Amosun, The Man With A Long, Thinking Cap

By Odunayo Ogunleye

The Holy Bible, in (John 2:19b), quotes “pull down this temple and I will rebuild it in three days”. This statement by Jesus Christ though, a parable generated a lot of controversies, the people who heard him argued it was impossible to pull down a temple and rebuild in 3 days, saying it was blasphemy, but the Lord Jesus Christ was not just speaking literarily but in spiritual sense knowing that nothing was impossible for him.

The seeming impossibilities of life lie with mediocre people who have no clue about the world of possibilities they live in. According to Pastor Sam Adeyemi “a vision makes a good leader and a leader does not make a good vision.” True!

The vision of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State from the onset of his administration for the state was to rebuild the state democratically and economically for the prosperity of all and the present realities in the state after three years of his administration attest to the validity of his vision and commitment to better the lot of all in Ogun.

His visions at the onset were seeming impossibilities but the end is justifying the means. After 37 years reign of both military and civilian administrations, one wonders why Ogun State known for its heroics and legendary mentions in the history of the Yoruba race was still characterized by 19th century roads and infrastructure. But three years ago when the man with the long thinking cap emerged Governor things have changed dramatically.

From the vantage point of predated years to Governor Amosun’s administration the state was no place of glamour or repose for investors owing to insecurity and unfriendly business ambience whereas its proximity and confluence status border on many cities locally and internationally like Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Benin Republic, Togo. To say the least, the state was a shadow of its former self.

However, Amosun on assumption of leadership in the state began to re-write the history of the state with new definition – “Mission To Rebuild” with a well-developed sense of class. Though in today’s realities rebuilding a state in  three days will be an overstatement by any politician, Amosun has truly rebuilt Ogun relatively in three years. Apparently, he was not oblivious of the fact that pulling down the archaic structures and reconstructing the narrow and impassable roads would gulp a lot of money to rebuild in the face of the dwindling federal allocation to the state.

First, he initiated the accelerated drive for Internally Generated Revenue jerking up the monthly IGR from the initial N700 Million to N5 Billion. He knew it would be self-defeating to woo investors to the state without adequate security of lives and property, this culminated in the purchase of 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) which muzzled the rampaging armed robbers and criminals coupled with 300 Patrol Vans with modern communication gadgets to comb even the remotest parts of the state to nip in the bud all forms of crimes.  He said: “I believe no state or nation can significantly achieve enviable socio-economic development on its own without the partnership of the private sector and that is why we would consistently ensure our state becomes a haven for genuine investors both locally and internationally knowing that their presence in the state will not only boost the economy of the state but also complement our efforts at engaging our youths gainfully.”

The industrialization drive of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led government has arguably earned the state its present status as the most industrial-based state in Nigeria. This was attested by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the official commissioning of Procter and Gamble multi-million naira manufacturing plant in Agbara Industrial Estate, Ado-Ota/Ota Local Government Area of the State. This makes it the 5th time the president will visit the state to commission a buoyant project alike. The plant which is worth $300 million is the largest U.S investment in the country and expected to provide about 2,000 direct jobs for Nigerians and several thousands of indirect jobs when it becomes fully operational. Ogun no doubt has a friendly atmosphere for investment to thrive and certainly an emerging industrial hub of Nigeria.

The Governor has also revealed that he intends to make the state homely and liveable for every class of citizen of the world irrespective of their social status.

“We are planning to build a world-class housing estate to be known as MITROS ( (Mission To Rebuild Ogun State) CITY that will make Ogun state habitable for anyone within and across the nation.” irrespective of their social class.

The Ogun State Government is also currently constructing 17 major roads and 9 flyover bridges covering approximately 350 kilometres across the three senatorial districts of the state. These major roads have all necessary appurtenances like adequate modern drainages, overhead pedestrian bridges, architectural street lighting, walkways, bus stops and flower beds.  Many of these programmes will be commissioned soon.

Suffice it to say that any government which fails to plan for the challenges that comes with urbanization is bound to have chaotic and congested environment. But, one is fascinated by the urbanization plan of the Ogun government which seeks to localize industries to ensure they are not cited within or near residential terrains the citizens live in and create an attractive and vibrant city core that accommodates both active day and night activities. Part of which formed the crux of the just concluded Ogun Investors’ Forum with the theme “Agriculture and Urban Development”, the second edition to be hosted by the current administration.

 Amosun while briefing newsmen in the pre-event conference had said: “I asked myself how was it possible for Awolowo in the old Western region to provide free education, good roads and other basic amenities for the people at a time agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. Then I realized it is possible for us to turn around the fortunes of our state and better the lives of people through agriculture if we strictly follow the value chain. We would feed the western region, put food on our table and even generate massive employment for our people. We have closed our eyes to regional planning in the past but my administration is ready to follow it strictly, we can’t continue to have industries in our residential areas when we know that their wastages are inimical to our well-being. All this have to stop because our people deserve the best like it is obtainable in other parts of the world.”

The First edition of its investors’ Forum tagged “Ogun

Open for Business” attracted the whole world to the state and now the industrialization drive of the administration has elicited the take-off of over 45 new industries with capital investments of between N200 million and N250 million as well as a long list of intending investors. Apparently, one is left to imagine the magnitude of initiatives by the state following the success of the just concluded second edition of its investors forum.

  In its efforts to ensure that all citizens of Ogun State own or have access to decent, safe and healthy accommodation at affordable cost, the first phase of the 140 housing units located at Obasanjo Hilltop developed by the present administration is near delivery. It is also on the verge of developing the Abeokuta City Centre on approximately 50 hectares and the new Abeokuta City that will sit on an approximately 6400 hectares for low density residential and associated development.

  What is more, the 1000 housing units under construction for the state workforce, housing estates for members of the pen and teaching professions, 250 hectares of land opened up for estate developers along Abeokuta-Kobape express road, flyovers are built as if it were pedestrian bridges across the state, the longest road constructed by the Amosun Administration, a-107km Ilara-Ijoun-Eggua Road, 51 km 6-lane Ayetoro road which links Lafenwa in Ogun Central with Ayetoro and Imeko in Ogun West creating access to the hinterland, 10km Ilo-Awela road in Ota township, 25 km Ilisan-Ago-Iwoye road, inter-alia.

Amosun has overwhelmed Ogun people with seeming impossible feats within three years in a nation where people have been disillusioned and robbed of the mentality that even access to basic social amenities are their rights owing to long years of deprivation. One can only imagine what the cleverly thinking Governor would have achieved after 4 years or even beyond.

•Ogunleye wrote from Abeokuta. e-mail: [email protected], 08165557398