Government, as an institution, is the machinery of the state established to manage the affairs, and administer functions of the state. The government is also a public trust, established to promote the general welfare and interest of the governed. Therefore, the effectiveness of any administration is measured by the extent to which it is able to deliver on its promises, provide quality services, ensure accountability, transparency, and good governance, and create a conducive environment for economic growth, social progress, and human development.
The mark of true leadership is not without proof. Governor Ademola Adeleke became the Executive Governor of Osun State on November 27, 2022, and ever since his inauguration, his strides in the state have been described by many as the beginning of a new dawn and a new hope for residents. The position of many is evident in the multi-pronged approach Governor Adeleke has employed in addressing long-standing challenges that have staunted the development of Osun state in the past.
Since the beginning of the Adeleke-led administration, his primary focus has been hinged on upholding the fulcrum of his administration, which is the 5-point agenda: First line charge for workers’ welfare, salaries, gratuities, and pensions, Boosting state economy by business partnering and support for business class, homegrown infrastructure policy, People-focused social policy through skill-based education, affordable health care, state security, and social security support, Agro-based Industrialisation for wealth and job creation for youths and women.
In a bid to reposition the State’s Transportation sector, Governor Adeleke recently announced his administration’s plan to make public the Osun State Transport Master Plan to facilitate integrated connectivity for Osun economy. This project, alongside the commissioning of the Osun State Computerized Vehicle Inspection Testing Center at Osogbo, which is the first of its kind, depicts Governor Adeleke’s intentionality in transforming every sector of Osun’s economy.
Efforts are also been reinvigorated by the Adeleke-led administration to tackle unemployment, particularly among the younger generation. The government is working to create partnerships between financial institutions and business owners, establish regular job fairs, encouraging agro-industrial activities, and the pursuit of the localisation agenda to aid local manufacturers, among others.
The collaborative strides by Governor Adeleke are also worth commending. In order to boost partnership and woo investment to Osun, Governor Adeleke, recently, tasked telecom companies to refocus on developmental cooperation with subnational governments in terms of tax payments and corporate social responsibility.
What about his efforts towards developing the educational sector and ensuring maximum welfare of students? Osun tops the chart as the only state with an ongoing school feeding programme out of the 36 states of the Federation. The relaunch of the school feeding programme is a clear display of Governor Adeleke’s love for the growth and development of the young ones.
Beyond being a Governor that yearns for the development of Osun, Governor Adeleke portrays the true qualities of the ‘man of the people.’ What could be of more worth than having a governor who listens to his people, and takes decisive actions to see to their welfare? Governor Adeleke’s Ipade Imole forum grants residents of Osun the privilege of interacting with their governor, as a form of public sphere, to discuss germane issues bordering on their welfare. Pensioners are not left behind with the Governor’s Payment of salaries and pension arrears from January 2016 owed by the past administration. Over 3000 Osun indigenes have also been registered under the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS), to ensure adequate healthcare access for the people, including several road construction projects on-going in the state.
What more proofs of outstanding leadership are needed to be seen? Governor Ademola Adeleke has proven to be a good leader by his results in less than 2 years of his administration. The achievements of the Adeleke-led are a proof that Osun can become the epi-center of development and innovation, under a good leadership.
Olusola Ajala. Gbongan. 2nd June 2024.
