Opinion: Ibikunle Amosun – The metamorphosis of a ‘born again’ governor

by Rahman Ali

Amosunpix00

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.

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.

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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