Of Aregbesola And Reward of Commitment To Service

By Igbotako Nowinta

The under-development of Nigeria unquestionably is dialectic. This dialectical phenomenon introduced into the country as a result of the way ward leadership recklessly administered by a chunk of the political cum military class since independence in 1960, has brought Nigeria tragically into a cul-de-sac.

The resultant effect of the above is that most politicians have hijacked the accelerated development of the country and by implications transformed themselves into merciless swine that are now ravishingly eating the breakfast and dinner of the masses of Nigeria.

In the midst of this most nauseating scenario, a tiny class of politicians has chosen to take a walk in the direction of the forgotten majority.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun since November 2010, has shown to be a friend of the ordinary people, most especially in his state.

This fact glaringly manifested recently in far away Ogwa in Edo State at the Samuel Adegboyega University where he was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration.

In recognising and encouraging  Ogbeni, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor  Ben Aigbokhan at the historic gathering noted that ‘Aregbesola stood out by placing his state among 5 top lowest in unemployment rate  in Nigeria and also second in human  capacity  development  in Nigeria’

This award, coming to a man who courageously defied and overcame glaring suffocating financial trials occasioned by the still lingering low allocation coming to the State from the  federation monthly, attracts huge applause indeed.

Only about eight days earlier on July 20th, 2018 in Abuja, capital city of Nigeria, Ogbeni Aregbesola deservedly harvested the first of such awards within the month when one of the  nation’s most reputable Business centred newspapers – Business Day singled him out conspicuously as the ‘Best Performing  Governor in Nigeria’s  Southern  Region’.

According to the management of Business Day newspaper, Aregbesola who also won the ‘Best Social Investment & Social Protection’ awards distinguished  himself in  the special awards category in ‘recognition of the new grounds the administration has broken in Osun that has entrenched  an enduring legacy that will span 50 years’.

There is absolutely an interesting twist to the current spate of Awards being harvested by Ogbeni Aregbesola. This man has less than four months to exit power and he is being honored, accorded due respect and recognised by reputable entities outside the shores of ‘the land of the virtuous’ as the State is nicknamed. This shows the stunner stuff that he is made of.

Though, the fact remains that Ogbeni had raked in what could be termed an endless lists of awards and accomplishments in office before now, but the current  harvests being recorded is a significant plank to say unequivocally that he is almost breasting the last lap of his enviable rule with the highest level of commitment to his ideological conviction.

From another perspective, the  current harvests of encomium being heaped on Ogbeni is a way of celebrating excellence thunderously in a country saturated right, left and centre by many serving and ex-governors that have become blatant national irritants and prodigals who have bled and still bleed their people white.

Ogbeni, a true hero of democracy is a phenomenon that has absolutely provided valuable opportunity for the masses to flourish and blossom within Nigeria.

The truth lies in the nature and character called Ogbeni, an incredible politician that represents an idea (which has restored, revamped, redeemed and repositioned) the State of Osun with uncommon tenacity.

Ogbeni’s rise to power is unarguably the greatest epoch in the recent history of the State. Powered by an incredible will and a magnetic personality, in almost eight years now in office, he has not only nourished the political destiny of his people, but continues to serve as a fundamental principle for the upliftment of the ordinary folks from ignorance, illiteracy and stark obscurity.

Aregbesola is a personality that drinks knowledge with extraordinary fascinating passion for educational and infrastructural development. Today, he strikes at the root of democratic performance and the living forces of the people of osun.

Really, the Governor has personified the attitude of principles, responsibility, honor and toughness: he has stepped into the proscenium of history.

• Nowinta Igbotako, a serial author and public affairs commentator lives in Benin city.