on SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 · in POLITICS

By Kolade Larewaju

FOR residents of Ogun State, the 100 days of Governor Ibikunle Amosun may be some sort of reprieve considering their experience in the last days of the Olugbenga Daniel administration. The roads in the state, especially in Abeokuta, the state capital became terribly bad. Portable water became “essential commodity” as taps went dry. All tertiary Institutions were not in session as there was one strike or the other.

Governance virtually came to a halt on account of the disagreement between the governor and the speaker of the state House of Assembly. The problem was the issue of the N100 billion Bond Governor Daniel sought from the Capital Market, the then Speaker Tunji Egbetokun-led House of Assembly refused.

It was a tug of war. Without the Bond, the Governor said nothing could be done as there was no money. To compound the problem, Governor Daniel less than a month to the end of his tenure recruited over 2000 workers while refusing to pay the salaries and allowances of 15 lawmakers who were at logger heads with him for over one year.

It was against this backdrop that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN assumed office. Carrying a baggage of promises, he also had a debt profile of resumed N50 billion to contend with.

Consequently, Amosun had a slow start. His supporters said he used the first few weeks to assess the gravity of the problems on hand. However, a couple of weeks after, the people became restive asking for action from the new Governor.

The Government began with the clearing of refuse and drainage, which had been blocked for ages and patching of deplorable roads. Even then, the palliatives on the roads are still a far cry from what would be acceptable, as some roads remain impassable.

But for the people something has at least started. Citizenry in Abeokuta, the state capital were happy few weeks into the tenure of the new government hitherto dried taps became runny again.

Simultaneously, the government began a beautification programme of the major streets of Abeokuta with the planting of grasses and flowers to give it a brighter look. The Muslim Eid Praying Ground was given a facelift. The Lantoro Road to the Praying Ground, which had been impassable was rehabilitated. Even then, more is expected from the Governor who in the build up to the election said he was on a Mission to Rebuild Ogun State.

Speaking on his achievements in 100 days, Amosun said: “We have started laying a solid foundation to build a rosy future for our people. And each item on the programme is being implemented in a way that one complements the other and they all form a total package for unleashing the abundant skills and positive potentials in the state for the purpose of development.

“For example, education is needed to create a more enlightened citizenry. Immediately this administration took off, we released funds to cover the half_term running costs of public secondary schools to enable the immediate implementation of the qualitative and affordable education policy.

As for our tertiary institutions, the government decided to end the era of no subvention, which has plagued them for the past nine months in some cases, by paying about N1 billion between May and August. Also, our government has removed the 50 per cent increment in tuition fees earlier announced by the last administration and we further reduced the tuition fees by an additional 10 per cent.”

On the deplorable roads in the state, the Governor who said that contract for the Ita Eko road to be turned into six lanes had been awarded adding, “the State Executive Council had early last month approved the award of contracts for the reconstruction of 28 roads across the three senatorial districts.

“The first step towards effecting the council’s approval was taken on 25 August, 2011 when the China Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) was formally awarded the contract to reconstruct and expand the Ibara Roundabout – Ita Eko – Totoro Road in the state capital.

“The next road to be awarded to a major contractor for construction is the road stretching across Sango_Ijoko-Agbado-Oke Aro-Akute-Ojodu Abiodun. This road links Ogun West and Central senatorial districts and takes care of the population of our constituents who reside on the border towns with Lagos. The other road reconstruction projects would soon commence in earnest.”

However, the Opposition Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in a statement by its Director of Organization; Mr. Deji Kalejaiye, described Governor Amosun as a flower planting Governor, who had nothing to commission after 100 days in power.

“The three months and 10 days of indolence and groping in darkness by the flower planting governor came to a climax yesterday (September 5) with the critics and observers alike jolted at the farcical celebration of inanity instead of substance. , The macabre dance has finally laid bare the truth that the present government in Ogun State is clueless and also lack capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy to the good people of Ogun State.

“100 days in office without any significant project to commission is a clear indication of lack of will to govern, unlike the previous administrations in Ogun State and particularly, the immediate past OGD-led government where 100 days was celebrated with several gigantic projects.

“Verily, with this poor starting, Ogun State people should expect little or nothing from this present government. Instead, our people should expect further embarrassment in the area of undue importation of Lagos model to Ogun state like the current hardship imposed on the people by Governor Amosun through the demolition of kiosks of petty traders in the most cruel way so as to create space for flower planting.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/ogun-amosun-at-the-gate/

Tbh I thought Amosun would be a flop. He seemed very erratic early on.

But the latest I'm reading and hearing sounds very good.

Maybe he was jittery early on, who knows.

Anyway, it will be interesting to watch the situation.

After 4 years of nothing but Fashola|Lagos state only affair, its really good to see other SW states stepping up to be counted.