A look at governance in Osun State since the inception of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola brings home once again the essence of governance. Considering the focus and the gradual multi faceted transformation going on in that state, one is bound to conclude that the new approach/orientation brought by Aregbesola into governance throws a challenge to the mimetic that being welfarist puts impossible ‘financial burden’ on the government for which the abdication of certain responsibilities are inevitable. Needless to say that this is a challenge to the status quo of how we have come to understand governance in Nigeria.
An overview of Ogbeni’s governance will reveal the following: (a) a people-oriented programmes and policies (b) a focus on cost effectiveness and long term benefit (c) a balanced approach in the employment of societal resources where the tide of ‘private accumulation’ is stemmed by a proactive collectivism that is as effective, competitive and protective of the weak, and (d) a strive to reach the largest number of people with programmes and policies that cut across all the strata, all the divides of the society.
There is no doubt that Ogbeni intends to follow the steps of the late sage, Pa Obafemi Awolowo when he brought out his six-point integral action plan as his ‘pact’ with the people. The link between the contents of the pact shows that it goes beyond just employment of catchy words to defraud the people, when in substance such so-called programmes could be lacking. Essentially, the programmes in his ‘pact’ are integrated (related to one another which affords for leveraging), and also connects the various grades of people in the society – the young, elderly, men and women. Again, the content of the pact which is six in number shows not only the centrality of the people in the ‘thought processes’ of the programme, but also the link between peoples’ empowerment and societal growth. The ‘Action Plan’ contains basically the following: to banish poverty; to foster communal peace and progress; to promote functional education; to banish hunger; to restore healthy living and to create work and wealth.
The centrality of the people: To start with, hunger and poverty no doubt stifles rigorous thinking which militates against the germination of ideas and holds a people down. Every right thinking government ought to be concerned about how hunger and poverty are banished or reduced to the barest minimum in order to extract the full potentials in the individual. This kind of concern (unlike some bourgeoisie formulations which expects the ‘magical’ hands of a thoroughly manipulated market to ration resources, leaving the weak vulnerable) connects the various needs and potential growth areas of the society. For instance, the ‘O Meal’ ‘food-subsidy’ programme which targets around 254,000 school children for feeding on a daily basis connects farmers (of whatever size) to government’s patronage, provides an avenue for moderate income and wealth, and gradually reforms and repositions the agricultural sector of the state. Through this singular initiative the support structures and institutions needed for a thriving agricultural sector are expected to start picking up such as the agricultural boards, the River Basins, the silos, and other elements associated with agro allied industries – the forward/backward integration between the industry and agriculture that has eluded the country for long may gradually return! In this way, farmers have ‘backers’ (the government) which serves as ‘lender of last resort’ to them by ensuring that harvested crops are not allowed to waste or get sold below their value out of fear of their perishing. India recently in its bid to stamp out hunger and revive its agricultural sector floated a record $200 billion bond ‘food security.’ With such initiatives in the state of Osun, the era of ‘Agro-Dollar’ may be beckoning!
In the area of education the government not only decided to make it free and accessible but equally strives to take out some of the inherent burdens on some households which may make the assimilation of knowledge on the part of some pupil difficult; and this explains the ‘O Meal’ programme. For the secondary school students, the Opon Imo has become a programme which every serious minded government is thinking of copying as a sure way to resuscitate the fallen standard of education right from the secondary school. Students not only have all their subjects compiled in one piece, but also have access to a ‘virtual’ class room and library. The ‘tablets’ are not only cheaper and more durable than the normal books, but through it an ‘entrepreneurial’ base dedicated to providing back up services could develop. These are multiplier effects of a genuine endeavor to improve the lives of others. With the Opon Imo tablets, the state has an edge and is positioned to outclass others by the time the results would start to trickle in
