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BIG STORY

Ogun State’s Leadership Crisis: The Perils Of Political Vendettas And Missed Opportunities By Rtn. Victor Ojelabi

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“Agbalagba to ni agbara ohun o se le ba, ojo t’ewe ba sun ko, a ku ohun nikan.”

This translates to: “An elder who boasts of invincibility with power will find no one to save him when his strength eventually fails.”

The adage warns that those who misuse power or believe themselves to be invincible will ultimately face the consequences alone.

Unfortunately, this isn’t entirely true of the lot of our people, with the current crop of political leaders, because it is the people who mingle with the hangovers of the power drunkenness of our leaders.

Otherwise, how does one explain that all Senator Ibikunle Amosun would do in the face of the international charade concerning Nigeria’s contract sanctity with the seizure of ‘Presidential Jets’ is to give an incoherent explanation that he acted in error?

What becomes of a society when its leaders are more intent on out-manoeuvring each other than on steering the nation forward?

Throughout history, the consequences of leaders prioritising personal ambitions over the common good have often been dire.

The fall of the Roman Empire and the tumult of the French Revolution serve as vivid examples of how internal power struggles can destabilise even the most formidable societies.

These events underscore a recurring theme: when leaders let personal rivalries overshadow their responsibilities, the stability and progress of entire nations are jeopardised.

In the African context, the post-colonial era has been plagued by similar issues. Leaders who once united in the fight for independence frequently fell into discord, stalling national development.

Kwame Nkrumah’s vision for Ghana and Jomo Kenyatta’s leadership in Kenya were both undermined by internal conflicts and rivalries that shifted focus away from national progress towards personal agendas.

These patterns reveal how leadership conflicts can derail the aspirations of entire nations.

Nigeria’s experience, highlighting just Ogun State (with a front-burner example), mirrors this troubling trend.

Under Governor Gbenga Daniel, Ogun State saw significant progress, building on the foundational achievements of his predecessor, yet subsequent administrations often reversed these achievements due to political rivalries.

This cycle of undoing and instability highlights a broader national issue where personal conflicts detract from effective governance.

The urgent need for leadership that prioritises collective well-being over individual ambitions has never been more apparent, as the pursuit of personal agendas continues to hinder meaningful progress.

  • Mirroring against local perspective of successful long-term people-agenda

Lagos State’s remarkable ascent toward becoming Africa’s second-largest economy after Nigeria is a testament to the focus on its long-term strategic economic policies, relentless infrastructure development, and a business-friendly environment—a vision and commitment apparently ingrained in all successive leaderships.

As Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos has attracted significant domestic and foreign investments, particularly in technology, finance, and real estate.

The state’s focus on enhancing infrastructure—such as roads, bridges, and power supply—has fuelled its industrial growth and urbanisation.

Coupled with a proactive approach to digital innovation and entrepreneurship, Lagos is rapidly emerging as a leading economic powerhouse on the continent, narrowing the gap with larger African economies.

Since 1999, Lagos has enjoyed a remarkable continuity in governance, with each governor building upon the successes of their predecessor.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who led from 1999 to 2007, laid the groundwork for Lagos’s financial independence and initiated major infrastructure projects like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and the metro line masterplan (Red, Blue, Green, Blue, Brown—people have only seen the realisation of the Red and Blue). His strategic vision set a powerful precedent for future development.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, who succeeded Tinubu, expanded on these initiatives by enhancing infrastructure, launching the Lagos Light Rail project, and focusing on urban renewal and environmental reforms.

Akinwunmi Ambode continued this legacy (though with some form of detour, which was quickly arrested through collective political realignment), emphasising transportation expansion and digital transformation, while Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the current governor, has sustained these efforts with major infrastructure projects and a strong response to public health challenges.

Overall, Lagos State’s governance since 1999 has been characterised by a strong sense of continuity, with each administration building upon the achievements of the previous one. This approach has enabled Lagos to sustain its rapid development, ensuring that progress is not only achieved but also preserved and expanded upon over time.

