OPINION: Kwara: What is good here? By Henry Semilore ilorin.info/fullnews.php?id=11289 When a product is new in the market,from a marketers point of view, it needs advertisement to make it acceptable to the public to generate sales. So also when a product is doing badly in the market in terms of sales, it is often re-branded and given an aggressive advertisement in order to generate the targeted income and stay afloat in a competitive market. In effect, when the Kwara State government came up with a logo for the state and jingles ran on both the print and electronic media with the slogan It Is Good Here, it was a clear indication that Kwara is a failed state that needs re-branding and aggressive advertisement to make it sell ! How did we get here? A state that prides itself as the custodian of several companies, industries and entrepreneurs in the past. Didnt we used to have Jebba Paper Mills, Bacita Sugar Company, Tate & Lyle Sugar, Erin-Ile Paper Converter, Okin Biscuits, Matchco, Kwara Textile, Global Soap and Detergent and so many others ? A state abundantly endowed with human and natural resources where Cloth weaving (Aso-Oke), Pottery, Fishing, Farming (Food & Cash Crops), Cattle Rearing etc are done on a very large scale? Agreed the successive military rule took its toll on the country and not Kwara alone. What have we achieved in the last 15 years of civil rule ? 11 out of the 15 years have seen Bukola Saraki at the helms of affairs as a governor for 8 years and as the de-facto governor for 3 years now. The simple truth is Saraki and his associates have failed the people of Kwara ! They have failed to develop the local content that will put the states name on a good commercial pedestal that will need no advertisement. They have instead embarked on a mission of massive wealth acquisition, selfish political ambition, media propaganda and enslavement of the youths and the people in general. Imagine if the Dada Pottery work in Ilorin is facilitated and upgraded with modern pottery machinery. Wont we be exporting Vases and Porcelains from Kwara by now ? Gari Ijebu needs no advertisement yet, it sells across the globe. What is happening to our own Gari Osi ? Shea Butter is in high demand globally. Kwara has it in abundance in Baruten and Kaiama. What have we been able to make out of it ? The Olumo Rock has been given a face lift and attracts tourists and visitors today. Where are our Sobi Rock, Owu Falls, Esie Museum and so on ? Plantain and Potato Chips are fast becoming the snacks for everybody yet, the Anamo (Potato) in Offa is rotting away ! Argungu Festival has become an internationally recognized event. What about our own Patigi Regatta ? Ofada Rice is in high demand and even people travel from Kwara to Abeokuta to buy. Yet, we have our more nourishing Tapa Rice in Patigi and Edu despite the bogus Tsonga Farm located in Edu ! Fashion globally is experiencing a revolution with Ankara and Adire playing a major role in designs. Our Aso-Oke is no where to be found ! Abuja Yam is popular as far as the Eastern part of the country. Anybody that has tasted the Baruba Yam will testify to its quality but, how do we get it ? You have to travel the bad road to Baruten. If all these potentials and many more were well annexed and managed, wouldnt we have put the name of the state on the global map without media hype and advertisement ? Wouldnt we have engaged our youths meaningfully instead of using them as political thugs with monthly stipends ? Wouldnt we have reduced the unemployment rate by a great percentage and made the youths self sustainable? Would the government have needed to embark on a political employment of the youth under a promo called QuickWin with a palstry sum of 10,000 as salary ? We wouldnt be blowing our trumpet but, the world will come to identify with us and the people of Kwara will proudly say It Is Good Here !!! - See more at: ilorin.info/fullnews.php?id=11289
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 09:41:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015