Can Ajimobi sustain tempo?

In this piece, Agboola Sanni contends that Oyo State Governor
Abiola Ajimobi will earn a second termticket, if he sustains the
current tempo of development in the state.
To say that the political landscape of Oyo State had changed
since the conferment of that title of Aare Atunluse of
Ibadanland on Governor Abiola Ajimobi is saying the obvious.
It could not have been otherwise. In this era, when honorary
chieftaincy titles had become three ‘for one kobo’ literally
speaking, any title of such, ought not to attract extraordinary
attention.
In this particular case of Governor Ajimobi, the story is
different. In the face of the current transformation agenda,
especially, in the areas of restructuring Ibadan, the title speaks
volumes. In recent time, there had been some cries of
discomfort over the destruction of some illegal markets in the
city. As to be expected however, some politicians had
capitalized on that to fuel the anger of some displaced traders;
not minding the efforts of government in building better and
modern markets to rehabilitate them.
That title was bestowed on the governor by an Oba who is not
known for any kind of flamboyancy or greed for materialism.
Rather, the respected traditional ruler is known for modesty,
courage and candour. Given those attributes on Oba Ogunlana,
the conferment can best be described as putting pad to all the
negative comments on the reforms going on in the city of
Ibadan, after all, it is a common saying that you cannot know a
town better than its head/owner.
There may not be a better index to measure the success of
Ajimobi’s transformation agenda than the series of desultory
political alliances predicated by incongruity and panic. Given
the COMEDY going on in the political theatre of Oyo State,
Ajimobi has every cause to hit his chest in sub-congratulations.
When one looks at the recent political antecedents of the main
gladiators of the current alliance, one cannot but wonder at
the magic Ajimobi is performing in the governance of Oyo
State.
There is no doubt that Ajimobi, like the other ACN governors in
the South-West, had brought civility to governance in the
region especially in Oyo State. The main ingredients for good
governance are Courage, Will and Transparency. Only a
combination of Courage and Will can execute the current
transformation in Oyo State. The important thing for a good
leader before embarking on any project is to be sure that in
spite of initial hiccups, the End will justify the MEANS at the
end of the Day.
It is instructive to note that it is not only in social and road
infrastructures that Ajimobi has exhibited courage. Until
recently, thuggery and all kinds of violence had remained
essential tonic for politics in Oyo State. Under that situation,
factions were created within the Transport Unions to
perpetrate chaos and tremor in the State forcing markets and
schools abruptly. Causalities for such violence were not only
human but property set ablaze. At that time, leaders of the
unions were worshipped by successive governments as
kingpins or minor gods. They were above the law as long
shielded by a government. Government House was turned to
armoury for cutlass, guns and other dangerous weapons.
At the early stage of the Ajimobi administration, stories were
said in orchestrated form of reconciliation among the hitherto
hostile factional leaders. The target was a gang up of such
incompatible factional leaders in order to create fear in Ajimobi
with a picture of making the State ungovernable to him. They
expected an early capitulation to fright on the part of the
governor. But he did not only remain undeterred but unshaken
in his preference for PEACE option in the State.
At the moment, the people of Oyo State have every reason to
be grateful to the government for being able to create such a
secure environment by which they can sleep with their eyes
closed. Given that serene environment, indications are that
investors will have reasons to come to the State while existing
ones do not have to entertain the panic of closing down
abruptly for gun shots and skirmishes, whether as a result of
armed robbery or political violence.
The governor should remain unflinching in is stride to bring
dividends of democracy to the people of Oyo State. Dividends
should not only be seen in terms of pepper grinders, handsets
and all those trivialities to individuals. Efforts should be made
to create employment for youth; vacancies should be filled in
both offices and classrooms in order to ease youth restiveness.
No doubt the proposed interest free loans and PACESETTER
buses are concrete and scientific means of putting smiles to
the faces of the people irrespective of party affiliation. There
should also be encouragement of skill and artisan training for
self-reliance among the youth.
Now that the governor had gone half way in the journey, there
can be no doubt that more challenges lie ahead of him. Some
of these may be more distracting to make him lose focus in his
service delivery mission to the people of the State. But his
ability to resist all forms of temptations that can break the
bond of covenant with the good people of the State will be a
major test of Leadership for him.