  • The leadership success non-sequencing in Ogun State

Ogun and Lagos, two neighbouring states in southwestern Nigeria, present contrasting tales of governance and development.

While Lagos has benefited from a strong sense of leadership continuity, where successive governors have built upon the achievements of their predecessors, Ogun State has struggled with leadership non-sequencing.

This disjointed approach to governance in Ogun has led to stalled progress, with each administration often undoing the work of its predecessor rather than fostering a collaborative and forward-moving agenda.

The proximity of these states should ideally encourage collaborative economic development, yet the divergence in leadership styles has created a stark contrast in their trajectories, highlighting the missed opportunities for regional growth and integration.

Below is a summary of this apparent disjoint since 1999:

  • Chief Olusegun Osoba (1999–2003)

Party: Alliance for Democracy (AD)

Key Achievements:

Focused on infrastructural development, including road construction and rehabilitation.

Promoted educational development with the renovation and construction of schools.

Strengthened local governance by empowering local government councils. This aligned with what was going on in Lagos State at the time, where then-Governor Tinubu built strong institutions around local development and created 37 Local Council Development Authorities. These LCDAs have over the following decades grown to become major developmental institutions, dealing with the development of internal roads and building Primary Health Centres across the states. Ogun State’s trajectory on this had been lost.

  • Otunba Gbenga Daniel (2003–2011)

Party: People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

Key Achievements:

OGROMA (Ogun State Road Management Authority): Established to manage road infrastructure, leading to the construction and maintenance of several roads across the state. This aligned with what was going on in the Federal (creation of FERMA and Lagos State—Lagos Public Works Corporation). Lagosians cannot deny the impact of LSPWC that has continued to maintain Lagos roads, rather than wait for total collapse and re-awarding of new construction contracts.

Education and Health: Initiated the construction of 26 model schools and upgraded several healthcare facilities, continuing with the progress works of Osoba.

Economic Development: Spearheaded the Ogun State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (SEEDS), which focused on industrialisation and investment attraction.

Cargo Airport: Laid the groundwork for a cargo airport aimed at boosting trade and commerce.

Industrialisation: Attracted various industries to Ogun State, positioning it as an industrial hub. The Ogun State Free Trade Zone, now a subject of controversy and international embarrassment, was a major milestone of this administration. In contrast, the Lagos Free Zone that was continued and nursed by successive Lagos Governors now houses a 2.7 million TEU Lekki Deep Sea Port, the world’s largest single-train refinery, Dangote Refinery (an investment of $20 billion), Kellogg’s, Colgate-Palmolive, Tolaram Group, Bolloré Logistics, BOS (Brass Oil Services), and many more.

  • Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2011–2019)

Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)

Key Achievements:

Infrastructural Development: Notable for extensive road construction, particularly in Abeokuta, which transformed the state capital’s landscape.

Urban Renewal: Launched various urban renewal projects, including the construction of flyovers and bridges to ease traffic congestion.

Education: Built and renovated schools, with a focus on improving the quality of education.

Security: Enhanced security in the state, making it safer for residents and investors.

Healthcare: Improved healthcare facilities and services, with the construction of new hospitals and the upgrading of existing ones.

Vendetta Against Predecessor: However, his administration was also marked by the reversal of many of OGD’s projects, including the shutdown of some of Daniel’s personal businesses.

  • Dapo Abiodun (2019–Present)

Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)

Key Achievements:

Road Infrastructure: Road construction in the state is almost non-existence and where construction seemed to be carried out, they are reputed to be poorly done. He was also criticised for focusing on road leading to his personal residence and terminating the construction immediately after his fence.

Education and Health: Neglected unfinished projects from Amosun’s tenure.

Economic Initiatives: Launched initiatives to boost the state’s economy, including efforts to attract more investors.

Conflict with Predecessor: Similar to Amosun, Abiodun has been accused of reversing or ignoring projects initiated by his predecessor, including those Amosun couldn’t complete.

