Ogbeni till daybreak: A six-hour encounter with Osun gov

It was an evening of rare interaction: music, dance and the outpouring of issues between the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola and Osun residents. KUNLE ODEREMI, LAOLU AFOLABI and OLUWOLE IGE were there.

IT was a vigil, fixed by the Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, to interact with his people. Tagged “Ogbeni Till Daybreak,” the programme started by 11.00 p.m. Only God knows why he chose such time of the day, but one thing he has achieved is the closeness to the people.

The hall was jam-packed with people from all over the state for the night event, an unusual scene only known for religious activities. Even motorists found it difficult to park their vehicles. Some were in ‘Aso ebi’ to add glamour to the event. The governor did not only keep sleep in abeyance, he was alive throughout the more than six-hour event, answering questions, singing and dancing and even entertaining his audience.

Dressed in a traditional Yoruba Agbada with a cap to match, he exuded poise, conviviality and versatility, moving from one end of the podium to the other to the chagrin of even his audience and cutting the picture of a ‘misunderstood’ man. He refused to ‘run away’ from issues his critics have consistently used to put him on the spot: state debt profile, ongoing road construction in the state, non-payment of salary, composition of cabinet, among others.

He capped it all, when he declared himself as the only governor who had walked 95.1km with his people in different towns across the state, a feat he said was only surpassed by Chairman Mao Tse Tong of China, who, during the coastal revolution, walked with his people across the entire China and Fidel Castro of Cuba, who marched from Siamedra in the Eastern part of Cuba to Havana.

An analysis of the various editions of the programme, which cumulated at 91.5 kilometres, showed that the governor started it in Osogbo, the state capital, on February 18, 2012, walking with a crowd through a total of 5.8km. Two other editions of “walk-to-live” were held in Osogbo with 4.8 km and 5.2 km respectively before the next edition in Iwo, on Saturday, April 14, 2012, with the governor walking 5.6km.

The rest of the editions, which Aregbesola said would be revived soon, were Ile-Ife (6.8km); Ila-Orangun (6km); Ikire (5.8km); Ilesa (5.2km);  Ikirun/Iragbiji (5.8km); Ede (6.2km); Ejigbo (4.8km); Ijebu Jesa (6.2km; Apomu/Ikire  (5.4km); Ilobu/Irepo (6km); Ipetumodu (6.8km) and Osogbo (5km), aside the three times he walked from Okeijetu/St Charles to Nelson Madela Park with members of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES).

Dignitaries at the event held at WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo, included the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Lasun Yusuff; All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in Osun, Prince Gboyega Famodun; deputy governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; traditional rulers, including the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin; the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, among others.

To Aregbesola, he has brought governance to the people and by so doing, the administration is getting more popular among the populace. The governor was composed throughout the session as he answered even difficult questions without betraying his mien. Many other questions were answered through lyrics of songs dished out by music band, cultural troupe, local drummers, students, among others, in the hall. In many instances, the governor triggered ecstasy among the audience through scintillating lyrics and dancing prowess that accompanied the pulsating rhythm from the galaxy of drummers and the music band. His knack for details also kept the audience spell-bound each he took the microphone to shed light on contentious issues on state matters. When asked why he had not constituted his cabinet, two years after the inauguration of his second term, Aregbesola answered in teasing remarks, “that is what is called government.”

Answering another question on the quality and cost of roads he is construction per kilometre, the governor said the construction being done with the active participation of the state’s Works ministry, adding that peculiarities of each road determine its cost. “The cost of the roads cannot be the same. The quality differs. So many things are taken into consideration in the cost of road construction. Look at Gbongan road, about 500m to the junction of the road was filled with hardcore. Of course, the cost of such road cannot be the same elsewhere,” he said.

Speaking on the cost, Aregbesola again said so far, his administration had constructed 24.2km local government roads at N20.742 billion, with features of a quality road, while he challenged the audience to find the average cost, consider what was before his administration and what is now being done. He said the government had also constructed 200km of access road network to the hinterland for easy movement of farm products to the cities, while he promised that before the end of his administration, Osun would have a food market in Lagos.

The five bridges being constructed in the state, according to the governor, have their peculiarities. Aside the design, the nomenclature of the bridges is for historical purpose. From the Bisi Akande Trumpet Bridge to the November 26 Bridge (a day he came to office as governor), to the Five Judges Bridge (the five judges of the Supreme Court that gave a unanimous judgment confirming him as governor), to the August 9 Bridge (the election date for his second term, when he trounced the opposition and emerged winner).

Reeling out his achievements, the governor scored his administration A1, while restating that he is committed to the total development of the state. When asked why he is committing many resources in building calisthenics in the state, the governor described it as the essence of life, adding that calisthenics is desirable to make youth competitive and balanced and that he would continue to promote it to help improve the fitness and mental strength of youths in the state.

Aregbesola also spoke on the state of finance of the state, adding that the state makes an average of between N700 million and N1 billion monthly as internally generated revenue, an amount, he said, was still a far cry from what was needed. The administration, he said, raised the revenue from around N300 million when it came to office. He, however, said the meagre income and allocation from the Federal Government notwithstanding, the state had been able to meet basic demands and would continue to do so.

