Engineer Adesoji Rauf Aregbesola became the governor of the State of Osun on the 27th of November 2010, after a lengthy legal tussle ousted Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola from the position and affirmed Action Congress {AC}, now All Progressives Congress {APC} as the rightful and legal winner of the contentious 2007 governorship election in the state.
According to Warren Bennis - ```"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."``` The seven and a half years misrule and misgovernment of Oyinlola PDP-led administration made people wallow in abject poverty. This prompted Aregbesola to give necessary attention to the welfare of the people by putting out application for youths under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme {OYES}, a programme which about three rounds of application have since been conducted, summing up the number of youths that have benefited from the scheme above 50,000. A component of the scheme is the OYESTECH, where people engage in rigorous training in Information and Communication Technology {ICT} development to impact on them with required skills needed in the ever competitive labour market. In addition, in a way to showcase his commitment towards tackling the pervasive poverty among the populace, Aregbesola introduced a monthly allowance for aged citizens. This has without doubt, availed the aged citizens a lifeline to meet up with basic necessities and encourage a humble and honorable living.
The transformation agenda of Ogbeni Aregbesola has repositioned education in Osun from its known position to a greater height. His mission at reforming the education sector is aimed towards the promotion of quality education, development of character and self-discipline. Hence, education breeds discipline, discipline breeds Godliness. This started through the education summit organised by government and graced by scholars, where the decisions on the sector as far as Osun is concerned were made. As a result of his commitment towards reforming education in Osun, Aregbesola was spurred to introduce novel policies which include the introduction of three levels of the school system and division of the schools into elementary, middle, and high schools, the renovation and construction of the State-of-the-art schools, feeding of school pupils, distribution of the e-learning tablets to secondary school students, and other laudable achievements. The Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme, known as O-meals is one of the few surviving school meal programmes in the country. It has reached a large number of students and also empowered many community caterers. Thus, as a result school enrollment has drastically increased. Government as also provided as many e-learning tablets also known as Opon Imo, as possible for secondary school students. This initiative, the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria covers about 17 core subjects with over 5 extra curricula subjects for students. In addition to aiding preparation for School Leaving Examinations, the introduction of the gadget also helped in the adoption of Information Communication Technology {ICT} skills among students in the state. The late sage, Obafemi Awolowo once said: ```"any system of education which does not help a man to have a healthy and sound body, alert brain, and balanced and disciplined instinctive urges, is both misconceived and dangerous".``` All these have brought a drastic increment in the result statistics for the state by WAEC. However, the highest percentage Osun had before 2010 is 12.08%, but recently, the state had 45.47%. The statistics is based on the number of credits {5 and above} including English and mathematics obtained by students in WAEC. *Basically, a new broom sweeps clean.*
Any responsible government is expected to ensure adequate security of lives and properties of the people. As part of his commitments towards ensuring and enhancing security of lives and properties of its citizens, government under the leadership of Aregbesola provided patrol vehicles to security agencies such as the Army, the Police, FRSC, NDLEA, and the Civil Defence. Armoured Personnel Carrier {APC} to fight incessant robbery attacks which were the order of the day before his administration were provided, the first of its kind in the history of the state. It is of great importance to note that the state under the conscious leadership of Aregbesola acquired one helicopter for area surveillance and quick emergency response, which as a result reduced crime, especially bank robbery to the nearest minimum significantly. The State of Osun under the amiable leadership of Aregbesola remained one of the most secured and peaceful states in South-Western Nigeria, and in Nigeria as a whole. Thus, people sleep with their eyes closed. Action speaks louder than words.
The infrastructural deficit in the state capital {Osogbo} was too lacking for its status as a state capital before Aregbesola came on board. Roads and other social amenities were nothing to write home about as this put the socio-economic growth in Osogbo in a awkward situation. This unimpressive and parlous outlook was reversed by Aregbesola led administration as road networks of the state capital was rejuvenated to reflect its status. One of the major projects by Aregbesola is the widely acknowledged Ring road that link up most part of Osogbo together, to many other roads that now ease transportations in the state capital. The Freedom Park developed by Aregbesola has lightened upOsogbo and made it a beehive of activities. Across the State of Osun, the governor's exploits in urban renewal and infrastructural developments has undoubtedly brought him the reckoning of most indigens of the state who view him as the architect of modern Osun.
"Successful leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty rather than the difficulty in every opportunity". While reminiscing on what, how, and where Osun state used to be, I cannot but conclude that Adesoji Rauf Aregbesola has done his possible best to transform the state, he has indeed performed credibly well as governor of the State of the Virtue. Even though, no one is quietly perfect, Aregbesola's indelible achievements in virtually every sector across the state have put his name among greatest achievers in the Nigerian politics. Thus, Ogbeni has come, seen, and conquered. Aregbesola is reserved but accessible to all, strong but easy to relate with, loaded but humble, intelligent but calm and trusted without limit. His humility never ceased, as he remains an embodiment of virtues that makes him a role model for many.
LONG LIVE AREMU ADESOJI RAUF AREGBESOLA.
LONG LIVE THE STATE OF OSUN.
LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
Osun A Dara.
I'm Olajide Abdul-Hameed O. (Omoluabi)
A part 4 student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
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