For continuity of progressive governance

As Osun governorship election draws closer, the protracted feud between the incumbent governor, Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola and his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola, must by now be of serious concern, not only to stakeholders in Osun but also to all lovers of good governance generally.

It is important to mention that this issue has from time being a source of worry to me such that l had once summoned courage to talk to the two leaders. It is equally important to emphasise that beyond my relationships with these two progressive leaders, what mainly prompted me to raise the issue with them was my concern about the foreseeable setback that would befall Osun should the frosty relationship between them be allowed to degenerate into a situation whereby Osun would fall into the hands of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Much as this writer is not interested in comparing the PDP era in Osun with the Aregbesola era, it is undisputable that Aregbesola changed the Osun narrative from underdevelopment – as witnessed under the PDP – to that of unprecedented development. Save a few mistakes that put a stain on the white garment of his administration, Aregbesola lifted Osun from backwater of underdevelopment, no doubt. So for me, the mistakes that characterised Aregbesola’s administration should be seen within the context of the frailty of man rather than being seen as intentional.

Just like Governor Oyetola who took over from him, Aregbesola no doubt had good intention for the state but in life, things sometimes do not go according to plan. For a leader, the important thing is to be able to record appreciable achievements within the time he or she is in the saddle and I sincerely think Ogbeni deserves a pass mark in this respect.

Undoubtedly Governor Oyetola is springing surprises in Osun State. Under him, payment of the new minimum wage to workers, full payment of salaries to all categories of workers and also payment of pension arrears and continuous payment of pensions have not affected development in other sectors, in spite of the unpalatable financial situation of the state. This is the reason Osun people call him the miracle worker. But for paucity of funds, development under Oyetola would have been faster than it is.

From the foregoing it’s clear that both Ogbeni and Governor Oyetola are progressive leaders who cherish progress and development for their people. But in life no matter how close or friendly two people are, there may come a time in the course of their relationship that things can go awry between them. If it happens thus it doesn’t mean it will or should continue like that forever.

My observation in this whole scenario so far is that the trouble isn’t so much with these two progressive leaders. The trouble is more with us their followers. Of course some of us have turned ourselves to conflict entrepreneurs that are interested in continually fanning the embers of discord between these two brothers mainly for our own selfish interests, forgetting that when two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. And we need to remind ourselves here that it was the conflict entrepreneurs but not the principal actors that escalated the 1962 schism in the Action Group (AG) with disastrous consequences which the entire Yoruba race is still paying for till today.

My longstanding relationship with these two leaders puts me in a better position to make certain factual statements about them. Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is a gentleman to the core and he cherishes peace. He’s a man of pacific inclination and hardly can he hurt a fly. Ogbeni Aregbesola on the other hand, though of radical inclination, is also nonetheless peace-loving. His love for war doesn’t go beyond ordinary words of mouth.

Osun has witnessed unprecedented development under both of them and therefore we cannot afford to slip backward again. This is why as a stakeholder, this writer is much interested in appealing to the two of them to sheathe their swords and then appeal to their followers to give peace a chance. I sincerely feel we should not go to the polls with a divided house.

Kola Odepeju, kolaodepeju@gmail.com.

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