How Amosun try to beat Ogun debt trap

Almost 100
days after he
assumed
office, the
Senator Ibikunle Amosun
administration is confronted
with myriad challenges and
little resources. Worse still,
he has a debt burden to
overcome. Correspondent
ERNEST NWOKOLO looks at
the politics that attended
the composition of the State
Executive Council and the
task before the government.
GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun
practically walked through
the valley of the shadow of
death before he could arrive
at the Oke Mosan, Abeokuta,
Government House in May. He
fought many battles and his
political army suffered
casualties. The question now
is whether he could justify the
confidence of the people in
him in view of the liabilities
his government inherited.
After the inauguration of his
administration, many looked
forward to the composition of
his executive council to have a
peep into the working of his
mind.
Governor Amosun had
anchored his reason for
traversing party line to pick
members of his cabinet – the
commissioners, on the
pressing need to “harness the
creative abilities and
energies” of experts which
will help actualize the
programmes of the Action
Congress of Nigeria [ACN] in
Ogun state.
“We have decided to employ
the services of professionals
and experienced individuals,
who have the same vision and
passion. It is deliberate way to
harness and take advantage
of the creative abilities and
energies of those who can
maximally deliver on the five
cardinal programmes of our
party.
“What we have done is to pick
some of the best of these. Our
decision may not be perfect,
but it is a bold move to give
the good people of Ogun state
the dividends of democracy in
the next four years,” Amosun
had said.
Most politicians and non-
politicians in the state have
praised the governor for
going for people who have
something to show in terms f
education and experience.
Those expected to make the
difference in the
administration of the Gateway
State include Mr.Yusuph
Olaniyonu, the Information
and Strategy Commissioner. A
journalist and editor of
repute, Olaniyonu was lured
away from This Day editorial
board where he was the
chairman, to join the state
government.
Olaniyonu holds HND in Mass
Communications from Ogun
State Polytechnic, Masters in
Communication Arts,
University of Ibadan and LL.B
and Barrister at Law [BL] from
Lagos State University and
Nigeria Law School, Abuja
respectively.
Mr. Daniel Adejobi who mans
the Housing ministry, is a
member of professional
Accounting and Management
bodies, a politician of the
progressive tendency and
holds MBA and Bachelor’s
degrees in Business
administration from Ambrose
Ali University, Ekpoma and the
University of Lagos.
Mr. Wemimo Ogunde SAN
(Attorney -General and
Justice), son of the doyen of
theatre, late Hubert Ogunde,
who has been in private legal
practice all this while, was
reluctant to come on board
initially. He later yielded to the
call to help transform the
Ogun Judiciary to meet the
people’s expectations.
The trio of Mrs. Kemi Adeosun
(Finance), son of Nobel
laureate, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka
[Health] and Dr. Lanre
Tejuosho [ Special Duties]are
expected to use their
experiences and expertise to
help lift the state.
The same holds true for Mr.
Adebayo Fari (Environment)
Hon. Falilu Adebisi Sabitu
(Forestry); Mr. Bimbo Ashiru
(Commerce and Industry); Mrs.
Oluwande Muoyo (Budget and
Planning); Mrs. Elizabeth
Sonubi (Women Affairs and
Social Development); Hon.
Muyiwa Oladipo (Local
Government and Chieftaincy
Affairs); and Chief Olu
Odeyemi (Culture and
Tourism) Mr. Olamilekan
Adegbite (Works and
Infrastructure); Mr. Segun
Odubela (Education); Mr.
Gbenga Otenuga (Youths and
Sports); Hon. Ayo Olubori
(Agriculture); and Chief Samuel
Durojaiye Aiyedogbon
(Community Development and
Cooperative).
Despite opposition to the
composition of the Cabinet
and the precarious position of
state finances, Ogun can be re
-jigged again to the path of
progress. And solutions are
expected from Amosun and
his team of 18 Commissioners,
12 Special advisers and others
that may join later.
Former Deputy Speaker of the
House of Assembly, Mr. Remmy
Hazzan, said the sixth
legislative session of the State
Assembly had made it easier
for the Amosun
administration to address the
debt burden left behind by his
predecessor.
Hazzan who has returned to
the House on the platform of
the Action Congress of Nigeria
said the new administration
has been empowered
through enabling law to reject
committing the state
resources further to servicing
debt incurred in questionable
circumstances.
“Remember the House had
sent Resolutions to the Central
Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Stock
Exchange and Bank.