By Daud Olatunji

ABEOKUTA – After three  years on the saddle, Governor Ibikunle Amosun recently went on a circuit of the 20 local government areas of the state. It was couched as an assessment tour, but given the resonance of politics in the polity it was not surprising that many stakeholders took the tour to be a political venture aimed at shoring support for the governor’s re-election bid.

It was especially considered so given the ringing endorsements garnered by the governor during the tour.

At Ipokia local government, the people cried out over their vulnerability to the deadly Ebola virus disease.

Speaking on behalf of the people of the border local government, the Council Chairman, Isiaka Aderounmu called on the governor to equip their hospitals with protective gadgets and consumables against the Disease due to their closeness to the Republic of Benin.

He said as a matter of urgency, the governor should provide necessary medical materials for them because they are vulnerable.

“We urgently need the state government’s quick and decisive intervention in respect of Ebola Virus Disease in view of our peculiar proximity to neighbouring Benin Republic which makes our people quite vulnerable to the killer disease which has no cure yet,” the council chairman said.

Governor Amosun, while reacting promised to ensure the people are protected.

He disclosed that his administration was planning to create Local Council Development Areas in the state to enhance government presence in all nooks and crannies of the state.

The governor also said that his administration is working towards creation of more high courts to expedite hearing of judicial cases so that justice would not be delayed.

Speaking at Ijebu East local government, the governor alleged sabotage over

the security situation in Ijebu areas of the State, occasioned by incessant breakdown of Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC, in the zone.

He said a text message was sent to him penultimate Sunday predicting that the security vehicles in Ijebu would not work on Monday and some banks would not open, adding that, as foretold, the APCs broke down .

Speaking in Abigi , Ogun Waterside local government ,Amosun used the opportunity to clear the air over many allegations levelled against his administration by his predecessor Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

At Obafemi-Owode, the  Governor  promised to urbanize all the local government areas in the State and assured that the LGs would  be split into three to  allow dividends of democracy be felt in all nooks and crannies of the State.

Amosun also promised the people of the area that the new city being proposed by the State government would  start from the local governments, giving assurance that, with the people’s support, all what is needed to be done would be done.

On getting to Ijebu-Ode local government,  the governor cleared the air over the allegation that his government was owing  the staff of Tai Solarin College of Education  some month’s salary as he claimed that the debt on ground was incurred  by the past administration.

Amosun revealed that since he came on board he has been paying all salary as at when due, adding that the arrears being demanded for by the staff of the institution were owed by the past administration under Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

At Remo North local council in Ogun East Senatorial district, Amosun promised the people improved facilities in the area and restated his commitment to the five cardinal programmes of his administration.

“My mission here in Remo North is for a feedback, to enable us know where to improve and to concentrate. This is not a political rally but a government visitation to know how its people are feeling.”

While speaking in Odogbolu local government  , Amosun disclosed that his administration had laid the foundation for an enviable state, adding that “We have laid the foundation for a state that will stand tall in the nation. We will now start building on it.”  The governor also promised the people in other local government areas include Ifo, Imeko-Afon, Abeokuta South ;  Odeda; Ijebu-North East; Sagamu; Ado-Odo/Ota among others of better life.

Royal endorsement

Gov Amosun

Meantime, the second term bid of the governor received a boost as almost all the paramount rulers in the state announced the endorsement of the governor. The Alake and paramount ruler of Egba land Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV; the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II and the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland Oba Kehinde Olugbenle  publicly pitched their tents with the incumbent governor ahead of 2015.

While the Alake announced his endorsement of the governor in Obafemi Owode, the Awujale did his own in Ijebu-Ode just as the Olu of Ilaro threw his weight behind the governor in Ayetoro, in Yewa South local government. “We are here to testify that the past three and a half years of Amosun’s government has been like 20 years of development in our state.

According to Alake “We have come to appreciate politics of good roads, politics of good schools and health facilities. We believe that the person who did all this within this short time will do more if given the opportunity because the best is yet to come,”.

Also, the Osile, Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, described Amosun as a beloved son of Egbaland, who has changed the face of the state and urged residents to give him another chance to complete the good work he has started.

Chance to return to office

“The work he has started in three and a half years should be completed. If they are abandoned, it will be shameful to all of us. He should be given a chance to return to office to complete his good works,” he stated.

The Agura of Gbagura, Oba Alidu Laloko, submitted that the present administration has made good its electoral promises and described the governor as a man of vision, who does not need too much of campaign for a second term.

“Amosun has performed creditably well. He does not need to campaign too much for a second term. His works will speak for him. If he has not done well, we will not come out to welcome him and show our appreciation,” the Agura of Gbagura said.

According to Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, “We are not resting on our oars on our support for the governor’s good works. We still want to use our votes to send him on another four years of the rebuilding mission, to fully re-construct our roads and all sectors of the state.

In his final message,  the governor said “We have gone round to see the hard work we have put into rebuilding our dear state and listened to your requests for further development. We have taken note of all that you have told us. Let me assure you that we will not let you down”. Has the governor performed either below or beyond the people’s expectation since three years ago when he assumed office as the governor is a debatable.

As many including the traditional rulers believed the governor has performed creditably well, others from opposing camp hold tenaciously that, the governor has failed woefully in his promises. These set of people believed,  his just concluded tour to all the local governments should have been used to take stocks of what he has done and not what he would do.

The governor seems to have remained unperturbed over the various jabs  being thrown at him for his failure to complete some of the projects and commissioned them during the tour,  insisting  that,  he was laying a good foundation.   Whether Amosun’s works would give him a leverage in the coming election or not is a subject of discussion as many political heavyweights have begun moves to dislodge him from Oke-Mosan comes 2015 election.