Volume 1. HOW FAR HAS THE AMOSUN-LED GOVERNMENT IN OGUN STATE AFFECTED THE OGUN PEOPLE? --Ghandi Kenny OKUNUGA ...They will surely respond soon. Out of the seventeen (17) Permanent Secretaries that were summarily sacked in November 2011 by Governor Amosun, before their various statutory pension due dates, fourteen (14) were Ijebus/Remos extraction (Ogun East Senatorial district) The names are below; (1) KOREDE LAWAL - Ogun East (2) JIDE OYENUGA - Ogun East (3)FRANK OMOLAYOLE -Ogun East (4) TOK OGUNYOMI -Ogun East (5) DEMOLA BADEJO -Ogun East (6)O. OBAWUNMI -Ogun East (7) OGUNFOWODU -Ogun East (8) OYETI -Ogun East (9) BANJOKO -Ogun East (10) MUNI SALAU -Ogun East (11)ADENIJI -Ogun East (12)SOLARIN -Ogun East (13)MUFUTAU LAWAL -Ogun East (14) Engr. WOLE ADEKOYA- Ogun East (15) Arc. AYO VANGHAN - Ogun Central (16) Mrs. OKUBOYEJO - Ogun Central (17) ADEGBITE -Ogun Central Also on the Gateway stadium which was established during Otunba Gbenga Daniels regime, it is important to state that before year 2011, it was one of the best stadia in Nigeria. People cannot forget in a jiffy how interesting and proud Ogun state people, particularly Ijebus were during those days of Gateway games in 2006. The sudden disappearance of the dignity of the stadium is something that baffles. As I write, the stadium is fast turning into a bush. The environment which used to be conducive and attractive is turning into a forest. This is one of the great assets Ijebu People wont joke with and they will be totally out to salvage it come 2015. Also, a clear attempt by Governor Amosun to scrap Tai Solarin University of Education in 2012 and turned it into a subset of the Faculty of Education of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) appeared to be a deliberate slap on the people of Ijebu. How on earth can one rationalise an attempt by a Governor to scrap a University of such high rank? Though the people of Ijebus resisted it, it is on record that TASUED not until recently didnt have a Governing Council since 2011 that Governor Amosun had emerged. Not only that, the deliberate under-funding of the Institution by the Amosun led-government is something that of huge concern. Although he had since rescinded on the decision and promised not to scrap it, people of Ijebu still feel unsafe in his hands, hence the need to protect their asset through their votes come 2015. The Gateway Industrial Petro-Chemical Institute (GIPI) ONI, in Ogun Waterside LG, specially conceived to service the emerging Oil Industries in OK-LNG and its various value chain companies including the OK-Deep Seaport, which was established by Amosuns immediate Predecessor, in anticipation of the commissioning of the Industries, was deliberately poorly funded by Gov. Amosun. The accreditation of the Institute by International Oil Industries, especially from Qatar and middle East have now been withdrawn. The perspective of Gov. Amosun on Governance is presently an issue. The abandoment of several projects (completed and uncompleted) of Governor Amosuns Immediate Predecessor has so far given a wrong result unto his person. The nearly abandonment of the Gateway stadium, now Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium, attempted scrapping cum seriously under-funding of TASUED, the neglect of the Gateway Industrial Petro-Chemical Institute, among many others all situated in Ijebu have created a high debate among the Ijebus. It appears that to Governor Amosun, Government is not a continuum. He sees projects as Personal and doesnt believe in Continuity. These are projects which affect the Ijebus and they will be out in 2015 to salvage their assets. Furthermore, the Ogun Agro Cargo Airport is also a pointer to the hatred Governor Amosun has for the people of Ijebus. Immediately he came into power, instead of continuing work on the Airport site at Ilisan/Iperu, he sent a bill to the House of Assembly to have the Airport moved to Ewekoro, his home town. When this failed, he turned his back on the project. Presently twelve (12) states of the federation have taken the initiative away from Ogun state and are now enjoying federal government support. This is a venture that would have directly created at least 30,000 jobs for the people, youths in particular. The Ijebus are not deaf to this, they will want to salvage it through their thumbs come 2015. Moreso, Governor Amosun being fully aware of the economic and developmental benefits of the Olokola Free Trade Zone to the people of Ogun state, Ijebu Land in particular, which was to create close to a million jobs decided to neglect it immediately he got to power. Upon all pleas from Aliko Dangote, Amosun refused to continue work on the OK-Free Zone because it was initiated by his immediate predecessor. This saw Dangote moving the $8B refinery project to Lekki in Lagos state. The Ijebus are also not deaf to this. They will pay back come 2015. On roads, it is obvious that in the so called Ogun Standard roads, Ijebu Land has continued to be the most shortchanged on the overall contracts awarded. For a region with the highest number of local governments in Ogun state (9LGA in Ogun East, 6 in Ogun Central and 5 in Ogun West), the state government only awarded four (4) roads of which none was new construction but rather maintenance. Upon this, three years is gone, none of the roads awarded is completed yet. Ijebus will respond appropriately at the appropriate time. Many things to say, but the time is not yet ripe. Hopefully, Mr. Governor can defend all these when the campaign fully start before the rank and file of Ijebu-people. I have been to Ijebu-East LGA of Ogun state, no tangible project done by this administration. I have been to Ijebu-North East, nothing so attractive. I have been to Ijebu-North, nothing again was so attractive. My visit to Water-side recently showed they were completely marginalised from the Governance process. Ijebu-Ode has an Over-head bridge, this is good, but the roads whenever rain falls are like river-beds. Ijebus are seeing all these and they will surely respond in due time! Odogbolu and other Local Governments are also not left out of my visit. WHISPERING SO LOUD! This is Volume 1, Volume 2 is on the way and shall concentrate on Ogun West Senatorial district. **HNM**
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 07:52:01 +0000
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