Less than 20days in office, will People of Akute Alagbole-Ojodu axis ever forgive Gov Ibikunle Amosun in Ogun ?

Ibikunle Amosun is the incumbent governor of Ogun state and one of the most performing governors in Southwest. In Nigeria, it is not in our character to rate performance of our leaders based on innovation, excellent directions and new dimension of growth in all sectors rather praise them in high heavens because they pay worker's salaries, eat at local eateries, dance at state functions, engage in white elephant projects, stomach infrastructure at party levels and others. If these are measures of good governance of average Nigerians, I can confidently say that Ibikunle Amosun has performed better with assurance that I would not be penalised by Nigerians in court of public opinion.

Senator Ibikunle Amosun

Nigerian governors have insatiable appetite for construction works especially roads and schools. One who's not conversant with excessive greed of an average Nigeria politician would think they are so passionate for development and infrastructural growth. Governors engage in partnership or indirectly own construction firms and lobby for contracts supervised at bogus costs. They apply for loans, demolish houses, shops and properties of common Nigerians. The sad narrative is most projects are not only abandoned but they leave offices with large debts at the expense of workers and victims of these projects in anguish.

Ogun state is no different and my sympathy lies with people of Akute Alagbole-Ojodu axis. These people have continually expressed their agonies, pains and sorrows via social media over demolition of their properties. They are victims of the sad narrative I expansiated. Ogun state government demolished a lot of buildings in Akute Alagbole-Ojodu axis; this action has made people homeless and ruined several business within the axis. These people became preys (victims of exploitation) in the hands of predators who have no sympathy for obstacles in satisfying their appetite for construction works.

This action generated a lot of controversies and seemed like people wanted to revolt. Ibikunle Amosun as head of the state government promised to compensate owners of affected houses and structures in as much they submit their papers and necessary documents. People accepted their fate and submitted necessary papers and documents. After a lot of meetings, verification exercises and authentication of documents and papers, these people were ignored and nobody has recieved a dime as promised by Senator Ibikunle Amosun. 

In less than 20days, Senator Ibikunle Amosun would join the league of former governors in Nigeria as he transfers the baton of authority and responsibility to Dapo Abiodun Governor's elect. In Nigeria, present leaders have no respect for projects of the past except in cases of extreme loyalty.

There are no indications that Dapo Abiodun would resume governance from where Amosun stopped especially the unholy and unguarded utterances that existed between duo's camps. Will Dapo Abiodun resumes the construction of the projects or abandons it? What are the chances of fulfilling the promises of compensation if projects resume? This is the fear of the people of Akute Alagbole-Ojodu axis and other areas of Ogun state.

Senator Ibikunle Amosun has done his best and history will be fair to him as the best governor the state ever had. No one is perfect. As a leader you can not be perfect in our current system of government as a nation. If people decide to forgive Senator Ibikunle Amosun for mismanagement, misplaced priorities and political errors; will the people of Akute Alagbole-Ojodu axis of Ogun state ever forgive him? 

Will they forgive him for the demolition of their properties? Will they forgive him for ruining their businesses? Will sons and daughters of people who lost their lives because they could not survive the heat forgive him? Will people he made jobless and homeless forgive him? Will people who have become patients of partial stroke and who nurse depression on daily basis because they lost their means of survival forgive him?

It is my humble appeal that Senator Ibikunle Amosun should work towards fulfilling his promises in regards to compensation. You gave them assurance and they rested their hopes and confidence on you that you will not fail them as overall leader of the state. These people wail everyday over the loss of their properties. Both rich and poor lament everyday that you have refused to fulfill your promise that they would be compensated. 

Please do not leave office as the governor of Ogun state without fulfilling your promise to the people of Akute Alagbole-Ojodu axis. Nothing is more honorable than leaving a worthy print in the minds of the people before leaving the office they handed over to you as their leader. 

Lawal Sodiq Adewale (Apagunpote Olayimika Chocomilo) is a freelance opinion writer and advocate of good governance.

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