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.
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.

emmasege:
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.

Well said!