I’m not a mathematician, but I know that the six Yoruba state governors, in the actual sense, are really less than half of a whole number.
We all know the federal government is of little use to the common man. I stand to be corrected, we’ve never had it so bad at the center.
Even the Shagari government which General Buhari toppled was far better than these people that do not just know what to do.
However, during the same Shagari era in the second republic, Chief Lateef Jakande could be said to be the best governor. He put Lagos State’s money to good use.
Late Chief Bola Ige as governor of Oyo state did the same. Not to mention Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin who ruled Ondo State very well.
All the then UPN states were upholding the five cardinal points which constituted the manifesto of the party.
The cardinal points included free education at all levels, integrated rural development, free medical care, full employment of all labours and housing. I believe the governments tried their possible best in all these.
The case of Alhaji Jakande could be likened to a student scoring 200 points out of 100. His case was what some would have called over syllabus.
That’s because he turned Lagos state into an Eldorado, so to speak.
But what do we have now?
A bunch of pretenders!
I don’t have any excuses for describing them so because they have made life harsh for the common man. In contrast, they are living in stupendous wealth.
I hear intending teachers are being asked to pay a certain sum to obtain forms of employment in one of the states. Is it humane to be collecting money from job seekers?
At the end of the day, at the most, recruited teachers may not be more than ten percent.
In Lagos and Ogun states, residents intending to sink boreholes have to seek permission from the governments. They call it environmental impact assessment permits. They don’t do it free of charge.
But then, if the taps were running, would the residents have needed to sink boreholes. Must government charge the citizenry for its own failures?
One of the governors has been a billboard governor. This was someone whom the people had thought would bring his brilliance in business into government.
Of what use is government if it can not protect the people and create a peaceful environment for them to live and earn their living?
Of all the good things of life, the only thing we can say our politicians have inherited from the sage, Chief Awolowo, is the cap.
How I wish we could return to 1979 when kids would be singing,
Free education
Awolowo lo le se!
080320
