By Rahman Alli<\/p>\n
It is pathetic and most unfortunate that the State government led by
\nSenator Ibikunle Amosun is just awaking to the reality that the people are
\nthe centre of governance and that their collective will cannot be taken
\nfor granted. Suffice it to say that the latest development in Ekiti polity
\ndawned on the government in Ogun State that construction of roads that
\nlead nowhere, unnecessary flyovers and totally irrelevant pedestrian
\nbridge that has been out rightly rejected by pedestrians themselves
\nbecause it is meaningless do not translate to electoral victory. Perhaps,
\nMr. Governor has just realised that ameliorating the living conditions of
\nthe masses is central and key in a democracy.<\/p>\n
The hurriedly convened meeting with civil servants in the State is nothing
\nbut revelation of a jittery and confused government which has suddenly
\nawoken to reality after the shock treatment in Ekiti State. As a starter,
\na shocker and in a show of uncanny magnanimity, the salaries of the
\nworkers for the month of June was paid on the 24th!<\/p>\n
Fall out from Amosun’s meeting had it that the embattled Senator has
\npromised to pay the belated 2013 Christmas bonus to workers six months
\nafter! Not done yet, the Governor, at the meeting promised to grant
\nworkers car and housing loans. Realising that the housing scheme he put in
\nplace was beyond the reach of the workers, he succumbed to a 20% cut.<\/p>\n
But the wise among the workforce are saying it loud that it is one gesture
\ntoo late. To the discerning among them, it is blind desperation at its
\npeak. Now that the APC has been rejected in Ekiti for its anti-people
\npolicies, Gov. Amosun is desperately trying to deceive people into
\nbelieving that he loves the masses.<\/p>\n
At the meeting, Gov. Amosun nearly went on all fours asking the state
\ncivil servants what they want him to do because he is now “ready to listen
\nto them”. Imagine a government that did not bother about the welfare of
\nthe workers now suddenly changing gear after the Ekiti ‘show’ by doing
\nwhat he never did in his 37 months in power. Restless and confused, Gov.
\nAmosun is calling on the students by wooing them to “come and let’s
\ntalk?”. Latest information from the Oke Mosan seat of Ogun government is
\nthat workers \u00c2 vindictively sacked \u00c2 should report for immediate
\nre-absorbtion.<\/p>\n
Gov. Amosun must have equally forgotten that he has trampled on the rights
\nof Ogun citizenry and reduced their living conditions to an abysymal low.
\nA case in hand is that of those whose houses were demolished in the wake
\nof ‘Ogun Standard’ era who were yet to be adequately compensated. When
\nconfronted with the question of when he will pay for the human, capital
\nand psychological damages caused those affected, for the first time in the
\nhistory of the State government, Gov. Amosun confessed that there was no
\nmoney to compensate them.<\/p>\n
It will be recalled that Senator Ibikunle Amosun paid severance package of
\nonly 50 out of about 400 aides who served the State meritoriously from
\n2007 to 2011. Among the few he paid selectively were those who had
\ndefected to or on their way to joining the ruliing APC and the staunch
\nObasanjo cronies in the PDP. Several others who he perceived as die-hard
\nex-governor Daniel’s men who served the State meritoriously were left out
\nin the cold and may never be paid.<\/p>\n
The bottomline of the whole scenario unfolding in Ogun State is that of a
\nlying government which cannot be taken for its words. In the word of
\nelders, promises made in turbulent periods are often forgotten in the
\nperiod of calm. The act of lying as perfected by the ruling government in
\nOgun State is a point to ponder on by the electorate to be careful in the
\nchoice of ther representatives in the future elections.<\/p>\n
Rahman Alli a Secondary School Teacher resides in Sabo, Abeokuta North
\nLGA., Ogun. State and wrote via rahmanalli20@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n