Truth Of The Matter with AYEKOOTO: A New Man In Osun, Coming In To Work

Except you are close to the government in Osun, hardly does the name “rings” much bell, as is often said. In a crowded gathering of government officials that work closely with the Ogbeni, the man of diminutive frame but very high cerebral capacity hardly makes a notice, even though very close to the Governor in work and in goals. Again, where many will deploy efforts to make their voices heard even if just to be noticed, he hardly utters one word. But once he does, his soft voice with powerful note will make an instant impression and inspiration.

This is Adegboyega Isiaka “Ajagbe” Oyetola, the unassuming but very competent and powerful Chief of Staff and successor to outgoing Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.  He is fine destiny personified which vividly reinforces the age-old word of the elders and many given to religion that you cannot run away from destiny, no matter how obscure you place yourself in order not to be noticed. Remember the biblical David and Joseph.

“Ajagbe” may not be a panegyric addition to his names but certainly has a close descriptive connotation to his ascension if the combative election that brought him to power is anything to be described, as “Ija” means Combat, while to “gbe” literally means to take or to win. In Yoruba cultural setting, an Akoni Eniyan or Akinkanju Okunrin, is a man with heroic tendencies who could be relied upon during crises as we once had in Osun. And such a man, Oyetola, is not one to shy away from battles, if such will emancipate the people. And he fought for the coveted Crown and he won, hence an Ajagbe unapologetically added to his names by this writer.

His choice of Ilerioluwa, “God’s Promise” as his campaign theme must have had a positive impact on his success for the coveted seat, because God’s supremacy was factored in.

I once sat with him, one-on-one, with none other with us for about thirty-something minutes in his official residence as Chief Of Staff more than a year before today. The journalistic instinct in me wanted to confront him directly and privately to seek his inner mind on the rumoured succession “plan” which many would vow was tilted to his favour because of an alleged affinity to an elder statesman. We had a robust chat at the end of which I came to the conclusion that this is a man indifferent to who succeeds Ogbeni. He seemed to be fulfilled and he didn’t fail to tell me so.

Not really satisfied enough, I hit the proverbial nail on the head: “sir, I have heard this that you are being penciled down as our next governor. What is your reaction?”

“Well,” he replied, “ I have also heard as you did. But let me tell you: I’m not desperate to be governor. If it comes, good, but if not, I will be first to pack my bags and baggage out of this place and head to where I came from to continue from where I left my businesses. What people fail to realize is that this governorship position is not a tea-party and is not a child’s play. This is my experience working with Ogbeni. I do pity him a lot and do not envy the position because of the humongous tasks and expectation of the people even with our very limited or unavailable resources…. But just like most other citizen of this state, I’m eminently qualified but I’m not desperate to be there because it is all works with little or no rewards”.

But when the call came, from the grassroots through the innovative direct primary which gave them the opportunity to choose whomsoever they wish, especially those who have also directly tasted from his nectar of goodwill, Oyetola had no choice than to bow to their popular wishes.

Let me warn that this is not an Ogbeni, neither is this a Comrade Governor. He will definitely not be your regular politician who will dance with you because he is not moulded in that fashion. He is not a man of swagger (at least for now), as reiterated by his former boss during the last “Ogbeni till Day Break” programme. He will not say much like his predecessor is wont to. The difference definitely is clear as Destiny wants him give us a Difference …because, …Variety is the spice of life. But this Man will work with us and for us, certainly.

In an assurance-laden interactive session with an array of journalists, he once said of what to expect from his administration: “First, I will still look at infrastructure renewal as one of the major areas of focus. I will be looking at economy. Having done reasonably well in infrastructure, the next thing is to look at the economy. There cannot be any serious economic growth without adequate infrastructure. But you see, the decay in infrastructure is so huge that we still have a lot to do, so infrastructure renewal will still be part of the things I will be looking at.

“I intend to focus on the economy in all ramifications. I will also be focusing on the education and health sectors, so it cannot be three areas of focus. Education, health, security, sustainable environment in terms of physical and social infrastructure like lands and transportation, urban renewal, water and sanitation are also broad areas that I will be focusing attention in my programmes and policies.

“We have done quite well in some of these areas, but there is still room for improvement. Now, I will be looking forward to growing the Internally-Generated Revenue of Osun State to avoid too much dependence on the centre for running government. States are not supposed to be going to Abuja every month to collect what I regard as handouts, so there should be a clearly defined policy of increasing IGR in the state and I will be looking inwards. It is tough but that is the only way you can go if you talk of sustaining economy. So, these are the broad areas I will be looking at”.