OPINIONS: THE LAZARUS PARABLE OF OGUN STATE, THE KILLER AND THE RESSURECTOR

One of the very vibrant States in the South West, Ogun State, has been a major side attraction for different people that cut across different tribes in the country due to its natural resources, amount of revenue generated internally, the economy, and so on.

Everyone would believe that due to its many resources, Ogun State should be one of the States with the most robust economy, best education, good roads, stable electricity supply, above all, a State which is politically great.

However, it is a great shame and a source of despair as the government in charge of Ogun State presently has proved the people wrong , by portraying the other side of the people’s belief.

The current State of Ogun is like that of a school being run by its Principal, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, without listening to any external advice, be it good or bad, whereas, making it look like a military regime disguising as a civilian government.

Firstly, any State that has failed in the education sector has failed totally. While growing up, we all sang ‘We are the leaders of Tomorrow’, as students, and that is just the fact. A State that lacks the progress of Education is half way to death. Some years back, students who wrote WAEC in Ogun State had issues with their results, because it was claimed that Ogun State owed the examination body and refused to pay up until after many months. Students couldn’t progress with their academics, the State was technically on an academic recess. Another Educational hiccup going on, is that of the Ogun State Model College. It’s shocking that a government school sells its form for a whopping sum of N10,000 while the tuition fee is over half a million naira, making it unaffordable for pupils and students to get quality and affordable education.
Ogun State Government has also failed in neglecting the people in decision-making. A lot of buildings have been destroyed in the name of building road infrastructures which hasn’t been done effectively till now. It’s really shocking that some were left homeless because of the so- called 'Mission to Rebuild', without any kind of compensation. It’s cruelty on the part of Ogun State ft Government. It’s only showing that the Governor is leading the State to its early grave.
If anything should be restored first, it is the educational sector. A State with sound education is beneficial, not only to the State alone, but to the nation as a whole.

However, in this sector, no one has taken it up to address this, except Otunba Rotimi Paseda, the 2015 UPN Governorship candidate in Ogun State. Without any political office, during the last holiday, he was able to provide Free coaching lessons, with Free educational materials for over 10,000 students across Ogun State. No doubt, this is laudable as parents expressed their profound joy over this development. They were eased off their stress and any financial worries during the coaching.
Furthermore, just last week, he disbursed a N10million loan to traders in Ogun State with no interest involved. This simply shows he has the people in his agenda. That is the kind of person we want.
It would be recalled that during the last election, his four cardinal points were Quality and Free Education, Qualitative and accessible Healthcare delivery, Integrated Urban/Rural Renewal/Infrastructure, Gainful Youths Employment/Agricultural Development and they still remain his cardinal Points.
Any government not interested in providing Quality Education and not having the people in mind, is just leading the State to its early grave. Anyone who is doing otherwise, is Resurrecting the State from the hand of its Killer.


Osho Oluwatosin Isaac, a Political Analyst