Prudence: One common thing about the above stated programmes (the O Meal and the Opon Imo tablets) is their cost effectiveness, which is a product of both a rigorous way of thinking and an innate sincerity. It is the lack of these factors (rigorous/critical thinking and sincerity on the part of most leaders) that has made some people to pronounce that free education is impossible and that welfarism as a state policy is outdated. As a landlocked state with a moderate income level, the state strives to improve its most feasible resource base,  agriculture- with a target to reach 10 percent of the Lagos food market part of which was responsible for a leap in its internally generated revenue (IGR) from a meagre 300 million to a whooping 700 million naira! This explains why it was one of the first states to quickly key into the railway revamping project of the federal government by making the stopovers in the state ‘hubs’ for transporting agricultural produce to Lagos. The partnership with UNICEF in the area of agriculture also shows his ability to sense opportunities where some exist. Around 1830 rural farmers have access to farm inputs through the partnership. Besides UNICEF is a big spender on foods and grains for the numerous impoverished children around the world; a symbiosis that connects the state to the world food market may be emerging!
Accommodation: Communal peace and progress is another impressive area of Ogbeni’s administration and this was why we said that his thinking and imaginative ability challenges existing beliefs about governance. While some states in the country are thinking of obliterating the cultural/religious differences amongst their people by substituting for that a ‘stony secularism’ that bears semblance to no one, Ogbeni taught accommodation of all elements in the society based upon the principle of equal consideration. This ensures that the various socio-religious elements are provided avenues as well as resources to ventilate their conviction. If one could recall, this was once one of the things that made America a cultural ‘melting’ pot until recently when some inept leaders abandoned this principle and embarked upon a racial/religious chauvinism. For equity, justice and peace among a diverse people, a study in Ogbeni’s method is recommended!
Flexibility: With his reputation as a socialist notwithstanding, Ogbeni has demonstrated the flexibility necessary for achieving good governance through adaption of useful elements from rival ideologies, not the least because of their insufficiency. If socialism had crumbled and capitalism wobbles, he has employed a middle course which focuses on achieving results amid the prudent utilization of resources for now and the future. In line with the cautious opening up of the economy of the state, there is a partnership base for individuals to thrive even as the government plays the role of a balancer cushioning socio economic disparities that may arise. The outright employment of over 40,000 youths through the O YES programme is a direct intervention in the redistribution of state resources. As for economic drive, Osun State assumed its essential role by putting itself at the centre of development as a practical correction of the misunderstood concept of ‘private sector’ driven economy. The private sector would only be able to drive an economy that is already developed and well articulated through a roadmap that only the government can formulate if all must be protected, and if economic growth must translate to economic development which in the ultimate means getting economic gains to the largest number of people.
As Harold Laski said ‘the title of (or the entitlement) of the state to obedience lay in its performance of three functions: (a) it secured order, (b) it provided a technique of peaceful change, and (c) it enabled demands to be satisfied on the widest possible scale’. Aregbesola obviously continues to strive about how the demands of the citizens would be met far and wide; he has without reliance on the use of force secured order. Although the content of the order secured is usually a source of friction/tension in societies especially when under such ‘order’, primitive accumulation goes on by those who secure the order. Transparency and fairness has been demonstrated so far with regard to the utilization of state resources and this explains why security is not brought about by heavy security/military presence in the state, but rather by the confidence and trust which not only the government command from the people, but also one which is shared among the people themselves. As to a peaceful technique of change, the people will definitely expects a man of similar orientation when the time comes for him to leave the saddle; and if what has been achieved in the state is a reflection both of his ingenuity and the position of his party, the people may not be willing to change a winning team soon!
In the final analysis, the elements of people’s empowerment, equity and accessibility to socio economic opportunities, peaceful communal relationship, provision of support for the otherwise vulnerable ones in society and a high educational target are some of the most visible aspects of Aregbesola’s governance in Osun State that stand him out among his colleagues. A repetition of some aspects of these elements in other states of the federation would definitely move us closer to the Nigeria of our dream. We therefore salute such towering courage and believe the sky is just the beginning!
•Olumuyiwa Jimoh is a member of Lagos State House of Assembly representing Apapa 
PM NEWS

