On the government of the day, ADEWALE AJAYI samples the opinions of members of the public in Osun State.

The present administration in Osun State is almost nine months old with the people still having high expectations of it.

When Governor Rauf Aregbesola came on board, he promised, among other things, to eradicate proverty, banish hunger and unemployment, promote functional education, enhance communal peace and progress in the state and restore healthy living among the people.

The opinions of the people about the performance of the administration so far are a mixed grill, with many claiming that his laudable programmes have started manifesting in some areas, whereas no effort has been made to ensure the actualisation of other programmes.

A trader, Opeyemi Olalere, said he believed that the people were happy about what the government had done so far, especially in area of environmental sanitation. “We are happy with what the governor is doing by cleaning the environment. We will like thim to work on the provision of pipe-borne water and improve electricity supply.”

Another respondent, who preferred anonymity, said the government was yet to fulfill most of its promises and urged it to redouble effort.

“The expectation was that things would be moving at a faster rate. I am not saying that the administration is idle, but people had expected that much more would have been achieved by now.

“Though, one does not expect that what should be done in four years should be accomplished in a year, all the promises about turning the state to an agrarian economy and making all the roads that lead to Osogbo dual carriage way should have started materialising.

“Also, on the tussle over Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), the belief is that his absence from the state is responsible for the delay in ensuring that normalcy returns to the institution. His absence has created a lot of delay in getting things done. The view is that the government is slow in getting things done.”

Expressing the same view about quick resolution of the crisis at LAUTECH, Adebayo Teslim Olalekan, a staff member of the College of Health Sciences in LAUTECH, said expectation from Aregbesola’s administration was high, pointing out that the government had been able to address some problems. He, however, said the governor’s quick intervention in LAUTECH crisis was very important.

“He has been able to address some vital issues, we are waiting for him to address some others. He has been able to address the issue of flood and we thank him for the sanitation exercise.

“We are also waiting for him to resolve the crisis in LAUTECH. This affects me personally. I believe he will deliver the dividends of democracy he promised the electorate.”

Olalekan added that the delay in constituting a cabinet had not affected the state negatively.

Other respondents expressed the view that it was too early to assess Aregbesola’s administration.

Mrs. Idayat Ahmed, a trader, said the governor had started fulfilling his promises, even as she stated that it was too early to judge the administration.

In the view of the leader of a spiritual organisation, Alhaji Abdulai Olatunde, Aregbesola’s administration is the best thing to happen to the state and the people should be patient with the governor.

“Some of the things he has done are in the interest of the people. The people should be patient with him. When you want to make changes, patience is required,” he said.

According to one Kolawole Omoniyi, Aregbesola was doing what was expected of him. He noted that the way he was tackling flood in the state was impressive.
Another respondent, Mrs. Rebecca Ojo, who commended the governor for giving jobs to many unemployed youths, gave the governor kudos on flood control.