By Ayo Afuwape
Communication remains a key component of sustainable development because it leads to effective collaborative efforts on issues that border on development and it provides succour to aggrieved parties or help avert chaotic situation. Government as an institution performs better when the communication bond between the governed and the government remains cordial and the residents carried along about government’s programmes, plans and policies.
For quite a while now, the electronic, print and the social media had beamed their searchlights on some parts of Ogun State specifically, Magboro, Mowe, Ibafo and host of other adjourning communities within Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state because of the myriads of basic amenities these communities are lacking and the neglect of thousands of inhabitants of these communities. The most disheartening is the quietness and perhaps the unwitting disposition of the Governor of the State, Mr. Ibikunle Amosun, to the plight of the hapless residents.
Contrary to his quietness which has given room for all kind of derogatory remarks from different quarters, one would have expected the governor to identify with the masses of these communities, show concern to their grievances and swing into action by making government presence visible in terms of infrastructure development.
Everything that could be attributed to government presence from roads, power supply, hospitals, schools, security, water, among other are relatively not available. Some months ago, residents of these affected areas protested 10 years of total darkness and unavailability of other basic social amenities. To think this could happen in a 21st century Nigeria! The situation of these communities has become so bad that some house owners have deserted their apartments to sojourn as tenants in a single room apartment elsewhere where things are relatively better. The adverse effects are just too numerous to mention; should one talk of the effect on child’s development in such an environment, the psychological trauma, economic discordances, loss of man hour and many more.
It was reliably gathered Governor Amosun once promised to uplift infrastructure status of some of these communities while campaigning for re-election. In Magboro, especially, the governor reportedly promised to make the construction of the community’s main road a topmost priority. As things stand now, the second year of the Governor’s second term is running out nothing has happened in Magboro and other similar communities in the State.
Residents of these communities are no longer pacified by promises from the government to upgrade infrastructure as it has become outdated.
Statistics have been shown on how the Ogun State Government could leverage on these emerging border communities to increase its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR. But for this to become really visible, the Ogun State Government must develop infrastructure in this area. It has been argued severally that the proximity of these communities to Lagos State is enough reason for the State Governor to pay sufficient attention to infrastructure development of the axis. It only takes a visionary leader to envision and catch a glimpse of what the future of the area holds.
It is a valid argument for any governor or political office holder to say that the resources within his disposal cannot accommodate all the needs of its citizens at the same time. While it is almost becoming conventional that political office holders would make promises to paint the sky purple when vying for political offices and shift focus to something else upon assumption of office, it still does not make it the right thing to do, it is an astute discredit to the integrity of such an individual.
Most political office holders, especially after securing the mandates of the electorates would go on a long recess and drastically reduce the pace with which they embark on projects during their first tenures with their second tenure usually filled with frivolities, and in most cases nothing spectacular could be attributed to the second term tenure. This scenario during electioneering period often threatens a seamless transition from the incumbent to the successor under the same political party that supposedly failed the populace.
While the pitiable situation of residents of the Mowe-Ibafo axis attracted the concern of the high and mighty including the House of Representatives after a member from Ogun State, Mr. Mukaila Olayiwola-Kazzim, complained that none of the power contracts awarded in the affected communities had been completed, the Ogun State Governor is yet to make a public statement on the myriads of challenges facing this axis and the hope of succor that may likely come their ways soon, if there are any.
The efforts of various media houses that had continually brought this anomalous situation to the fore would not go unrecognized; this to me is the essence of the media and not sycophancy or praise singing, as it is often the case. It is hoped that the ceaseless exposure of this anomalous would yield the expected result soon.
In all, it will definitely make a good sense for the Ogun State government to consider addressing the biting problems of structural malfunction, insecurity and bad roads confronting these communities. Ogun State would be able to significantly benefit if it registers its presence more profoundly in these areas.
As the Governor has said during the presentation of the 2017 budget proposal to the State House of assembly that: ‘We have already earmarked 500km of roads that are considered priority across the State for construction and rehabilitation. We are determined to ensure that all uncompleted projects will be completed within the tenure of our Administration. Specifically, we will construct or rehabilitate at least 2 key roads in each LGAs/LCDAs within the State.’ Thousands of residents of Mowe-Ibafo axis eagerly await the manifestation of this promise in the area, and earnestly so.
Afuwape writes in from Magboro, Ogun State.