Beyond Ogun at 40: A governor’s inspiring example

Permit me to go down memory lane this week. I met Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state for the first time about 16 years ago at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, during the first-ever Democracy Day Celebrations in Nigeria on May 29, 2000. At the time, I was one of the crew members from the OGBC news and current affairs division covering the historic ceremony. I spotted Amosun and his beautiful wife, Olufunso, as they both arrived at the venue and found their way up to the VIP section to take their seats. But beyond the fine and lovely appearances, I felt they also had this aura of a couple with a sense of mission around them. This feeling would be proved right several years later.

While the event that day was a gathering of Ogun’s greatest sons and daughters who came from various walks of life, all eyes at that historic occasion were on Chief Olusegun Osoba, the then governor and undoubtedly one of the best reporters the Nigerian media has produced till date, and his own wife, Derinsola. Not the Amosuns.

Although I was just about starting my media career back then, and Amosun was yet to even be elected a senator, I was somehow very convinced and sure he would one day become Governor of Ogun, my dear state.

Now, for those who do not know, my hometown is Ijebu Igbo, in Ijebu North local government area of the state even though I was born in Lagos where I have lived for the most part of my life so far. Why I had that type of feeling then is something I cannot now explain. But I was strongly convinced it was just a matter of time before he took his place as governor. Of course, this would eventually come to pass in 2011 (despite his unsuccessful bid four years earlier in 2007) when Amosun was voted in exactly 11 years after I first saw him.

Meanwhile, despite the fact that work and other commitments don’t really allow me much time to travel as much as I would have loved to; I have tried to follow the good works Governor Amosun has been doing in our dear state. And I can say to a large extent, I am very well-pleased.

But why do I say this?

It’s because I, like other Ogun indigenes, know what the state used to be infrastructure-wise and what it is now with the tremendous progress made. And this appreciation is further underscored by the urban renewal works Governor Amosun’s government has carried out in Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, Ijebu Igbo, and Ota among others.

Therefore, as Ogun continues to bask in the 40^th anniversary of its creation, aside the fact that it is the first state in the South West geopolitical zone to host President Buhari to an official visit since he came to power last May, I believe it is necessary to give kudos to a governor who, rather than blowing hot or media hypes like many governors do, concentrated instead on allowing his good works to speak for him through the 40 projects carried out by his administration which Buhari was on hand to commission.

In that sense, the 40^th anniversary was thus not just for fun and merriment alone but also an occasion for him to give account of his government’s stewardship to the people of the State. That, I think, is very thoughtful. Another very wise choice I also commend the government for is the fact that the projects were well spread across the three senatorial districts of the state- Ogun West, Ogun East and Ogun Central.

For me, Amosun is a leader who has shown, very clearly, that being a governor isn’t really an accomplishment, rather, it’s what you make of your election as a political leader in terms of generally making life better for the people who granted you the privilege to lead them and your overall service delivery to society while in office. But most importantly, it is about understanding that you must leave humanity better than you met it! And therein, I believe, lies Amosun’s inspiring example especially for his colleague governors who are currently serving and those who will come long after he leaves office.

That is why when Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, and Group Chairman, FBN Holdings Plc, noted days ago that business leaders in the state were proud of what Ogun state has achieved in 40 years and what the present administration of Governor Amosun is doing especially in the area of urban renewal, he was not just echoing the thoughts of business leaders like him in the state but the general feeling of the good people of the state.

It’s really been a very long time that hundreds of Ogun’s most distinguished sons and daughters from far and near gathered at a single occasion like we saw in Abeokuta and at Ijebu Ode when President Buhari visited the Awujale, High Royal Highness, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. I believe it is an attestation to Amosun’s leadership sense and acceptance that the Ogun people, young and old, rich and poor, all trooped out in large numbers to join in the celebrations. Amosun, I would also add, brought positive disruption to Ogun state like Fashola also did in Lagos.

Looking back, although former Governor Osoba was by no means a failure during his time and he especially did a lot in the area of rural electrification by lighting up many communities which had not seen light since the beginning of civilization, and, Gbenga Daniel, on his part, also started well, with the remarkable upgrade of facilities at the Olumo Rock, the state’s most prominent tourist attraction which is today contributing to the internally-generated revenue of the state, before he lost focus and started embarking on vanities like using government funds to mount irritating billboards across the state when some of the funds used for such could have been out to better use for development, what Amosun has done is to take the Ogun state further higher and forward from where his predecessors left it. And this is commendable.