  • Summary of transition from Daniel to Amosun to Abiodun

Otunba Daniel, now a serving senator at the national assembly representing Ogun East, focused on broad-based development, including road infrastructure, education, and industrialisation, but many of his projects were reversed or neglected by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was driven by a perceived vendetta against Daniel.

Dapo Abiodun has continued this trend, prioritising his own projects while neglecting those left behind by Amosun.

This pattern of governance has resulted in a cycle where each governor undoes the work of their predecessor, leading to stalled progress in Ogun State.

For example, the city of Abeokuta, the state capital, is littered with incomplete roads and partly demolished buildings here and there. Places like Adedotun, Mokola, Saje, and Ilugun are typical examples, giving the appearance of a ghost town.

  • The import of the seized planes

The recent seizure of three jets owned by the Nigerian government by a French court underscores the far-reaching consequences of these internal conflicts.

The seizure stems from a long-standing dispute with a Chinese company over a 2007 contract involving Ogun State (a contract entered into by the Government of Otunba Gbenga Daniel in alignment with similar progressive moves by Lagos State).

The fallout from this conflict has not only embarrassed Nigeria on a global scale but also highlighted the deep-seated issues of governance and leadership rivalries that continue to plague the nation.

This incident serves as a reminder of the price nations pay when their leaders prioritise personal vendettas over the collective good. The global embarrassment, economic setbacks, and erosion of public trust that result from such conflicts underscore the urgent need for a shift in leadership priorities.

The Ogun State saga, mirrored by the seizure of Nigerian assets abroad, illustrates how the failure to transcend personal grudges can lead to significant national repercussions.

  • The consequences of political vendettas

Political vendettas among leaders disrupt governance, erode public trust, and hinder economic progress.

When leaders prioritise personal grudges over their mandate, ongoing projects are abandoned, and policy reversals become common. This cycle of neglect and instability, as seen in Ogun State, leads to wasted resources and stunted development.

The constant undermining of predecessors damages public confidence and discourages investment, resulting in economic setbacks. The recent global embarrassment over seized planes further illustrates how such conflicts tarnish a nation’s image and strain international relations.

Lagos and Ogun, neighbouring states with immense potential, should have leveraged their proximity to build a robust regional economy.

Instead, Ogun’s inability to realise its potential due to petty rivalries has stymied progress that could have strengthened the region’s economic power in the coming decades.

A striking, saddening instance of a power-drunk blunder is the demolition of the investment of a political rival’s spouse by current governor Abiodun.

Rather than pulling down the one-billion-naira shopping complex, Dapo Abiodun could have embraced the economic promise it represented and used it as a springboard for broader development for the host community—in this sense, it is the people who bear the consequences.

Tinubu invested in developing the transport master plan, particularly metro lines, did the feasibility, planning, and policy framework of Lagos Light Rail. Fashola started the Light Rail Project, Ambode continued, Sanwo-Olu completed it, and Lagosians are happily benefiting from a progressive transport system.

It took 20 years, four administrations, one result: improved livelihood for the people. That’s the power of continuity!

In a world where leadership can either forge paths to prosperity or mire us in conflicts of the past, the choice is clear: let not the pettiness of today erase the promise of tomorrow.

BIG STORY

400 Sex Tapes: Equatorial Guinea’s Baltasar Remanded In Prison

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The former Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been remanded in Malabo’s Black Beach Prison.

The embattled former anti-graft chief was arrested days ago for allegedly recording over 400 sex tapes involving the wives of prominent figures in the country.

This scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation into the 54-year-old economist, resulting in an impromptu search of his home and office by ANIF officials, who reportedly discovered several CDs that revealed his sexual encounters with different married women.

As the footage leaked online, causing a media uproar, Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, dismissed Engonga.

According to Decree No. 118/2024, dated 4th November, the dismissal was due to “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions, as well as inappropriate family and social conduct for the performance of public duties.”

