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, FCA CON’? Absolutely No one! So, what then is the unnecessary stress of some of our people seeking cheap political points and blackmail? No wonder it surprises me how people reason sometimes.

Why should anyone who is so much confident in the current administration of Governor Amosun be worried of the critics? Of course, there is nothing to worry about. As a matter of fact, more than 88% of the good people of Ogun State testify to the viable works of His Excellency everyday while the remaining 22% may be casting aspersions on his good works mainly for irrelevant political propaganda. Who cares?

One thing I am sure of is that an accurate assessment of elected or appointed political office holders are better done when such people are no longer in power. Many of us who are here in Ogun State during his reign as the Governor, will testify to the gem’s good works now and after his tenure. Even those  who belong to the political party who does not like the Governor, will secretly praise him now or later. That I am very sure of.

Under his watch, Ogun State has become destination for most investors in the recent time. The State Governor has attracted about 100 companies to Ogun State in the last two years. His drive to attract investors to the State has been fruitful despite the present economic crunch. What some don’t also know about his administration is that, it has it in plan to construct an airport before the expiration of his term in 2019 as a necessity for the myriads of companies that now reside in the State.

This will as a result, fast track the socio-  economic development of the State, since the state had become the number one business hub in the Country. Also, his administration had invested in the infrastructural development of the State with a new road networks and expansion of old ones. This sage also created a new City in Ogun State, which cut across three  Local Council areas of Ogun Central Senatorial District, namely: Obafemi Owode, Ifo and Ewekoro. Similarly, his administration has also revealed plans to construct 100 roads in 100 rural communities in the State. The government has commenced the construction of infrastructure in the border communities such as Arepo, Ibafo among others.

On the issue of transportation, The Governor had already signed a N1.2billion memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a Chinese company for the construction of a rail system. Other than the above pans of his Excellency, I can confirm to you that achievements and giant strides of the Governor within six years in government even in this economic recession, are nothing but a phenomena feat.

Therefore, I am once again convinced that when excellence is rewarded, the people rejoice. His Excellency, Governor Amosun has indeed performed excellently well in turning round the destiny of Ogun State from hitherto low to a glorious present.  With  this critical assessment of his government in six years, under the worst economic recession ever witnessed in Nigeria, one will agree with me that, Governor Amosun has outperformed all the Governors that ever ruled Ogun State in the midst of plenty!

He has equally combined the political sagacity, visionary instinct and the power of knowledge of economics of late sage, Chief Obafemi  Awolowo ; the social development engineering and intuitive capacity of Chief Bisi Onabanjo with his own deeper knowledge of financial engineering and a good understanding of the concept of development. Governor Amosun is a strategic planner, a highly focus leader who is never distracted even when it is obvious that his government has been living under distraction for the past six years. Only few leaders could perform under such distractive atmosphere. This clearly shows the genius in Amosun, the most humble Governor to have ever ruled Ogun State. More also, Governor Ibikunle Amosun  has also revitalized the critical sectors of the state economy which were dead before he asumed office in May, 2011.

Finally, The  incumbent Governor of Ogun State has really made us proud. In fact, he has done what the now generation and the coming generation will forever be proud of.

I am very sure, he has a better place in history. As he also puts it, ‘I know that generations yet unborn will remember us, not just me but all of us because, in the next ten or twenty years, people will begin to see the benefits of all our efforts. Ogun will then be the benchmark for Other States’.