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In a developing economy like ours, the government is the highest employer of labour and most workers depend on their salaries to meet basic needs. The failure of any appendage of the government to pay earned wages will therefore attract condemnation and protests. This monolithic economy of ours which depends on oil is prone to vagaries of international economic politics. Coupled with the inability of most state governments to generate adequate revenue internally, the average Nigerian worker is exposed to the vulnerability of deficit budgeting. That the state of Osun owes workers’ salaries is in no way an implication that its governor lacks any sensitivity to the plight of its workers; neither is it a result of financial recklessness or impropriety of any kind. Far from it, his zeal to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun is almost fanatical.
Five years ago, I was at a gathering in Ede, Osun State when the skies opened up unexpectedly and it began to rain. Perhaps the man responsible for the presence of thousands, now soaked, should have been embarrassed by the increasing intensity of the downpour. Instead, he burst into a Yoruba song: “We are not afraid of the rain; after all, we are the owners of the clothes we wore.” The crowd responded in glee, matching the power of the rain with the enthusiasm of their singing and dancing. The audacity of Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of the State of Osun, was as infectious then, as it is today.
Governor Aregbesola, Ogbeni to his admirers, may be diminutive in stature, but he is gigantic in vision, combining in one incarnation, the virtues of Oranmiyan and Awolowo. Deeply religious to the point where early naysayers painted him a bigot, Ogbeni has led by example, disavowing frivolities of any kind. The frequent misadventures and questionable acquisitions of some of his counterparts in neighbouring states are not found in him. Full disclosure: My bond with Ogbeni is a special one because we share some things in common. Aside from party affiliation and a strong belief in progressive governance, I have also been pleasantly surprised to find that though a devout Muslim, he acknowledges rather than avoids my Christian faith, calling me a Nazarite, because we both avoid alcohol and tobacco, wear white and keep beards. It is a mutual recognition that those who truly seek a Good God will be made better by Him, even if they do not agree completely.
The quest for the greater good also comes alive in Ogbeni’s approach to governing. The reason we were happily drenched that day was the launch of the OYES programme, ambitious in scope but absolutely necessary towards the empowerment and engagement of the state’s unemployed youth. Where others have only aspired toward “stomach infrastructure,” Ogbeni has made serious minded investments in education and capital projects since the beginning of his tenure, even as Osun State received less than its fair share of allocations from the Jonathan-led Federal Government. From “Opon Imo” to the aforementioned OYES, interfaith projects, construction and maintenance of roads and much more, his time as governor has been marked by a continuous stream of local, national and international accolades and recognition of his achievements and tireless efforts on behalf of the state of Osun.
Yet, there is no salve for money owed or song to ease the pain of unpaid wages. The employees of the State of Osun deserve to be compensated for their outstanding service. But this financial downpour of misfortune is not unique to their state and if any blame is to be laid at Ogbeni’s feet, it should be for the unfortunate timing in making the kind of far-reaching, but necessary infrastructural investments his predecessors failed to execute due to short-sightedness.
Small solace it may be right now, my hope is that the people of the state of Osun can find the strength to stay the course, understanding that tomorrow’s rewards will surpass today’s pain because of these sacrifices. Those who have been affected by this crisis, while justified in raising their voice in protest, would be wise to not give in to the will and machinations of political opportunists, who care more about pulling Ogbeni down than lifting up the people of Osun. Surely, we know better than to listen to the accusations from voices that sprang up today, but were silent during the massive erosion of this country’s wealth under past administrations. We also do not have to look very far to see the type of “leadership” that emerges when progress of this calibre is truncated.
It is my earnest desire that the people instead support Ogbeni Rauf’s continual efforts to boost the state’s internally generated revenue in a way that places no undue tax burden on the working poor. While the monthly intake has grown five times from N300 Million to N1.5 billion per month under his watch, the yield of the capital investments made in the last five years will bring Osun even further along towards self-sustainability, insulated from fluctuations in oil prices and the politics of federal allocations. The governor’s recent assurances of a better future beyond this temporary setback are more than just empty words; they carry weight because of his confidence in the groundwork of wholehearted actions that preceded them, actions few other Nigerian governors can lay claim to.
Like it did five years ago, it is raining again in Ede; indeed it is raining all over Nigeria, but the people own the government they have. I am confident that under the leadership of people like Governor Aregbesola, President Buhari, and others of similar disposition, men and women of integrity and action who believe in a government that works for all and not just for the elected, we will all rejoice once more, to the glory of God.
Senator Boroface writes from Abuja
