EDITORIAL: Nothing Contentious About Maintenance!

 

THE unnecessary diversion about the essence of the greatly acclaimed mega schools in the State of Osun is a reflection of how intellectual dishonesty has become a guiding trajectory of state policy and a repudiation of the principle of collective responsibility upon which modern government rests. This is immoral and deplorable.

There is absolutely nothing extraordinary about safety concerns about public buildings. It should be routine. The schools, including elementary, middle and high schools, represent a worthy and monumental legacy of the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration, of which the present Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, who was a leading light in that government, should be proud of.

We recall that President Muhammadu Buhari personally came to commission Osogbo Government High School with funfare, an event that shot Osun into national and international glare.

Furthermore, the school projects have been commended by UNESCO and other international bodies and have been replicated by Borno and Kaduna States.

It cannot be overemphasised that these iconic buildings were bequeathed to the Oyetola administration in PRISTINE state, all glistening and a remarkable difference from what schools look like anywhere around.

He owns them now and should be held accountable for their state three clear years after Ogbeni Aregbesola had left office.

It is most regrettable that the Oyetola administration deliberately allowed the schools to fall into disuse by depopulating them. Ironically, a speaker at a conference organised by the Oyetola administration a couple of months ago lauded the ambience of the schools and suggested that parts of the space be used to induct young children into elementary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). The governor was present when the presentation was made.

For clarity’s sake, whatever happens to the schools today falls squarely on Governor Oyetola’s administration. He is responsible for them and should be held accountable for letting them fall into ruins. The present sophistry and bare faced lying cannot impact on anyone with half a decent brain, for it is an unfortunate case of dereliction of duty and abandonment of responsibility.