Federal College of Education in Osun State – Part 2
Continued from Wednesday
Sir: If respect for constitutional provisions on federal character, logic, social justice, social inclusion and the desire for peaceful co-existence are the sole criteria for deciding locations of institutions, no federal constituency headquarters has a superior argument or moral justification than Iwo.
I have no doubt that Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State is God-fearing, cool and calm and will be persuaded more by logic in using his discretion on where in Osun this Federal College will be sited. No doubt, he will come under severe pressure and intense lobbying to defer to emotions and political pressure.
Fortunately for us in Osun State, we have leaders who share the broad mindset of Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the golden years of his administration of the Western Region. Ikenne was the least on his mind. Chief Bisi Akande remains a phenomenon – cosmopolitan, politically savvy, prudent, life and let’s live, shun greed and one whose philosophy of life is to live things better than he met them.
Other political leaders should act in concert and be persuaded by rationality in conceding this Federal College of Education to Iwo. The Federal Government has shown that this is the way of civility that is deserving of emulation. This will go a long way to assuage frayed political nerves in Osun State and particularly in Iwo. May the Almighty strengthen and guide Governor Oyetola as his government takes an appropriate decision on the location of this college. May he be able to place objective reality and logic above parochial considerations.
• Lai Olurode wrote from the Department of Sociology, University of Lagos.
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