Nigeria: Genius At Work

Perhaps what people know about Osun State is the annual Osun Oshogbo Festival, 'oroki' herbal mixture, said to be able to cure all ailments, and the Oroki Social Club, a collective of Oshogbo elites, eulogized by 'apala' music maestro, Haruna Ishola, in the 1970s. But the recently concluded Osun State Economic Summit revealed more things about Osun State, and its Governor, Rauf Aregbesola. And one wondered why no one ever thought of broadcasting these phenomenon beyond Osun so that governments in other relatively agrarian Nigerian states can replicate, and deliver same, to their peoples. If the rumour is true, that late Obafemi Awolowo, who died in 1987, said that someone in his mould would emerge in Nigeria's political landscape within 30 years of his death, it appears that the expectation is gradually unfolding in Osun State. Aregbesola not only adopts the 'freedom for all, life more abundant' slogan of Awolowo's Action Group political party, he is executing populist policies- in line with a political philosophy that says governments must generate economic activities to physically engage the people that are resident within the state. Aregbesola combines Awolowo's savvy for political engineering with the adroit disposition of Donald Duke, former Cross River State Governor.

Aregbesola continuously seeks avenues to either attract revenue from out of state, or ensure that money generated within the state is spent within the state. He ensured that the crime rate in Osun State, Oshogbo in particular, is reduced to the barest minimum, so that night life can resume. Night crawlers from within and outside the state feel safe to spend time, and money, on their private peccadilloes, without molestation by miscreants or criminals. He turned out the wild boys who used, as rendezvous, an abandoned property of the Federal Government in Oshogbo, renovated, and converted it into a park, where decent citizens can spend quality time and money with their lovers, families and friends. In addition, members of the Osun Youths Empowerment corps, who were retrained and employed by the State Government, as well as senior citizens of Osun State, get a monthly dole, which they will most likely spend on basic goods within Osun State. This gives the local economy a regular shot in the arm.

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