Ajimobi ’s beer parlour gist (II)

“BEFORE the inception of this administration, Ibadan, the state capital, was adjudged the dirtiest in the country. Is it the same today?” Kolawole further asked.

“Also, when the automatic promotion policy in public secondary schools was abolished in 2016 and the students who failed some compulsory subjects were refused promotion, can you remember that there was a commotion as many of the students’ parents didn’t want their children to repeat? Ajimobi was seriously castigated and we all saw the poor consequence in the public examinations. But the policy of No Automatic Promotion has yielded positive results with the state coming second in the 2016 National Examination Council (NECO) examination among the 36 states in the country. Is that not a cheering news? Any other question?” Kolawole asked.

“Continue now, Ajimobi’s megaphone,” Aremu responded with derision.

More to this, can you remember that the state recorded its best result in WASSCE examinations in 18 years, with 54.18% passed rate of students with minimum of 5 credits including Mathematics and English. Compare that to the National passed average of 59 per cent.

The breakdown of the result indicated that 29,174 candidates representing 54.14 have a minimum of five (5) credits pass out of the 53,850 who sat for the exam of these 29,174 candidates, 13,884 are males and 15,s,290 females. You can go and check the records. It is unprecedented and that is why we call our Governor the “Koseleri Governor.” Many of the landmark achievements the government has been recording are unprecedented,” Kolawole said.

“And if I may ask, when last did you enter the Agodi Government Secretariat?” Tony asked.

“Don’t ask me. Just continue,” Aremu quipped.

“Don’t be annoyed now! Ok, unlike before this administration when the premises was a huge spectacle of melee, the aura you will feel when you get there now will automatically tell you you are in a Government Office premises. Governor Ajimobi has a knack for finesse, quality and orderliness. Political thugs did mill around the premises before, creating an atmosphere of a market place. Now, decency has been restored at the ‘Seat of Government’.

“Is the man even around now, always travelling.

“Yes, he is around but he just came back. Have you not seen how his much criticised foreign travels have made Oyo State one of the top five investment friendly states in Nigeria in addition to being one of the only five states that have attracted investment in 2017? A dividend of his peace and infrastructural initiatives.”

“And you can see the function of the Operation Burst, a joint security outfit recently re – branded by the Governor. When it was first inaugurated in 2011, many people said that it was meant to suppress opposition. The outfit which comprised several security agencies, chased many hoodlums into their holes. NURTW crises that were characteristic of past governments, suddenly became a thing of the past. When the government relaxed because of some people’s criticism, thugs, miscreants resurfaced. Now people voluntarily asked for the outfit’s visible return. Can you see the effect of good governance that way?”

“But what has government done in the area of health?” Aremu asked.

“Thanks for asking that question. The free medical mission has treated over one million people. Our governor is already improving the health status of the people of the State by introducing an affordable health insurance scheme for the citizens. With N650 a month subscription fee for the health insurance, every subscriber will be opportune to enjoy health care facilities in all state hospitals. Another Koseleri whether you like it or not. It is for that reason that the N50 billion HealthCare Endowment Fund was launched. The governor has promised to judiciously utilise the funds realised for the restoration and transformation of government hospitals and health centres in the state. Isn’t that commendable?” Kolawole asked.

“Oyo people are tired of promises, o jare,” Aremu interjected.

“That is not fair. The government is working. Even in the area of Agriculture, our governor has made available 10,000 metric tonnes fully mechanised and automated silo, built at Awe via Oyo in Oyo State, our state being a major producer of maize and other cereals that will require storage. To further this, the government has improved on partnership with private investors both local and international.

“Recently, the state received 25 Metric tons of fertilizers and rice seedlings from Dangote Group of Companies which has been distributed to 292 rice farmers in the state. This was in furtherance of the Dangote Rice Outgrowership Scheme under the Oyo State Agric Initiative (AgricOyo) which was announced by Ajimobi during the official launch of WAMCO Milk Collection Centre in Saki. Can you see that? What do you still have to criticise our governor on?” Kolawole asked.

“What else? After all, you have defended Ajimobi as if everything is perfect with this government,” Aremu said.

“I’m not saying that Ajimobi ’s government is perfect, but any honest person should give it to the unprecedented second term governor that his three-prong agenda of restoration, transformation and repositioning of the state is really working. There are many more achievements I can talk about, but don’t let me bore you,” said Kolawole.

“Well… it is okay o,” Aremu said admittedly.

“So, can.you now see that Ajimobi is a governor more sinned against than he ever sinned? Kolawole asked.

“Serve round if you know you have been stating the facts, put your money where your mouth is” was Aremu’s challenge.

“Bar man, serve everybody round. I will pay today today,” Kolawole screamed.

“Na wah o,” responded the barman. Not forgetting to add “This serve round too is Koseleri.”

• Olowolagba sent in this article from Ibadan.

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Oyo records best WASSC result in 18 years