New Government, New Hope, Fresh Challenges

By Saindat AbdulRouf

As Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola handed the baton of leadership to his successor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, the expectations of the teeming populace is that the new governor would complete most of the ongoing projects, as well as review some of the policies of his predecessor.

It is clear that as the new governor takes the mantle of leadership, various challenges awaits his administration, while the expectation from the teeming populace is on the high side, especially as his predecessor has set the standard for in coming governments in the state.

Many of the infrastructures built in the three senatorial districts would not be used to measure the new government as the teeming populace would not stop asking for more, while the governor would want to satisfy the different yearnings of the state populace.

OSUN DEFENDER spoke with stakeholders in the state regarding their expectation from the new administration and majority of respondents expected the new governor to review the government-labour relationship with a view to curbing any form of industrial restlessness which is capable of throwing the state into economic crunch.

A former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Oluomo Sunday Akere disclosed that in the area of infrastructure, the new administration has a template to build on to ensure that the state is totally open to investment and development.

He added that some of the areas that needed objective and holistic review include the public school policy, labour relations and party politics.

According to him, the governor should find a means to create balance between infrastructure development and paying civil servants salary as a means of stimulating the economy in the state, especially knowing that salaries of workers play significant role in the state economy.

He also stressed the need to review public school policy, especially the issue of single uniform, with a view to creating identity for each school and without compromising the quality of the teachers in the schools through training to build their capacity.

Also, Akere called on the new governor to review positively his relation with the teeming populace in the state, with a view to making them the fulcrum of his administration to enhance his local politics before bringing others from outside of the state.

A political analyst, Mr. Jide Ojo, opined that the governor must forget about politicking, bring every stakeholders on board and the bottom line is that the people must join hands with the administration to ensure that the new governor delivers on his campaign promises, saying this would be the only way to better the lives of his people.

“The government must ensure that salaries are paid; roads are built and ongoing projects completed and other things that could impact the life of the people should be given attention.

“People should forget about political differences and what should matter most to the electorate is their interest as Osun indigenes and residents.

Also, the governor must reconcile with his political foes who worked against him in the realisation of his political ambition. He should not see himself as the governor of APC. The party is just a label, what he needs is to be governor for all where they voted for him or not or those who didn’t vote at all who constitute the majority”, he added.

Similarly, the Students’ Union Government President of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Mr. Abiodun Oluwaseun Lawrence said, it was disheartening to see the institution wallow in such crisis with the two state governors from the same political party, he appealed to the new governor of Osun to link up with his counterpart in Oyo to work out a way to proffer a lasting solution to the lingering crisis of LAUTECH.

He added that, “In the next four years, the new governor should see to the prompt payment of the school subvention. He should also give capital grant and capital project should be given attention in the school.

“Also, Oyetola should ensure that LAUTECH students of Osun indigene as well as those from other institutions are paid of bursary.

According to him, it is the only way students would see him as a governor that cares about their welfare.