For the good people of the State of Osun, the future starts today with the
inauguration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for a well-earned second term
in office as their helmsman. With his antecedents and a stellar
performance he has merited the appellation of ‘symbol of good
governance’ in the state.
Aregbesola Swearing-in
ceremony Nov 27, 2010
Aregbesola Swearing-in ceremony Nov 27, 2010
Having earned his spurs, the second term looks promising, even
enticing. There is much to look forward to. For a start it will provide
the symbol with the much needed opportunity to consolidate and
institutionalize the gains of the first term. This is of fundamental
importance. For it will ensure that the template will not be undone in
the future.
Institutionalising the gains is vital for future good governance. As
Napoleon Bonaparte has very sensibly pointed out,’ Men are powerless
in their (inevitably futile) attempt to dictate the course of the future,
only institutions can do that’. He is correct. In his own case for example,
no one today really remembers the decisive game–changing military
victories such as the battle of Austerlitz. Napoleon is remembered today
for the Code Napoleon which is the ground norm of French law.
What this means is that the future can only be guaranteed when all the
decisive game–changing innovations exhibited during the first term are
consolidated and codified into institutionalized frameworks. This is the
only way to guarantee continuity and protect the gains for all time.
Therefore this has to be borne in mind as we set forth an Agenda for
the second term. It is our belief that when the history of our times
comes to be written, the ‘symbol’ will strike two claims. The first is that
by offering an enduring alternative perspective he has restored faith in
the efficacy of good governance. Secondly, he has re–established a
progressive, social democratic agenda to an understandably cynical
electorate.
The two positions are inter linked. For by re-establishing trust in the
beneficial intervention of good governance, he has demonstrated that
government has a decisive and important role to play in the lives of
men and women. In addition it has also re-established the philosophical
thrust of progressive politics. This is that coordinated government
policies will impact on the common cause. In doing so living standards
are elevated by widening access to education, health facilities as well
re–invigorating the physical and social infrastructure to a more
enduring level.
The alternative perspective which has now been established puts the
human being at the epicenter of all government policies. In this way
trust in the efficacy government has been reestablished. The multiplier
effect of this is that linkages have been formed; coordinating diverse
government policies into one with a view to elevating living standards,
fighting long–term structural poverty as well as rebalancing the
stultified rural economy.
For example there is a linkage between the educational policies pursued
by the Aregbesola administration and an upward trajectory in the
productive base of the rural economy. To illustrate by providing free
meals we have noticed an increase in farm production through assured
markets and a guaranteed minimum farm gate price. The resulting
increase in production is bound to naturally induce the emergence of
agro-industries of all shapes and sizes.
Naturally the increase in employment generation, widening of the tax-
base and a subsequent increase in the government’s own internally
generated revenue base will become noticeable.
It is this form of linkage that will have to be intensified in the course of
the second term. The structures already created in every sector will now
have to be refined, constantly finetuned and fundamentally
institutionalized. Aregbesola has already shown the efficacy of policies
which trigger off enduring multiplier effects, they must now be
deepened.
An example is the key role of agriculture. In the second–term there must
be institutionalized mechanisms to formally increase production such as
guaranteed farm gate prices. Overall the second term must also look at
and seek to adapt from some of the acclaimed measures of Brazil’s
BOLSA FAMILA PROGRAMME which was developed to pull millions out
of poverty. Luckily programmes such as the school meals already reflect
shades of Bolsa Famila and are achieving the same effect.
In our next edition we will conclude our exposition of what in our
opinion should be the policy thrust for the promising new
administration that takes off today.
Short URL : http://www.osundefender.org/?p=196601

Please tell your man the following
1. He needs not talk loosely and he should tread cautiously this time around. We are all still bearing the brunt of his careless talk against the FG at the moment. There is time to play politics and time to fraternise with oga at the top. He should learn from other APC governors, they know when to criticize and eulogise the Presidency. All criticism makes one an enemy of a would-be benefactor. For God's sake, Osun is not lagos and can not survive for even two months without the monthly pocket money from the FG.
2. He should not be in a hurry to achieve so many things at a time- that's the hallmark of a mediocre. He's promised so much but delivered very little if not none. He wants to build an airport, construct new roads and fly overs, build mega schools among others out of paucity of funds. And so, he's left with no choice than borrowing needlessly in some cases. For heaven sake, why can't he face road construction and tidy up the already messed-up educational system. What has Osun got to do with an airport at the moment when Osogbo is just about an hour from Ibadan and 90 minutes from Ilorin, both of which are not commercially viable anyway.
3. He should prioritize the welfare of workers. Their sweat must not dry up before they get their reward. Apart from your APC members, virtually all the workers and many residents are furious with your man for obvious reason- no money in town. Even artisans don't get patronised. Right now, many pensioners have not collected a dime for the past three months. Doesn't Rauf eat in the Government house. Anyway, I don't blame him. He has never worked as a civil servant, so he doesn't know what it means to toil for 35 years.

Finally, I congratulate Ogbeni Aregbesola and wish him a successful, uncontroversial tenure. Right now many people are in tears and praying that God would deliver Osun State from Rauf's hand. So, my candid advice for him is that he should pray and work hard so that this prayer goes unanswered.