Posted by Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy, according to British political publicist Ernest Benn, but a report titled “Amosun’s uncompleted model schools abandoned, rot away in Ogun communities” that was published on December 31, 2022, supported that assertion. The political season is in full swing, and we must be cautious about what we read and hear because the majority of current narratives are rife with propaganda and plain lies.
Any Ogun native, resident, or admirer may never forgive the previous administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun for the numerous challenges and issues he brought upon the state. Achievement frequently serves as the signal for comparison. Before leaving office as governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun left a lasting impression of unease on the faces and thoughts of the residents of Ogun State. His administration left behind a depressing legacy of abandoned road projects, house demolitions without providing victims with sufficient compensation, a massive debt of N202 billion for just road development, and an unfinished Model School project worth N27 billion.
Senator Amosun essentially turned the state into Augean stables, making it possible for only a level-headed and creative individual to sort out the mess. Abiodun’s government has chosen his work from the areas where Amosun’s government fell short. While Amosun concentrated solely on Ogun Central, Abiodun has dispersed his initiatives across the state over the past four years and effectively put some of Amosun’s unfinished projects to use.
Education is the lifeblood of every single nation. As a result, a nation always stands between development and catastrophe. A nation lives and succeeds when it promotes its high quality education, and it dies and perishes when it neglects it. Knowledge is power, and ignorance is death. Sen Amosun almost put an end to Ogun State’s failing educational system by giving it the mistaken priority of 26 “world-class” model secondary schools spread across the state’s 20 local governments.
Several persons who worked with him under his “regime” complained about his obstinacy and narcissism, but they also bemoaned his propensity for one-upping other members of his cabinet when formulating policies and organizing events. His egotistical attempt to move Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, an institution named after the most significant supporter of education in Ogun State, to a new location has made this bad attitude public. Since he was the deity, all appeals to stop the migration from state officials, employees, parents, and pupils were ignored. drunk on power. Furthermore, he was free to act whenever he pleased because, by nature, he enjoys both having power and utilizing it destructively. The school’s financial health and intellectual strength have both suffered as a result of that one act.
Amosun seized acres of land from farmers in several locations, including Oke Odo Community in Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu North Local Government, without their consent or payment. Their crops were damaged, and they lost their property and source of income, but they take pride in the knowledge that it was done for a project that would better their community. Unfortunately, the project was never completed, and neither the community nor individuals who had made sacrifices for it benefited. In many municipal governments, the narrative is essentially the same.
However, several of the model school buildings have been modified and put to use by Prince Dapo Abiodun’s purpose-driven and resourceful administration. One of the so-called Model Schools, the Tech Hub on Kobape Road on the outskirts of Abeokuta, for instance, stayed dormant for eight years. Similar to the one in Ikenne, the COVID-19 isolation and treatment center has 128 beds.
It was stated that more money than N218.380 billion will be required to finish the projects during the time period under consideration. Sensibly, it would be foolish to expect the current administration to take on the debt of the previous administration and finance a project that is both poorly thought out and given the wrong priority when there are other urgent matters that would improve the state’s and its citizens’ overall well-being.
With the example of the model schools and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, among others, as listed above, Amosun could have all but put an end to education in Ogun State. Prince Dapo Abiodun is carrying out the Universal Basic Education Act exactly as it is written; he has revived MAPOLY and the former Tai Solarin College of Education (now renamed after Oba SK Adetona), which were on the verge of death before he took office; and he ensure
For Amosun and those who have not taken the time to evaluate Abiodun’s levels of respectable accomplishments, the experience would be comparable to reading about retired Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt. His celebratory manner upon winning over rival competitors in a competition often irks certain individuals. He will spread his hands to demonstrate that he is the true champion as he approaches the finish line, at which point he will begin to chest-thump.
My friend and I watched the 100-meter finals of one of the Olympics because I was confident he would win. However, when I saw Yohan Blake, Ashafa Powel, and Justin Gatlin, I thought he would have a neck-and-neck race with one of these great sprinters. My friend, after all, wanted the young Yohan to triumph. Ashafa Powel appeared to be in the lead when the race started, but then Usain Bolt overtook everyone and once more made fun of everyone. “Personal enmity doesn’t reduce a champion just as reproach doesn’t diminish the sweetness of honey,” I preached as my friend was feeling lousy and depressed. With Prince Dapo Abiodun electrifying the state’s education system, those comments are more accurate.
Public pundit Temidayo Akinyele sends emails to temiakins4@gmail.com.