The Mewolaka Verdict On Osun Politics, by Sarafa Ibrahim

A few days ago, a social commentator, Mewolaka, stirred a big political debate in Osun state, when she swerved from her known political trajectory by acknowledging the exceptional performance of Governor Ademola Adeleke in office. She was clearly not a fan of the governor but was captivated by his deliveries in office in two years that she bluntly asserted that “forget about dancing and grammar, the man performed beyond my expectations.”

This was unusual and the strength of her truth unsettles those who cannot handle it. The new standing of Mewolaka, who was opposed to the election of Governor Adeleke in 2022, is grounded not in sentiment but in the tangible deliveries of the governor in two years. Her emphasis was on meeting the people’s need, which she vigorously concede that Governor Adeleke has done incredibly well.

Although, what she said was nothing out of the ordinary but coming from someone who had before doubted the capacity of Governor Adeleke to deliver good governance for Osun people meant something. In the past, Osun people endured a chaotic attitude to governance, straining not just their wellbeing but the progress of the state.

So, it was not so hard for Mewaloka, and indeed, a significant number of the population to see a turn for the better and acknowledge it. There could be no higher duty for a citizen than to recognise the effort of a government to undo the misery of the past and relieve the pains of the people through impactful governance.

It was this duty that Mewolaka discharged but those who abused the state when previously entrusted with its administration and now trying to return the borrow of the past are jolted and try to do almost anything to stifle her voice. In the last two years, Governor Adeleke has transformed Osun state and advance the wellbeing of the people.

Mewolaka succinctly captured the reality of Governor Adeleke in Osun state by declaring that “Our dancing governor favors the masses the most out of them all. Governor ADELEKE is doing well. I owe the masses the truth not you politicians.” This is not a difficult conclusion to reach, though those who plunged Osun into avoidable pitfalls in the past and made the people go through undeserved pains as a result of inhumane decisions, will struggle to accept the plain truth.

All Osun people know very well how low welfare of workers and pensioners was before the coming of Governor Adeleke. Thirty-month half salary owed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration was practically forgotten as no attempt was made to pay it off by the previous administration. But things has changed for the better with Governor, even though he knows nothing about the accumulated debt, yet has paid no less than seven months for active workers while pensioners who are yet to get their bond as gotten as much as 16 months out of the half salary owed them.

The essence of leadership, anywhere, is to meet the people needs, making sure that they are better off. This philosophy aligns very well with Governor Adeleke, who has taken initiatives and decisions that will have direct bearings on the people in the last two years of his administration. This much was highlighted by Mewolaka in one of her post on Facebook that “Governor Adeleke of Osun State has introduced a new salary structure for state workers, offering seventy-five thousand naira, which surpasses the federal government’s minimum wage by five thousand naira.”

For pensioners, it was a lot more better as Governor Adeleke showed a sense of acknowledgement of their service to the state by giving their welfare deserved interest. Within two years, Governor Adeleke has expended more than N47 billion on the bond of pensioners on the contributory scheme, far more than what his predecessor paid in four years. As we speak, all pensioners in Osun state are covered by an expansive healthcare scheme, ensuring that they no longer have to worry about the cost of managing their health. “Behold the governor who increased pensioners’ monthly pension by 25k. Our governor, Ẹyin naa a dàgbà ó!! you are truly a blessing,” Mewolaka wrote on Facebook.

Mewolaka understood very well the link between the wealth of the people and economic growth. An impoverished people, as we witnessed under the APC when the welfare of workers and pensioners were treated with disdain, will definitely impact on the state’s overall economic growth. This was the strength of Mewolaka’s acceptance of Governor Adeleke’s leadership because he prioritised the welfare of the people and want him to continue in office beyond 2026.

Beyond welfare, Governor Adeleke infrastructural renewal effort is quite visible and more, observe the much needed spread. In Osogbo, Governor Adeleke is building the first of its kind 10-span overhead bridge in Oke-Fia, which will connect with a newly constructed Old Garage-Lameco dual carriageway that will also intersect another ongoing 4-span overhead bridge at Lameco junction. In Ede, the Akoda-Oke Gada dual carriageway has been delivered by the Adeleke administration while the construction of the first of its kind dual carriageway in Ilesa is ongoing as we speak which Mewolaka said “The people of Ijeshaland will forever be grateful for…”

In a matter of weeks, the construction of the phase one of Odo-Ori to Adeeke dual carriageway will take off just as a dual carriageway project in Ila will be undertaken by Governor Adeleke. Important roads that were abandoned for decades, like the Otan Aiyegbaju–Iresi road, Egbedi–Erin Osun road, Telemu-Ilemowu-Ogbagba road and a host of others have been breathe life into and serving the communities the linked. There is no local government in the whole of Osun state without one road construction or the other going on as we speak. The transformation embarked on by Governor Adeleke is massive that even worse critic will find hard not to acknowledge.

Public schools infrastructure in the state has taken a shape for the better following massive investment by Governor Adeleke in the renewal of their infrastructures. No fewer than 100 public schools across Osun state has seen their dilapidated building fixed and equipped with furnitures and other essentials to enhance qualitative learning. More than 200 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) infrastructure have been upgraded in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard as against the deplorable conditions that the previous administration left them in spite of receiving a whopping $20.5 million grant from the World Bank.

While Mewolaka may not be a politician, she was able to impress on everyone what politics should be about– and that the interest of the people should be the driving force. Her verdict on Osun politics is a remarkable indication that a performing leader like Governor Adeleke, who prioritise the welfare of the people and push hard for the development of the state, will naturally earn the support of the people.

If Mewolaka, a sworn critic of Governor Adeleke, could turnaround to become his fiercest promoter on the strength of his performance in office, the unmistakable truth is that he has been good in his job of delivering for Osun people. And, as the saying goes, one good turn deserves another, making Mewolaka advocacy for Governor Adeleke the right thing to do and other conscious citizens must join the movement to take Osun tó greater height.

  • Sarafa Ibrahim is the Special Assistant to the Osun State Governor on Print Media and writes from Iwo, Osun State.

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