By Rahman Alli
It is pathetic and most unfortunate that the State government led by
Senator Ibikunle Amosun is just awaking to the reality that the people are
the centre of governance and that their collective will cannot be taken
for granted. Suffice it to say that the latest development in Ekiti polity
dawned on the government in Ogun State that construction of roads that
lead nowhere, unnecessary flyovers and totally irrelevant pedestrian
bridge that has been out rightly rejected by pedestrians themselves
because it is meaningless do not translate to electoral victory. Perhaps,
Mr. Governor has just realised that ameliorating the living conditions of
the masses is central and key in a democracy.
The hurriedly convened meeting with civil servants in the State is nothing
but revelation of a jittery and confused government which has suddenly
awoken to reality after the shock treatment in Ekiti State. As a starter,
a shocker and in a show of uncanny magnanimity, the salaries of the
workers for the month of June was paid on the 24th!
Fall out from Amosun’s meeting had it that the embattled Senator has
promised to pay the belated 2013 Christmas bonus to workers six months
after! Not done yet, the Governor, at the meeting promised to grant
workers car and housing loans. Realising that the housing scheme he put in
place was beyond the reach of the workers, he succumbed to a 20% cut.
But the wise among the workforce are saying it loud that it is one gesture
too late. To the discerning among them, it is blind desperation at its
peak. Now that the APC has been rejected in Ekiti for its anti-people
policies, Gov. Amosun is desperately trying to deceive people into
believing that he loves the masses.
At the meeting, Gov. Amosun nearly went on all fours asking the state
civil servants what they want him to do because he is now “ready to listen
to them”. Imagine a government that did not bother about the welfare of
the workers now suddenly changing gear after the Ekiti ‘show’ by doing
what he never did in his 37 months in power. Restless and confused, Gov.
Amosun is calling on the students by wooing them to “come and let’s
talk?”. Latest information from the Oke Mosan seat of Ogun government is
that workers  vindictively sacked  should report for immediate
re-absorbtion.
Gov. Amosun must have equally forgotten that he has trampled on the rights
of Ogun citizenry and reduced their living conditions to an abysymal low.
A case in hand is that of those whose houses were demolished in the wake
of ‘Ogun Standard’ era who were yet to be adequately compensated. When
confronted with the question of when he will pay for the human, capital
and psychological damages caused those affected, for the first time in the
history of the State government, Gov. Amosun confessed that there was no
money to compensate them.
It will be recalled that Senator Ibikunle Amosun paid severance package of
only 50 out of about 400 aides who served the State meritoriously from
2007 to 2011. Among the few he paid selectively were those who had
defected to or on their way to joining the ruliing APC and the staunch
Obasanjo cronies in the PDP. Several others who he perceived as die-hard
ex-governor Daniel’s men who served the State meritoriously were left out
in the cold and may never be paid.
The bottomline of the whole scenario unfolding in Ogun State is that of a
lying government which cannot be taken for its words. In the word of
elders, promises made in turbulent periods are often forgotten in the
period of calm. The act of lying as perfected by the ruling government in
Ogun State is a point to ponder on by the electorate to be careful in the
choice of ther representatives in the future elections.
Rahman Alli a Secondary School Teacher resides in Sabo, Abeokuta North
LGA., Ogun. State and wrote via rahmanalli20@gmail.com