I equally think Amosun has demonstrated he wants to walk tall after he leaves office. This is unlike some other governors we have seen in this country who finished their tenure and are nowhere to be found, too ashamed to show their faces in public because of the terrible stealing of public funds which they carried out while in office.

But much as we celebrate Ogun state and our governor, I believe Amosun must not assume his mission is accomplished already. Truth is the mission to rebuild Ogun and the job of making it a model state remains a work in progress. There’s truly a whole lot to do. For instance, a situation where Ogun state secondary school students are no longer the stars in WAEC/NECO SSCE examinations must not be allowed to continue further. A critical focus must be placed on improving the standard of education in the state. Many Ogun sons and daughters are distinguished and accomplished today and this trend must continue, Amosun must see to it that he leaves a very strong legacy in education in Ogun state.

Of course, more roads need to be built even as it’s important for continuous upgrade of infrastructure in the state. A lot of attention would also have to be placed on access to health services especially for those in the villages while communities bordering Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, must also be given the necessary priority attention. And with the devastating decline in oil revenue at the centre, Amosun’s government must step up its efforts in ensuring that Ogun state is one of the top players in agriculture. Tourism is another area he can further leave his footprints.

It is however cheering and reassuring that Amosun seems to understand the gravity of the work that yet remains going by his recent public speeches and media interviews. While I admit that funding challenge is there to grapple with, and it is true that no single government can complete the work of development, Amosun must strive to creatively mobilise funds and attract private sector investments in the state. By so doing, he would have succeeded in effectively raising the bar of governance in Ogun state and setting high standards that his successors in the state would be striving hard to meet and surpass. Of course, this can only be in the best interest of Ogun state and the betterment and happiness of the people even as it helps his own legacies as Governor.

I love leaders who are visionary. Amosun is. I admire leaders who are not afraid to fail while trying to make impact and accomplish a great thing. Amosun also is. And I also cherish leaders who would attempt landmark things rather than try to keep it safe by not attempting great things. Amosun equally is. There’s no doubt that he has succeeded in changing the face of Ogun thereby writing his name in gold!

I believe historians will give Amosun his due place when the history of governors and governance is told in the state of the late sage and one of Nigeria’s founding fathers, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, whose government introduced free education and initiated many pioneer development projects in Nigeria; and the state of other icons like Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential elections and martyr of democracy in Nigeria; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s President who has served the longest; Prof. Wole Soyinka, the only Nigerian Nobel laureate till date; Chief Ernest Shonekan, who is the only non-elected civilian head of the Nigerian government; Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, first Chief Justice of Nigeria; Prof. Adeoye Lambo, African specialist in Psychiatric medicine, who later became Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO); Chief Simeon Adebo, Nigeria’s first Head of the Civil Service; Sir Akintola Williams, first Nigerian Chartered Accountant; Chief Segun Olusola, the first African Television Producer; Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, first woman to drive a car in Nigeria; and her three distinguished children, Olikoye, Olufela and Bekololari; Mrs. Toyin Olakunrin, the first woman Chartered Accountant in Nigeria; Chief (Mrs) Ayoka Kuforiji-Olubi; first woman to head a bank in Nigeria; Chief M. A. Okupe, who started the Agbonmagbe Bank, the first Nigerian to own a bank; Otunba Subomi Balogun; the first Nigerian to own a merchant bank; Otunba Mike Adenuga, billionaire owner of Globacom, and many other illustrious sons and daughters too numerous to mention here.

While it is Amosun’s destiny that he would be the governor at the helm of affairs when Ogun celebrates 40 years, he has, through his conduct and the performance of his government, also given the people something to cheer about at a time like this. He has demonstrated very clearly that he is on a mission in Ogun state. And that mission is all about making the state far better than he met it as well as leaving his footprints in the sands of time long after he is gone like the late leader, Awolowo. Ogun state has a proud heritage, and I’m certain it also has a promising future. May Amosun’s kind increase among our political class.

Kolawole, an award-winning journalist and author, is publisher/CEO, POSTERITY MEDIA, a publishing and communication company based in Lagos. You can follow him on twitter: @ofemigan