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Wale Adedoyin and other executive members, during a reception for the first batch of  Youths of the State of Osun after their Agricultural Training in Saxony Anhalt, Germany and their parents at the Government House Osogbo on Tuesday 03/12/2013

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola [3rd right]; his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye – Tomori [2nd left] Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti [2nd right]; Commissioner for Homes
Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sikiru Ayedun [2nd left]; Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Wale Adedoyin (left) a graduant,
Miss Khairat temitope Bello (right) and some of her 20 colleagues at the back row, during a reception for them as the first batch of 40th
Youths of the State of Osun after their Agricultural Training in Saxony Anhalt, Germany, at Government House Osogbo on Tuesday 03/12/2013.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori [7th left]; Commissioner for
Agriculture, Prince Wale Adedoyin (4th left) and other State Executive members, during a reception for the first batch of 40th Youths of the
State of Osun after their Agricultural Training in Saxony Anhalt, Germany. With them are their parents at back row, at Government House
Osogbo on Tuesday 03/12/2013.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his Deputy,
Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori ; Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Wale
Adedoyin (5th left); SSG, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (6th right) and other State Executive members, during a reception for the first batch of Youths of the State of Osun after their Agricultural Training in Saxony Anhalt, Germany. With them are their parents at back row, at Government House Osogbo on Tuesday 03/12/2013

Indigenes of the state of Osun have been urged to imbibe the culture of working hard and payment of tax into the coffers of the government so as to assist government in discharging the dividends of democracy.
On assumption of office in 2010, the present administration in the state blocked all the leakages that were existing in the state revenue which jacked up the state internally generated revenue from 300million Naira to 1.6billion Naira.
The state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, stated this at the public presentation of the state of Osun Revenue Administration Law 2012, held at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Abere.
In his speech titled: “Towards Greater Transparency in Revenue Management,” the Governor enjoined people of the state to expect more dividends of democracy if more money entered the government purse.
Governor Aregbesola who promised to put the state on the path of socio-economic development noted that with the population of 3.2 million in Osun, if 16 % of the population who are active youths of about 517,000 are working and realising N4 million income annually, it means N2.3 trillion will be circulating in the state economy, and if they pay 5 % tax, the state will generate over N10 billion monthly stressing that if the state has that in four years, even the people of Dubai will come and see wonders in Osun.
According to him, Osun which has the smallest economy about four years ago with N110 billion as GDP now has 738billion naira as its GDP, a development which he attributed to the administration’s commitment to develop the economy of the state stressing that the present administration is making the economy grow as nobody thought possible.
While lamenting the fact that a lot of people no longer want to work, the Governor explained that many people only want to go on consuming saying that without work one can not be rich, without being rich one can not be taxed and without being taxed it will be difficult for government to carry out the responsibility of providing infrastructure for the people.
He stated further that the only way to fund a modern government is to pay taxes. Ogbeni Aregbesola said that he is ready to put the state on the map of development and called on the people to pay their taxes.
Earlier in their separate address, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Mr Ajibola Bashir and his counterpart in the Ministry of Finance, Dr Wale Bolorunduro said the law will bring efficiency to the tax system and engender development stressing that the state revenue service will be granted autonomy to perform their duties without interference.
Also speaking, the Acting Director of the state revenue service, Mr Dayo Oyebanji promised that tax cards would be issued to people while short messages service(sms) would be sent to them on monthly basis as from January next year to know their status.
While stressing that issue of multiple taxation will be checked ,he said the problem is a result of the communication gap between tax administrators and tax payers, saying that all payments of tax will be harmonised as soon as possible.
The law which has 83 sections was reviewed during the public presentation by Dr Oladoye Amokaye who is the Head of Department, Private and Property Law, University of Lagos where he advocated for accountability and transparency on the part of the revenue service so that people would have confidence in it.
It was passed last year by the State Assembly and singed into law on December 27, 2013. It empowers the state Internal Revenue Services (IRS )to fix the tax rate, collect and deposit taxes, seize or confiscate defaulters’ assets, arrest and prosecute, impose fines among others.
The law also established an Appeal Commission to entertain complaints on the administration of tax policies.
OSUN DEFENDER

