HONOUR: Ajimobi! Apostle of good governance

This write-up is inspired by the actions of some political party cyber dogs who have engaged recently in their campaign of calumny and calculated damage with respect to the incumbent government in the state. This is not about reprisal attack but rather setting the record straight about our dear state since the inception of the fourth republic. As it is said, a being without a knowledge of the right history is like a tree without a root.
As a young teenager in 1999,when the oldies bombarded the street in the spirit of celebrating the historical comeback of democracy to our land after almost a score of turbulent years in the hand of the military, I was left pondering on the difference it will have on us as Nigerian. My father,being a keen watcher of the Nigeria system since independence intimate me with direct reasons why Democratic rule is the best form of government. He shared his experience under the regime of Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the premier of the defunct western region and the government of Chief Ajibola Ige as the Governor of the old - oyo state. Both he referred to as heavenly being and a colossus respectively. I was amazed with the type of governance they offered the masses and had to adopt the conclusion that a conscious government will always put into consideration the well-being of his people and how to make life better for all and sundry. Any government that fails in this aspect is nothing but an inhumane government.
To my own personal experience under each regime since 1999.I was in Junior Secondary school when Governor Lamidi Adesina of blessed memory was sworn-in as the executive Governor of Oyo State. On assuming office, not up to a week in office, he asked all secondary school bursary department to refund our school fees as we were paying #180 per term signaling his resolve to a free educational policy. His other contributions to Education sector was payment of both WAEC and NECO fees, payment of bursary to students in higher institution, construction of furniture for all schools, giving out of free textbooks and free notebooks to every students among many other contributions in the state Education sector.
In infrastructural development, Great Lam set the pace with construction of linkage roads between villages and major cities, rural electrification at lightning pace and a stable economic platform for investors to operate.
In his statemanship, Great Lam went across party line out of his love for the Yoruba nation to support the second term ambition of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
In 2003, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja was ushered in through the shady process of the PDP with the support of the Garrison commander of molete, who saw in him, a milk that could be exploited cheaply. The Governor, forgetting the law of power that says "never outshine your master" was made to sweat through thick and thin all through his regime. Let me say prestissimo, his first action in office as a governor was the replacement of Chief Awolowo's statue with the statue of an unknown soldier. This sole act brought to fore, the high-handedness of his government. Then the government come with a demoralizing education policy of 30 students per class with no significant end-target. The effect it had on the students were as detrimental to their personal life as it is to the system itself.
1) It disintegrate the standards of the schools.
2) It leave students of the same school with different uniforms, different principals with no moral support.
3) It collapsed the state standing education system which Great Lam boosted to a great level.
As if the damage done to the education system is not enough, he gave the students a TKO by cancelling the payment of WAEC and NECO fees. He also cancel the payment of bursary to undergraduates in higher institutions of learning.
In other aspect of governance, he was able to build 100 housing units, employed 5000 teachers but retrench 450 out of those employed by his predecessor. He was also able to pay half of the basic salary as 13th month salary for workers once throughout his tenure.
The insecurity and political pandemonium that enveloped his regime is classical and caused serious and grave damage to the economic state of the state. Other achievement is the successful factionalisation of the NURTW which later trigger continuous crisis in the state. He donated buses to a faction of the NURTW leadership with no positive impact on the masses rather another way of compounding the level of exploitation of an insensitive Government. He was also unable to return as the Governor for the second time due to his insubordination and victimization from the power center in 2007.Little did we know the worst is yet to come.
Here comes the most profligate governor in the history of Oyo State. His Excellency Governor Alao Akala who by Providence have tasted what it is to be in charge for almost 11 months prior to his emergence in 2007. Then as a first year student in the famous Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, under his guise enhanced the increment of tuition fee from #6000 to #60000 which was later reduced to #40000 due to constant pressure and protests from student leaders. I must say by 2011,tuition fees of all tertiary institutions have been increased by 150%.Like his predecessor, he refused to pay both WAEC and NECO fees of students. Nothing much to say about this regime with regards to education as its major contribution is the constant increment of tuition fees across all state owned tertiary institutions among many other detrimental effects his government impacted on education.
