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 “I don’t want to count my years in Osun State, but I want my years to count.” -
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Executive Governor Osun State, Nigeria
Often times when you heard that many of our governors from Nigeria visit abroad, it is for self aggrandisement. It is for self promotion that usually has nothing to do with the affairs of the people they govern back at home. The visit of the governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola to the United States in the month of July under the auspices of Osun State Indigenes Forum, Wilmington, USA could not be cast in that mould. The reason for this is two fold. One is the willingness and the humility of the governor to subject himself to the rules and conditions established by the members of the Forum for the visit when it was being put together. The second is the determination of the members of the Forum to ensure that the visit produced concrete results for the State and its people. The humility and the cooperation of the governor were helpful in achieving these goals during the 8-day visit which was packed with activities all through. In the governor’s entourage was the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, Hon. Soji Adagunodo - Oluwatukesi, the Chief Whip of Osun State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ashifat Olarinde, Special Adviser on Political and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Adelani Ajanaku, Executive Assistant on Economic Development and Mr. Femi Adelegan, Chief Private Secretary to the Governor. The team arrived at Philadelphia in the evening of July 4. Immediately after the dinner, the Governor was briefed on the itinerary which was lined up to meet with the goals and objectives of his government. The most important of these goals is to increase the financial base of Osun State via improved economic investment by both the foreigners and indigenes of the State. Despite having just arrived from Nigeria without any rest whatsoever, Governor Oyinlola after meeting with the members of the Forum, went straight to business by meeting the President and CEO of Trillion Company, Mr. Afolabi Oyerokun. The purpose of the meeting was to follow up on the registration of a partner for Osun State with the Federal Republic of Nigeria to be able to appropriate financial opportunities for its gold reserve in the global market. The Governor made it clear that he was determined to improve the financial base of the State. He lamented that because of the limited financial base of the State, it was difficult to embark on many developmental projects that have been lined up. He informed that the Osun State remains number 33 out of 36 States in terms of Federal Allocation of Funds. Osun State gets about 1.3billion Naira every month. Out of this, about 700 million naira goes for the monthly salary of workers, 220 million goes for pension, gratuity and retirements while the State is usually left with the balance of about 380 million to play around with in terms of constructing and maintaining roads, providing portable water, ensuring stable energy, providing health services among many others. To this end, Governor Oyinlola said “It is pretty obvious that we have to involve the private sector both local and foreign if we have to get something meaningful done for the people of the State. My vision is to propel Osun State from an agrarian economy to an industrial economy. This is why this trip is very important to me.” On July 6, Governor Oyinlola and his entourage met with the Governor of Delaware, Mrs. Ruth Ann Minner. During the meeting, Prince Oyinlola underscored two parallels between Delaware and Osun States which included the fact that they are both small states and that they are agriculturally based . He noted that what Delaware has done that Osun State is trying to do is to be able to attract private investors that would help galvanize the financial base of the State. He informed that with the Free Trade Zone that the Nigerian Federal Government has allowed Osun State to create in its State Capital of Oshogbo, “the incentives are irresistible for any private investor.” Governor Minner expressed her readiness to establish economic and cultural ties with Osun State. She pointed to the Sister Cities program that was already afoot between City of Wilmington (another City in Delaware) and Oshogbo. “I am confident that bringing this productive relationship to the State level will be mutually beneficial,” she remarked. The machinery to consumate this was to be put in place through the efforts of the Chairman of Osun State Indigenes Forum U.S.A, Dr. Tunde Durosomo, who is also a top Civil Servant in the State. The day before, on July 5, the Governor and his entourage had lunch meeting with the representatives of the Sister Cities of Wilmington Inc. and Wilmington Friends of Africa, Messrs Dennis Sheer and Chief Omowale Walker. The kernel of the discussion was how to go beyond the realms of cultural exchange to economic ties between the Cities of Wilmington and Oshogbo. On the evening of the same day, Governor Oyinlola and his entourage had business meeting with the Chairman and Executive Director of Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA), Messrs Richard V. Pryor and N. C. Vasuki. This meeting set the basis for the following day’s visit to Delaware Solid Waste Authority Landfill in Sandtown, Delaware. During the visit, how the technology could be transferred to Osun State was the focus, especially in the area of providing electricity using waste products. Some indigenes of Osun State were encouraged by the Governor to partner with the State Government in such a venture because plans was on to provide competition for the National Electric Power Authority . On July 7, the Governor and his entourage met with the Director of the Small Business Development