The underdevelopment of Nigeria, unquestionably, is dialectic. This dialectical phenomenon introduced into the country as a result of the wayward leadership recklessly administered by a chunk of the political cum military class since independence in 1960, has brought Nigeria tragically into a cul-de-sac.
The resultant effect of the above is that most politicians have hijacked the accelerated development of the country and, by implication, transformed themselves into the merciless swine now ravishingly eating the breakfast and dinner of the masses of Nigeria.
In the midst of this most nauseating scenario, a tiny class of politicians has chosen to take a walk in the direction of the forgotten majority. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, governor of Osun State since November 2010, has succinctly showcased and qualified himself as a bona-fide friend of the ordinary people, most especially in his state.
This fact glaringly manifested recently in far away Ogwa in Edo State at the Samuel Adegboyega University where Aregbesola was awarded honorary Doctor of Public Administration.
In recognising and encouraging him, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ben Aigbokhan at the historic gathering, noted that “Aregbesola stood out by placing his state among 5 top lowest in unemployment rate and also second in human capacity development in Nigeria.”
This award coming to a man who courageously defied and overcame glaring suffocating financial trials occasioned by the still lingering low allocation coming to the state from the federation monthly attracts huge applause indeed.
Only about eight days earlier on July 20th, 2018 in Abuja, capital city of Nigeria, Aregbesola deservedly harvested the first of such awards within the month when one of the nation’s most reputable business-centered newspapers-Business Day singled him out conspicuously as the “Best Performing Governor in Nigeria’s Southern Region.”
According to the management of Business Day newspaper, Aregbesola who also won as the “Best Social Investment & Social Protection” distinguished himself in the special awards category in “recognition of the new grounds the administration has broken in Osun that has sent an enduring legacy that will span at least 50 years.”
There is absolutely an interesting twist to the current spate of awards being harvested by Aregbesola in Osun. This man has less than four months to exit power and he is being honored and accorded due respect and recognised by reputable entities far flung from the shores of “the land of the virtuous” as the state is referred to.
This shows really the stunner stuff that he is made of: a man of all seasons, a truly amazing public servant. Though the fact remains that he had raked in what one could term an endless list of awards and accomplishments in office before now, but the current harvest being recorded is a significant plank to say unequivocally that he is almost breasting the last lap of his enviable rule with the highest level of commitment to his ideological conviction.
From another perspective, the current harvest of encomium being heaped on him is a way of celebrating excellence thunderously in a country saturated right, left and centre by many serving and ex-governors that have become blatant national irritants and prodigals who have bled and still bleed their people.
Aregbesola, a true hero of democracy is one of the phenomena that have absolutely provided valuable opportunity for the masses to flourish and blossom within Nigeria. The truth lies in the nature and character called Aregbesola, an incredible politician that represents an idea which has restored, revamped, redeemed and repositioned Osun with uncommon tenacity.
His rise to power is unarguably the greatest epoch in the recent history of the state. Powered by an incredible will and a magnetic personality, and in almost eight years now in office, he has not only nourished the political destiny of his people, but continues to serve as a fundamental principle for the uplift of the ordinary folks from ignorance, illiteracy and stark obscurity.
Aregbesola is a personality that drinks in knowledge with extraordinarily fascinating passion for educational and infrastructural development. Today, he strikes at the root of democratic performance and the living forces of the people of Osun.
Nowinta Igbotako, a serial author and public affairs commentator, lives in Benin City, Edo State.
