Osun is totally liberated!

by Tola Adenle

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When I opened my mail in the early ours of this morning, there were ten mails with the screaming headline: “GOOD NEWS, ACN IN CONTROL 26-0”, waiting for me.  They were mostly from Osun citizens abroad which mail chain I’ve become part of since the birth of this blog site thirty (30) days ago.  Here are just a few:

“ACN 26 SEATS

PDP   0 SEAT

LATIF”

“Good news. Osun State is back in the progressive camp. People should now move on. Bye to Peoples’ Destructive Party.” Layi

“Sure we should be rejoicing. Our voting patterns in South West Nigeria have always carried message and messages. But how can we deal with the emergence of Oyinlola, Omisore, Adeleke’s triumvirate appointments as ministers or Ambassadors? Can our people withstand the monetary perks of federal might? I wonder why our people never considered that voting for Jonathan was voting for these triumvirate by proxy. Omisore will spend anything to ascend to power. Combine with propaganda machines of federal govt., shall our people be able to withstand the pressures? The strategies of sustainance should begin earnestly or else it may be too late. Those guys combine wealth with thuggery. To cap it all, they are shameless.

Lets start planning. Congratulations to Osun State citizens.”  Adetoye

“We have always been in the progressive camp, but the ‘People Deceive People’ party had been stealing our votes. We are glad that the umbrella carrying thieves have been swept out of our state forever.” Ghazali 

As results and reports continue to stream in from all over the Southwest, it is apparent that whatever happened in the presidential election was an aberration and Yorubaland is being restored.  Not unexpectedly, Fashola continues to lead in the Lagos count and despite the muddling of Oyo political watesr by former Rashidi Ladoja, the former governor who is reportedly set to return – AGAIN – to his v—— at the PDP where he’s always belonged, Ajimobi may still sail through.

Meanwhile over here at Osun, Governor Aregbesola is set to turn the state around with an all-ACN legislative House that would enable the very cash-poor state to start major correction of the atrocities of the retired Brigadier Oyinlola-era.  And they are too numerous to list here but suffice to say that the former army officer is already being BEGGED – that’s my word – to help find the “absconded” contractor paid N1.7 billion – around US$10 million – for a trade fair complex or whatever.  Actually, the news stated that the EFCC is being asked to look into the matter.

I’m impressed with the speed of the new face of Osun but please do not dismiss this as a propaganda as some did when I wrote on Mimiko several months ago on the changes in Ondo State.  Today, Ondo State is a pride to all of us; even little towns and villages can see the impact of a man determined to work for the people.  Decent market places everywhere, health centers, and other amenities that show there IS a caring government.  I spent Easter at Iju and also travelled to Owo.

Now, back to Osun where, as he promised, the governor seems to be up and running.  I do not think it is possible the Osogbo-Ilesa Road could be a contract recently awarded because of the short period in which Aregbesola has spent but the construction of the road moves at a good speed.  It is possible – pardon my cynicism – that it was awarded by the former army officer but as Nigeria, Inc. PDP governance always goes, the contractor saw it as his returns on an earlier ”investment” which could have been in form of cash, ballot box snatching, contribution to the leader’s various endeavors, etcetera.  Now that it’s not business as usual, he might have been read a Riot Act that would see him in jail or on site.  Whatever the case might have been, the road construction is on.  The streets of the capital have some of the work force that the governor has employed – 20,000 strong – to give them clean look.   The “glorious morn” is dawning.