A viral video surfaced on social media on Friday, showing Engonga handcuffed on both hands and legs during a court appearance.

Confirming the situation, French online blog Afrikmatin reported that Engonga, who was officially removed from his role on November 6, 2024, was subsequently chained and transferred to Malabo Central Prison. He faces charges of corruption and embezzlement.

Additionally, online newspaper UGStandard reported that the sex tapes began circulating on social networks while Engonga was already held at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach Prison on charges of embezzling public funds, as reported by state television, TVGE.

In a fact-checking report published Wednesday, Dubawa verified that Engonga had indeed been taken into custody on corruption charges and is currently being held in Black Beach Prison.

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BIG STORY

JAPA: Canada Tightens Visa Rules, Ends Automatic 10-Year Multiple-Entry Visas

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Canada will no longer automatically grant 10-year multiple-entry visas to tourists, according to new guidelines issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

This decision marks a shift from the previous practice where eligible visitors were routinely issued long-term visas, permitting multiple entries over a decade.

Under the revised rules, immigration officers now have discretion to issue visas with shorter durations based on individual assessments.

Instead of a default extended validity period, each application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Officers can decide whether to grant a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and determine its duration, moving away from the automatic issuance of maximum-validity multiple-entry visas.

“Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document. Officers may exercise their judgement in deciding whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period,” said the IRCC.

The IRCC explained that this change is part of a broader strategy aimed at managing temporary immigration levels while addressing ongoing challenges such as housing shortages and rising living costs.

The policy adjustment reflects the Canadian government’s efforts to adapt its immigration approach in response to economic and infrastructure pressures.

Previously, Canada offered two types of tourist visas: multiple-entry and single-entry. Applicants were generally considered for the multiple-entry visa, which allowed them to visit the country multiple times over a period of up to 10 years or until one month before their passport’s expiration date.

Single-entry visas, issued for specific situations like official visits or participation in single events, were less common.

Now, with the updated guidance, maximum-validity multiple-entry visas will no longer be the standard offering.

Immigration officers will exercise their judgement to decide on the appropriate type and duration of the visa, tailoring it to the specific needs and circumstances of the traveller.

The application fee for a Canadian visitor visa remains unchanged at CAD 100 per person, with no difference in cost between single-entry and multiple-entry options.

However, the shift may result in increased application costs for frequent travellers, who might need to apply more often due to shorter-term visas.

This policy change is part of a wider effort to balance immigration levels with Canada’s current infrastructure capabilities.

Other measures announced include a reduction in the target for permanent resident admissions, which will drop from 500,000 in 2025 to 395,000, with further decreases planned for 2026 and 2027.

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BIG STORY

MC Oluomo Elected NURTW National President

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Former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as “MC Oluomo,” was elected the new National President of the Union on Saturday.

Akinsanya was the sole candidate in the election, which took place at the Union’s Zonal Secretariat along the Osogbo/Ikirun road.

Delegates from the four Southwest states of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti participated in the election.

The election, held during the Union’s Quadrennial Delegate Conference, was monitored and observed by the acting National President of the group, Aliyu Issa-Ore.

Issa-Ore, addressing the gathering, explained that the Union’s Constitution stipulates that the zone permitted to fill the national president’s position would elect its preferred candidate and present them to the national body.

The acting NURTW President, represented by Mrs. Adedamola Salam, Head of Finance at the National Headquarters in Abuja, added, “The Southwest zone has fully complied with the Constitution in electing Oluomo as President.

The delegates also elected Tajudeen Agbede as Vice President, Southwest, while Akeem Adeosun was chosen as Trustee from the Zone.

Shortly after taking the oath of office, Akinsanya, surrounded by associates and family members, called for peace and pledged to work towards unity among members.

He further stated, “I have forgiven everyone who has offended me, and I hope those I have offended will forgive me as well.

“This is our union, and we must be committed to preserving it. We will not allow anyone to destroy our means of livelihood.”

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