The Akala - led government lacks ideological concept on job creation and employment. His government have zero contribution in the welfare of workers, and it even fail to solidify on the little his predecessor established.
Under his regime, the level of insecurity is high, the whole state was thrown into pandemonium day and night for a period of eon under him.
In his flamboyant way, he stepped on toes by disregarding the traditional rulers of major towns. As an Ibadan man, I will never forget the way he denigrate the Olubadan-in-council and refused to pay the King salary for several months.
The government of Adebayo Alao Akala was so conspicuous in its act of resource wastefulness to the displeasure of the masses leaving him helpless in his re-election bid in 2011. The rate at which the state treasury was strawed is pace setting. History is recording all our acts as posterity will judge us all.
In 2011, God gave us Governor Abiola Adeyemi Ajimobi after seeing off challenges from the incumbent governor and his predecessor.
It took no time for him to spur into action. He stabilized the shaky education system by making sure there is reduction in all the state owned tertiary institutions with added incentives which stamped out the incessant strike that was rampant under the Akala government.
He was prompt to ensuring peaceful coexistence and security that have been traded as a leverage for the incompetence of his predecessors which in turn undermine the safety of the populace.
He set up operation burst to instill discipline in the people and make everyone upright in their acts.
As a responsible governor, he make sure he fixed all the problems and governance loopholes created by his predecessors, to ensure a viable platform for him to operate and produce proficient governance to his people.
In terms of Job Creation he was prompt as he employed thousands of youth in the cadre of yes-o scheme, he also created Oyo state Road and Transport Maintenance Agency which give room for the employment of several jobless youth.
His job creation innovation and employment policy is a landmark in the history of governance in oyo state. Need to say that he also employed 5,300 teachers as against none employed by Akala and those employed by Ladoja. His way of employment comes in tandem with incentives for readily employed workers and new workers. A typical example was when he increased teachers salary by 38% in September 2011 and implement teachers salary scale. Also he remains the only governor to pay full salary as the 13th month salary for civil servants from 2011 till date.
Before him, Ibadan was adjudged to be the dirtiest city across board. His policy on environmental and health development is to ensure proper cleanliness and put machineries in place to make sure this is done. Unlike the carefree approach of his predecessors, he make sure that within a year of his regime Ibadan is one of the beautiful and healthiest city as of today. Sequel to carving a niche for himself with this act, he was honored with the royal recognition of the Aare Atunluse of Ibadanland.
Infrastructural development is high on the priority list of his government. Dualisation of all linkage roads between major cities and the state capital, construction of roads and their maintenance is conspicuously conspicuous.
Transportation is also a major aspect of governance where a responsible government will take it upon itself.
Governor Ajimobi gave out several AJUMOSE shuttle to ease the stress of moving up and down of people, particularly civil servants and students who are covered and incorporated to free transport scheme. To ease the stress of traffic jam around Mokola and environs, he built the first fly-over in recent times in a glamorous and outstanding way.
In recognising the contributions of Students Union, unlike his predecessors that turn students leaders to jobbers, he made the unions reputable ones by providing incentives to motivate and empower them in terms of bursary and giving out buses to respective Student unions.
He was upright in upholding his pledge to a full fledge housing scheme by building a 1000 housing units which has never been done by any regime. To mention but a few in his achievement so far.
To make an omelette you have to break an egg. Under Ajimobi regime as an opposition government to the power center in Abuja, the return is handsomely remarkable compared to the two previous regime. The only reward we are going to have as citizens if we exploit the chance to align this type of governance with the progressive power at the center.
Of all the contestants, Governor Ajimobi stand tall above all, and it will dent a monumental blow on governance if we fail to return this man to the helm of affairs in the pace setter state.
Ajisebi Oyo laari Oyo Isebi Baba Enikookan.