Center, Mr. Clinton Tymes who explored ways to help replicate some business developmental programmes in Osun State. In the afternoon of the same day, the Governor and his entourage met with Professor John Byrne of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy of the University of Delaware. On hand with Professor Byrne were other experts from the department to explain alternative sources of energy and how this could be transferred to Osun State in a beneficial way. The day was concluded with a visit to the United Cocoa Processors Factory, Newark, Delaware. Mr. Adriano Da Silva, the CEO of the company conducted Governor Oyinlola and his entourage through the plant. There, it was learnt that cocoa farmers could export directly to the United States to process their product and determine the end buyer of their own volition. This would be entirely private and the State does not have to be involved in this. Saturday, July 8 was one of the most interesting days of the Governor’s visit to the United States. This date he faced the indigenes of Osun State who had questions about his commissions and omissions as the Governor of the State since 2003. The Governor was drilled. He was questioned relentlessly. He had his points contested. He had to make his case. There was no holds barred. For more than four hours he remained on his feet answering questions from those in attendance. He refused to have a break. He insisted that everyone’s questions must be answered. He ensured that everyone’s issue that could be attended to was dealt with immediately. While the Summit was still on, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Akinbade was calling the relevant commissioners’ with relevant portfolios to make the relevant files available for the Governor’s attention on his return. Some got answers to their problems before they left that day. Others would have to wait for obvious reasons. One could not say categorically that everyone left the Summit Hall satisfied, but evidently the majority was satisfied. The campaign manager of another gubernatorial candidate in the 2007 elections, Mr. Jumoke Ogunkeyede was at the Summit to accuse the Governor of not allowing others access to the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation. This was denied and the Governor mentioned two weekly programs being sponsored to “attack and criticize” him on OSBC. He informed the Summit how during his campaign to become the governor, the management of OSBC refused to carry any of his advertorials and would always return his money. On becoming the governor, he had retained all of them, refusing to sack them against the advice of others. Prince Oyinlola said this was to show magnanimity and bring the indigenes of the State together. A repeat of ensured accountability took place at the residence of Chief (Dr.) Olushola Dada, another indigene of Osun State who invited His Excellency and his entourage for dinner on July 9. It was like a mini-house of assembly as several issues were debated. The governor was freely engaged policy wise and intellectually. Indigenes of Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Ogun, Kwara and Lagos States were present. Eminent among them were Professor Banji Akintoye, Dr. Dele Dada, Dr. Kamal Adeleke, Dr. Bayo Onigbinde, Dr. Emmanuel Dada, Mr. Dayo Habib, Mr. Kabir Abubakar among many others. It was an informal gathering. Most issues were hotly debated and contested. The discussion went from issues pertaining to Osun State to those concerning the Nigerian polity. Some of the participants were very audacious and somehow disrespectful to the Governor. Others displayed some effrontery. Others showed some temerity in making their views known. Governor Oyinlola took everything in his stride. He never for once lost his cool. He responded to every challenge and showed that he had the intellectual capacity, the wit, the intelligence and the experience to handle such situation. On July 10, the Governor and his entourage were hosted by the management of Christiana Care Health Services. Dr. Keith Doram, the Medical Director disclosed a variety of ways through which Osun State could benefit from a partnership with the Institution which already has established relationship with several countries as far as Asia. The major thing that actually interested the Governor was the E-Care that was demonstrated for our understanding. Under this program, Osun State indigenes could have the benefit of the latest in health care without having to leave Osun State. Doctors from this hospital would be able to attend to the sick in Osun State Hospitals without any sweat. The Governor was so impressed at the cost benefit analysis of this project that he noted that this could be completed by the end of 2007. On July 11, the Governor met with the Co-President of the Boston based Lancor Corporation, Mr. Walter Oluwole whose company came up with the computer keyboard with which Yoruba language could be written. Mr. Oluwole expressed the readiness of the management of the company to set up an assembly in Osun State to create employment opportunities. The trip, which was entirely financed by the Osun States Indigenes Forum of Wilmington, U.S.A., of which the writer is a member, was a token contribution to the development of Osun state, Nigeria. It was gladdening that Governor Oyinlola agreed to work with the members of the Forum by agreeing to stipulated conditions and working hard on the trip to avail the State of whatever opportunities that could be appropriated on the trip. Often, men in power like to make the calls. The willingness of the Governor to allow the Forum members to make the calls this time shows his commitment to the development of Osun State. It is hoped that other political leaders will emulate his humility, commitment to service, accountability and openness.
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Posted by Robot| 29.08.2006 10:18