OSUN POLICY REVERSAL AND ITS DILEMMA
Osun policy reversal is a decision taken out of disappointment to rubbish Aregbesola. The moment Governor Oyetola ministerial list could not fly; Aregbesola became a target of negative propaganda in Osun government house. Governor Oyetola is in dilemma over Aregbesola’s ministerial appointment. Aregbesola has thanked Almighty God and President Buhari but Governor Oyetola is in dilemma on how Aregbesola emerged as minister representing Osun State since he refused to submit his name for ministerial appointment. Out of frustration on how Aregbesola emerged as minister, Governor Oyetola introduced Osun policy reversal. Aregbesola ministerial appointment led to policy reversal in Osun State and several attacks against Aregbesola’s supporters in the last one year.
In the 29 months that he has been in the saddle as governor of Osun state, the Gboyega Oyetola administration has engaged in continuity of his predecessor’s projects and a radical policy shift, especially in its education sector, creating a fuss in some quarters. Amidst insinuations that it is an intentional act to rubbish his predecessor’s legacies, Governor Oyetola is not happy over Aregbesola ministerial appointment and this is what led to policy reversal in Osun.
Rauf Aregbesola is facing double jeopardy in Osun, Governor Oyetola that refused to submit his name for ministerial appointment is the one renaming his projects he executed as governor in Osun and the same Oyetola singing the chorus of debt in Osun State. Rauf Aregbesola has laid foundation for the development of Osun State
and that is the reason that Oyetola has projects to rename in Osun State today.
Aregbesola is facing double jeopardy as those who collected more than 20 billion naira refund from Federal Government road projects that Aregbesola executed are the same people singing the chorus of debt. Aregbesola has paid the price of change in Osun. Those singing the chorus of debt will not tell you that Osun Sukuk loan for the building of 11 high schools they want to rename has been paid. There is no chorus of debt with the Osun security architecture, when Rauf Aregbesola purchased Helicopter for Aerial Security Surveillance and presentation of more sophisticated 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to the Nigerian Police Force, a feat that has never been achieved by any government in the 36 states.
The chorus of debt in Osun State is calculated to smear Aregbesola’s rising profile as former governor and as present minister of interior. Aregbesola has become a target of smear campaign recently because of ‘his rising profile in Osun that is difficult for anybody to match’. I must rise to expose and denounce the efforts to damage Aregbesola’s reputation by those who never wanted him to be a minister. It was not surprising that the name of Aregbesola was missing from the list of three persons that were nominated to be minister in Osun. Those singing the chorus of debt today are confused about how Rauf Aregbesola was appointed as minister by President Buhari. When Osun State was paid over 20 billion naira refund in 2020 for federal road projects that Rauf Aregbesola executed, there was no chorus of debt.
When Osun is renaming schools built by Aregbesola, there is no chorus of debt and when there is policy reversal on policy development carried out by Aregbesola, there is no chorus of debt. You can feel Oyetola frustration over Aregbesola ministerial appointment which led to Osun policy reversal. It is the fallout from ministerial appointment that led to policy reversal.
It is wrong to accuse former Governor Aregbesola of borrowing beyond the capacity of Osun Internally Generated Revenue because Aregbesola has raised the Internally Generated Revenue from 200 million naira monthly to 1.6 billion naira monthly in his eight years. The country’s low debt to GDP ratio, compared to many other states, has provided the platform for recent successive governments in Nigeria to sustain the argument that the government can afford to borrow. Osun debt is within threshold, it means among nations of the world, Osun set targets or limits for itself. That limit is usually domesticated against the gross domestic product. The volume of Osun debt has not exceeded 40 percent of its GDP. Having noted that figure; the Debt Management Office (DMO) in Nigeria has set a limit for Nigeria (self-imposed limit) of 25 percent, despite the fact that the acceptable limit is 40 percent. So, in terms of ratio, Osun is doing very well
Those who criticize Aregbesola on debt are playing politics of 2022 election in Osun State. The people of Osun State are overwhelmed and satisfied with the performance and developmental strides of former Governor Aregbesola. The people have rejected the politicalization of Osun State debt that started from the creation of Osun State in 1991. The people have realized that Osun debt has now become a tool for cheap propaganda in the hands of critics in Osun State as we approach 2022 governorship election because Osun State has benefitted from Paris Club refund even when the state was not created when Nigeria took loan from Paris and London Club of creditors.
Osun’s debt is justified and proportional to the rapid infrastructure and economic development which has proved an undeniable answer to those playing politics with the state’s debt profile. After more than eight years of historic growth, former Governor Aregbesola has achieved high growth as part of a broader effort to shift from consumer-driven economy to a manufacturing-based economy. This has prompted concerns from critics who think that the acceleration is too sharp. Osun’s economic growth for eight years is the highest since 1991
Inwalomhe Donald writes from Osogbo, Osun State
