This is therefore a wakeup call to all our politicians to retie their girdles and brace-up for seriousness in governance.
It is my pleasure to contribute, through this medium, to the many on-coming developments in Oyo State as a bona fide resident and son of the soil. The polity is getting gradually heated up despite, the fact that the masquerades (Aspirants) are yet to be unmasked at the various levels of the political strata – State Assembly, Governorship, House of Representative and the Senate levels. In the meantime, only aspirants know themselves and of course some privileged few do know them. I just feel compelled to chip in my bit at this time so that those who are not ready can easily bow out before the struggle begins in earnest. It is going to be a lot of work and demand from them this time around. We assume that all aspirants are deserving of whatever they are aiming at, until the electorates provide the verdict with their votes. Whichever way the tide goes, I wish them all the best of GOOD Luck! And may the best candidates win at all levels.
In the new global era, Oyo State has to be more than ready to catchup with the rest of the country especially the Yoruba States in terms of Security, Education, Health, Economy, Infrastructural development, Industrial Development, Social Welfare, etc. If we call ourselves PACE SETTERS, how did we lose our position from being first among equals? No one knows what tomorrow has in store for Nigeria with the ongoing jig-saw and debates on restructuring, conversion into the former regionalization pattern, or geo-political zoning or God forbid – outright fragmentation and eventual emergence of Oodua State. Everything is in a state of uncertainty and every State, tribe or ethnic group is getting ready for whichever way the pendulum swings. This is why all our politicians in Oyo State must be put on the alert and in readiness for the new political razzmatazz as opposed to the business as usual style. Everyone must be on his/her guard or else we’ll be left behind. This is therefore a wakeup call to all our politicians to retie their girdles and brace-up for seriousness in governance. Oyo State must set the pace for others to follow.
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At whatever level of governance, Oyo State will want to be proud of all successful Aspirants, who can live above board and be good Ambassadors of this State in Abuja or in Oyo State, throughout their tenure as Legislators, regardless of party affiliations. ‘Electees’ are there to represent the electorates first and then their parties. Accountability and integrity should be their hallmarks in office. The time for corruption, selfishness, indolence, and greed are over in Nigeria and the new- look Oyo State should have no place for these bad attributes in governance any more. We, in Oyo State will develop Score Cards for people in political offices from now on. We want to know what is going on and what our ‘Electees’ and political office holders are doing at all times. We want to hold regular Town Hall Meetings with our Politicians on a quarterly basis. We are proud of our few Representatives who gave accounts of their stewardship in the current administration and this practice should be encouraged and made mandatory for all ‘Electees’ at all levels. We detest and abhor ‘Electees’ who go into Law Making Chambers to fight, sleep or be of bad conduct in the various Chambers. Our Legislators should be men and women of high moral standards and decorum, not thugs and ‘roughians’. Thank God we do not have these types of Politicians from Oyo State.
At this crucial times in Nigeria’s development, what we need in Oyo State are Politicians of good conduct and character. Electorates are looking for those who will be close to them at the grass root level not only when their votes are needed but throughout the political term in office for progress and development. Electorates want to see and feel some ‘real change’ in their day to day living – good roads, infrastructures, schools, security, health, active control of inflation and erratic market fluctuations, and general wellbeing of the people. Who of these politicians can bring new industries/factories into our environments to reduce unemployment is yet to be seen. Electorates in Oyo State will be taking a huge risk in voting for prospective Legislators not knowing the caliber of politicians. We do not want opportunists and dishonest politicians to represent us. Any intending Politician who cannot live up to the peoples’ expectations should please bow out honourably. We do not want ‘Olerables’, raw, indolent, and uncultured politicians in Oyo State in the next dispensation. We want refined, decent and hardworking men and women to be the flag bearers for us in Oyo State of Nigeria. May the popular candidates win.
At the Federal levels, we will be looking for Senators and Representatives who will sponsor solid bills and make meaningful contributions to debates in our National Assembly. At the Oyo State level, electorates will be looking for Politicians who can resuscitate abandoned projects and make success out of them instead of leaving them to remain as museum of abandoned projects and nuisances all over the state. Oyo State people are smart and they will see when and who is making a difference in their lives. There are ‘Watch Dogs’ monitoring the achievements of all politicians and when the Score Cards are read, due recognitions will be accorded to deserving and dynamic Politicians. The lethargic, unproductive or corrupt politicians will be flushed out with ignominy. Remember that time flies, and four years is only forty-eight months away and posterity will be your judge.
Finally, I wish only those politicians who will do Oyo State proud, to win in their various constituencies. Voters should not forget to register and pick up their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) so they are not disenfranchised. I commend voters, to vote their conscience so that our State can live true to its name as a Pace-Setter. Long live democracy, long live Oyo State, long live Nigeria.
Prof Adekunle Akinyemi writes from Pikesville, Maryland, USA. He is the President/CEO of Ceezek Foundation Inc.
He can be reached via: akinyemia7@gmail.com
