Letter to the New Governor

 

 Letter to the Governor 

Alagbe Gbenga  

It won't be too late to congratulate the Governor-elect of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun as the next executive Governor of Ogun state. At last we can thank God that we have a Governor-elect who understands investment and development. Congratulations on your well-deserved and long-overdue victory. We pray and hope that you will be a breath of fresh air for the good people of OGUN state and may you be successful in fulfilling your campaign promises.

But while we believe and agree that power belongs to the people, they however have the power either to vote-in candidate of their choice and also to vote-out if he/she performs below par. We look forward to seeing an Ogun where there will be a massive change in terms of growth, infrastructure and also in economic areas all over the state.

Prince Dapo Abiodun during his campaign across the nooks and crannies of Ogun promised to revamp the state and he was specifically heard saying he will make Mrs Noimot Salako Oyedele his commsioner for works as well as his deputy Governor...According to Prince Dapo Abiodun, he said he had consulted some experts who have identified major issues with the development plans of the state and strategic plans were in place to design quick wins. We can't wait to see the magic wand our dear Governor will wave in Ogun especially in the three senatorial districts but we will watch while we grab our popcorn and sip a drink.

My senatorial district, the Yewa-Aworis have grossly lacked adequate and quality infrastructures for years and this has greatly affected and hindered our growth and development.

I've decided to list some areas the Governor-elect of Ogun State must take to focus and address as soon as possible. These areas have caused lots of pains, agony, and suffering to most  indigenes living within the district and it doesn't matter your class, we have all borne the pains. The areas will be itemized below...

1. ROADS

If there is anything that unites us as Yewa-Awori , it will be roads. From Atan to Agbara to Ojodu to ilaro to ado-odo to Ajilete to Ipokia to ilaro to ajilete, we can categorically say that 65% of our roads are death traps. The roads have become more like a nightmare as a journey that is meant to last for 10-15mins results to hours all thanks to the bad roads. A visit towards Agbara - Ado-odo - Ipokia -Ilaro amongst others will tell you that Yewa-Aworis are going through a lot.

Ogun state earns much of it's INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE from areas like Ado-odo/otta local government but it's so appalling that most of the infrastructures within their domain have been left to rot away.

The outgoing governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun  started a project which he tagged OGUN STANDARD. With this, the Ogun State ministry of works and contractors embarked to construct/reconstruct of roads across the state. While some have been done, some are on-going as we speak, but we can confirm that 80% of these road projects have been stalled. Please we need the incoming government declare a state of emergency on Ogun roads!

2. SANITATION

Just as the saying goes, cleanliness is next to Godliness. A healthy environment will help curtail diseases and germs.

Most of our major roads and junctions have been turned to refuse dumps because  most areas in Ogun state don't have a effective waste disposal agency like LAWMA, a Lagos based environmental clean up agency to effectively clear their wastes. We the good people of OGUN state and yewa-awori in general need the incoming administration to focus more on effective waste disposal schemes for effective removal of all refuse dumps all around the state. 

3. AGBERO/AREA BOYS (Street Urchins)

The rate at which these area boys are operating in Ogun State is so shocking, we hope we won't wake up one morning to see that our dear State is empty. These guys operate as if they are Lords and owners of the land, they constitute nuisances in the  public and to the environment, the painful part of it is that the residents are helpless in most cases. Imagine a man who bought gadgetry for home use or for factories, these streets urchins will stop the truck conveying the set at junctions and start demanding for money. These are goods the owners bought with their sweat! The same thing applies when contractors are on site to build or renovate a building, they will delay them until they part away with some money. These and more are time bombs that if they are not properly and urgently looked into may cause serious havoc.

Prince Dapo Abiodun  has a lot to do in this regards by putting them in their place and also safeguarding the lives and properties of the citizens. 

4.TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

There is a popular saying that Lagosians stay and live in traffic, they only check on their homes once a while but that same traffic is now affecting us in Ogun state too. Some major town are now becoming  the center of  traffic. These traffic are caused by incessant parking of cars, drivers stopping to pick passengers on the road and traders trading on our roads coupled with bad roads amongst others. Meanwhile, we have also noticed that almost all major city junctions are also without traffic lights, the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps ( TRACE) have also become docile in their duties. We hope they can be made more useful and proactive while we await changes.

6. TRANSPORTATION

The outgoing governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun initiated the OGUN LIGHT RAIL PROJECT and also expanded several roads but transportation in Ogun state presently ought to be diversified to other areas. Amosun fail to start the Ogun Light Railway even after the initiation. If the railway had been completed, it would have taken the burden off our roads as people will be forced to park their cars and use the railway which is faster, easier and probably cheaper.

The waterways sector seem to be lagging behind too. Despite our state's closeness to Lagos State that has a very effective water transport scheme, little seems to be known or heard of this transport mode. We the residents of Ogun state are using this medium to charge the Governor-elect to kindly see to it that the railway start working and also ensure that a effective water transport agency is setup and charged to do everything humanely possible in the area of water transportation. 

7. SCHOOLS. 

Although the administrator of Senator Ibikunle Amosun tried to implement the "MODEL COLLEGE SCHEME"  just like his Lagos state colleagues but unfortunately it turned out to be a white elephant project and this is one of the reasons why we thank God that the administration of PRINCE DAPO ABIODUN has promised to look into the Issue of our dilapidated primary and secondary schools by providing at least a befitting school per ward. We the good people of OGUN state and Yewa-Awori urged the incoming administration to expedite action on this. Reduction in the tuition fees and bursary allowances in all  Ogun State institutions should also be considered. 

8. FARM SETTLEMENTS

Creation of more farm settlement and equipping the existing once with modern farm equipments. Farm settlements within Ogun state have all been abandoned and their land seriously encroached on by unscrupulous persons, the incoming administration of PRINCE DAPO ABIODUN can give a serious look at our farm settlements and make sure that they start generating massive internal revenue for OGUN state.

In addendum, Ogun state was being led astray by a administration that was given to change, defying the Constitution and substituting their own wicked agendas but God has brought you sir, PRINCE DAPO ABIODUN to lead our dear state back to the path of glory and honour..

We, the good  people of Ogun state AND YEWA - AWORI in general congratulate you once again and we pray that his administration will be better than what we witnessed before.

God bless the gateway state, Ogun state,  God bless Nigeria

Dapo Abiodun LIKEMINDS Media.