BEFORE his gruesome murder on December 23, 2001, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief James Ajibola Ige, had predicted realignment of political forces in the protracted battle to liberate the Nigerian society.
Ige, who was regarded as the author of the constitutions of the then three leading parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All Peoples Party (APP), foresaw a situation where progressive elements in the parties would come together under one umbrella in a bid to bail Nigeria out of alleged misrule by the PDP.
Ige’s “political” son and Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, also recently indicated the possibility of the progressives having a working political arrangement with like-minded people in other parties, to salvage the nation from the “inept” rule by PDP.
So, when the news dominated the airwaves that a faction of the PDP, led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje, had decided to shift political allegiance from the party and to the APC, many political observers saw the move as a fulfillment of the expectations and prediction of many Nigerians.
The PDP had always boasted that before 2015, it would have perfected strategies to take over governance from the five APC governments in the Southwest region. However, the latest development in the polity seems to have made the PDP desire a tall dream.
All the same, the merger of the New-PDP and five governors with the APC in Osun State may be regarded as a blessing to the ruling party, in fact, to the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and other party leaders in view of the 2014 governorship election less than eight months away.
However, a likely major obstacle in change in political affiliation is compatibility in orientation and objectives. Those coming to join the APC from the PDP are from a different political background and share a different value system, which might run contrary to what obtains generally in the APC.
A member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) and former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, described the merger as the coming together of strange political bedfellows.
To him, the political marriage might not take long before it hits the rock. But Babatope’s former senior associate in the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Senator Ayo Fasanmi, considers the move as a welcome development in the quest by the APC to consolidate its position in the Southwest and beyond. Fasanmi noted that the implosion in the PDP was long overdue, stressing that many people expected defection of more members from the ruling PDP to join the popular clamour for a change in leadership at the centre.
That said, there are elements in the PDP that have distinct political ambition to realise in 2014; and the APC has penciled down incumbent Aregbesola as a sole candidate for the governorship race. The thinking in the APC circle is that Aregbesola should be allowed to fly the party flag in 2014, to enable him complete his projects in the areas of road infrastructure, education reform policies, job creation, urban renewal and development of the economy, particularly the tourism industry.
Still, the merger may run into stormy waters in the process of choosing candidates for other elective and appointive political offices, especially if the APC leadership is not ready to shift ground and accommodate the new comers. But feelers from the APC leaders appear to have negated this political line of thought. At a rally marking the three-year anniversary of Governor Aregbesola in office, held at the Freedom Park in Osogbo last week, there was convergence of opinions by party chieftains to give the merger opportunity to survive by welcoming the new members with open arms.
Party leaders believe that the merger is another opportunity to strengthen the party and widen its political base and popularity. And if the disposition of Governor Aregbesola, who is the party leader in the state, is anything to go by, the merger may have a smooth sail because people, who had joined the APC from other parties, are being given equal opportunities. For example, notable persons in opposition parties had been appointed as Special Advisers in various areas. Elder Peter Babalola, a former Chief of Staff to former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, now occupies an exalted position as chairman of the Local Government Service Commission and giving due recognition at every party forum.
Babalola’s appointment to oversee affairs at the sensitive local council level is a demonstration of the trust and confidence Aregbesola might have reposed in the former PDP chieftain. So, in Osun, the merger between APC and New-PDP may not experience many hiccups due to the disposition of Governor Aregbesola, who has been working round the clock to bring all segments of the society to the APC family.
This temperament may be in tandem with the governor’s promise after his inauguration to be fair to all by running an all-inclusive administration without recourse to the alleged persecution of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) by the ousted PDP government in the state.
Although it is too early to decipher the position of the former Governor Oyinlola in the merger, political pundits believe that he may toe the line of Alhaji Baraje and others, who moved to the APC after the Supreme Court had given its ruling on an appeal filed by the PDP on the reinstatement of Oyinlola to position of the disputed PDP national secretary.
Nonetheless, The Guardian learnt that a PDP grassroots mobiliser and first Secretary to the State Government under Oyinlola, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, and his group might not align themselves with the merger. Akinbade, at a recent meeting with party loyalists, reportedly decided to join the newly registered Peoples Democratic Movement (PDP) being led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
This position may have been informed by his long-standing ambition to contest the 2014 governorship race; thus, Akinbade’s group might regard joining the APC as an obstacle to his ambition since the APC has unofficially endorsed Aregbesola for a second term ticket.
Yet, the APC is likely to be the gainer in the merger process in Osun being the ruling party, which naturally attracts people from other parties to its fold.
GUARDIAN NEWS

