Gov Oyetola does not deserve nepotism label

Sir: Since inception, from his actions and pronouncements as governor of Osun State, Oyetola’s intent as someone with selfless developments’ mindset is not in doubt. Only in Ede zone, more than 32-kilometer roads have been constructed in less than 24 months of Oyetola’s assumption of office. This covers 4.8km Orita Cottage-Oke Gada road in Ede, 1km Oke Gada Ede-Army Barracks road, and 21km Ede-Army Barracks- Ara-Ejigbo Junction road, and other roads constructed within the zone. You would better appreciate this bold start if you weren’t oblivious of the fact that the incumbent government met more than N151 billion as debts on loans incurred by the previous government.

I don’t blame the immediate past government, as Osun was more or less a glorified countryside before Aregbesola’s vantage, who used the loans incurred and his position to turn the state around from aground; you can’t have your cake and eat it!

Oyetola didn’t choose his hometown, Iragbiji, as first point of work. I know that the current administration has constructed more than 484 kilometer roads across the state within two years. Out of these, just only 16+km road, (10.15km Osogbo-Kelebe-Dominion Junction road, and 6+km Dominion Junction-Iragbiji road) linking Iragbiji to Osogbo, and not roads within Iragbiji, was constructed. But what is baffling is willful misjudgement of Oyetola’s sincere intent as sentiment, accusing him of concentrating developments in Iragbiji.

I perceive this as a political manipulation by some unscrupulous individuals who do not mean well for Oyetola, his country home and people.

Chief of Staff to the former governor, Oyetola, for eight years, was unable to facilitate linkage/tarring of his hometown, Iragbiji, to its neighbour, Osogbo, the state capital, aside from the long existing federal Osogbo-Ikirun-Kwara State road. These manipulators should be schooled regarding socioeconomic and commercial importance of the Osogbo-Kelebe-Elesun-Idi-Ogungun-Iragbiji road, one of which, among numerous others, is the fact that it allows access, and opens farm produces of more than 22 villages and communities for market and economic exploration; and not just because it links Iragbiji to Osogbo.

In terms of infrastructure, all Oyetola could achieve for his town in ten years in government, eight as CoS and two years as governor, is construction of a 16km road. On the state executive membership, he has only one commissioner and one special adviser to himself, out of over 38 cabinet members! Oyetola did not indulge in any nepotism, and he would never consider someone unworthy for an appointment irrespective of his or her closeness to him.

This very humble, gentle governor is too good a listener! But what the governor should always take cognisance of is that his position could be likened to a marketplace characterised by cacophonous distractions. For him not to be distracted, he has to be focused, feigning deafness to the cacophony of unjustified criticisms.

Jimoh Olorede, a media practitioner, research scholar and lecturer, wrote in from Osun.