According to him, the state feeds 250,000 pupils daily at the rate of N50 per plate when it started, later increased to N65 and now N70 per plate, adding that by December 2016, the administration had served 200 million hot meals to pupils across the state, a feat he said had not been achieved by any state government in the country, despite the economic challenge.

He said he was happy because the foods were sought from local markets in Osun, noting that the Federal Government, through its school feeding programme, had only paid the state for January, leaving February till April yet to be paid, but because of its determination, the state government had continued to feed the pupils every day, even in a month where it received only N6 million as federal allocation. The announcement drew applause from members of the audience as the governor added that “nothing is impossible where there is the will.”

Speaking further on the financial strength of the state, he said he was surprised when people claimed he was diverting the bailout and other allocation due to the state. He drew the attention of the audience to what he termed jokingly his lean stature and “ragged look.” According to him, if he had diverted or stole the money as alleged, he should be fatter than he had been. “At least, I am not sick. If I am, I won’t be dancing, jumping up and down as I had been doing today. Those who are accusing me of inflating contracts are not fair to me, As a governor of this state in the last six years, I don’t have a house in my hometown and I don’t spend money on women and other frivolities. I don’t eat too much and that is why I am lean. As you can see, I am not sick and yet I’m very lean. How many governors are lean like me? That tells you I am not stealing or diverting money belonging to the state,” he quipped.

He called the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance to disclose the finances of the state as well as the compliance with workers’ salary. The permanent secretary said so far, all workers in Level 1 to Level 7 were being paid full salary, up until March, adding that this week, the April salary will be paid. According to him, workers on Level 8 to Level 10 were initially being paid 50 per cent salary, but from September 2016, the governor ordered increment in their pay, raising it to 75 per cent. The category, he also said, had been paid till March and would be paid April salary during the week. For workers on Level 10 and above, he said they were being paid 50 per cent salary up till March. The rationing, he said, was agreed upon with the state council of the Labour unions in their meeting with the government.

He, however, said the bailout fund received by the government was N25 billion and N11.74 billion for the Paris Club refund, stressing that all the money had been used to offset salary arrears, pensions and gratuities. He unequivocally declared that the state did not get bailout for pensioners and retirees, but only N25 billion allocated to pay workers’ salary, from which also pensions, gratuities and even leave bonuses were paid.

The permanent secretary said the total amount payable as salaries monthly by the state is N2.2 billion. However, due to paucity of fund, about N1.4 billion is being paid as salaries every month, with pensioners and retirees getting about N300 million. He said despite the dwindling economic situation in the country, the state is sponsoring 81 medical students in Ukraine, 50 of whom will be graduating in June.

All ears were opened when the governor was asked about his ambition after leaving office and that he had preferred to contest for the Senate in Lagos, because of what was rumoured as his imminent defeat from the senatorial district. Aregbesola said though he had not made up his mind on what to do after leaving office on a Tuesday, he can, however, contest anywhere and win. He said in 2004, he had told a relation his interest to contest the Osun governorship and which the relative tagged a suicidal mission at the time, adding that if today, he had been able to embark on that suicidal mission and succeeded, he could vie for a Senatorial seat in Osun or Lagos and still win. He, however, thanked God and Senator Bola Tinubu for his achievements.

“I am as large in Osun as I am as large in Lagos. Not many politicians can claim this. So, if I have to contest, I don’t need anybody’s permission. I can contest anywhere,” he retorted. According to him, after he would have left office, there would still be six months for him to decide where to contest, so he believes he still has enough time to make up his mind.

Aregbesola also threw another punch when he said whoever would succeed him as governor in Osun will have to continue with his programme. His words: “Whoever will not continue with our programme will not have our flag in 2018 election.” Speaking on the rumoured crisis in the party ahead the 2018 election, Aregbesola said it was a figment of imagination, as the Osun APC is cohesive, united and strong. The party, according to him, remains politically cohesive and that it dictates the pace as far as governance in Osun is concerned, adding that even the only opposition party in the state had been dismembered and uncoordinated.

The party chairman, Prince Falodun, corroborated the governor when he said “as far as the state chapter of the party is concerned, there is no division.”

Aregbesola spoke on the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who he described as an ebullient and iconic politician. In deep and sober reflection, the governor gave a graphic description of his cordial and brotherly relationship with the first elected governor of the state. He said the deceased lived across his house in Lagos and came to meet him on March 28. According to the governor, both of them went to Senator Bola Tinubu’s birthday party together and were also together at the reception hosted for the APC national leader by the Lagos State government.

Speaking on education, the governor said having achieved his feat in building standard secondary schools across the state, the administration would commence rehabilitation of existing elementary schools across the state. The pilot programme will begin at Ife South Local Government from where it would move to Ifedayo and then to all other parts of the state.

The programme came to a close with the governor feeling satisfied that he had been able to give account of his stewardship to the people of the state.