Having experienced military administrations, Nigerians have come to the understanding that the best form of government is democracy. The present constitution of the country (though prepared by the military) to some extent, dictates democratic tenets. Therefore, it is obvious that many states led by obnoxious politicians are still under tyranny.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, defined democracy “as government of the people, by the people and for the people”. Few days ago, Thabo Mbeki (former South African President) said: “The problem of Nigeria is not the leaders, but Nigerians”
It is only in Nigeria that a minister possesses two bullet-proof cars, worth N255 million and nobody challenges the government. This can only happen in Nigeria, not in Ghana. Although, Nigeria claims to be practising democracy, but it is not so; the government is not for the people.
The State of Osun is however an exception in this context. Since the current governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, came on board, he has demonstrated what democracy should be in several ways. Through transparency, he has shown that the government is “of the people”. He makes sure every policy amd programme of his administration is known by the people. Through Gbangba D’ekun, an interactive programme, the governor has portrayed this to its fullest. What Mr. Governor is trying to reveal through the programme is “the government is of the people, I am only here to do whatever you desire”. This to me is the essence of democracy.
Ogbeni did not stop at that, the fact remains that he gives out opportunities to the members of the public to freely express their minds on his administration’s various programmes and policies. Through this, the governor fulfills the second rule of Abraham Lincoln “by the people”. Gbangba Dekun has simply defined one other thing – PEOPLE GOVERNING. This is made possible since the government does what the People say.
Government “for the people” which is the final rule of democracy, explains itself just in one term. “Run by one man to benefit others (people)”. Truly, Ogbeni Aregbesola holds the mantle of leadership, yet, he works for the people not for himself. Employment for the youths, development of the education sector, infrastructural development, among others are done for the people.
To me, the difference between democracy and military is that, while democracy is for the people, military is for the leader. The current Peoples Democratic Party-led (PDP) Federal Government does that by not been able to give a concrete forum for the people to reach the government.
“By God’s grace, the State of Osun is moving and nothing can stop us,” says the governor. Surely, nothing can stop us from growing higher as a state, just like Lagos State and the likes, all we have to do is stick to the government of the people and lets desert the government of the pocket.
OSUN DEFENDEER

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Bishop, Osun Anglican Diocese, Reverend James Popoola amongst others during a courtesy and ‘thank you’ visit to the Governor for constructing Bishop Court Road, Isale Aro, Osogbo, at the Government House, Osogbo State of Osun on Monday 02-11-2013

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); Bishop,
Osun Anglican Diocese, Reverend James Popoola (3rd right); Asoju Oba
of Gbodofon, Chief Jimoh Buraimo (2nd left); Dean, All Saint
Cathedral, Osogbo, Venerable Isaac Oluyamo (right); Officers of the
Diocese, High Chief Popo Bolarinwa (left) and Chief Femi Adebiyi (3rd
left), during a Thank You Visit to the Governor for constructing
Bishop Court Road, Isale Aro, Osogbo, at the Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Monday 02-11-2013

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) and Bishop,
Osun Anglican Diocese, Reverend James Popoola (left), during a Thank
You Visit to the Governor for constructing Bishop Court Road, Isale Aro, Osogbo, at the Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Monday 02-11-2013

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Bishop,
Osun Anglican Diocese, Reverend James Popoola; Officer of the Diocese,
Chief Femi Adebiyi; Asoju Oba of Gbodofon, Chief Jimoh Buraimo and
High Chief Popo Bolarinwa, during a Thank You Visit to the Governor for constructing Bishop Court Road, Isale Aro, Osogbo, at the
Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Monday 02-11-2013