Kudos to Ondo electorate

By Ayodele Fagbohun
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“The progressives beat will not stop in Lagos because Lagosians have sealed pact with the successive people oriented administrations that have done the state proud since 1999…” Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of All Progressives’ Congress (APC) on the just concluded governorship and the State Parliamentary polls.

Despite the low and poor turnout of voters nation wide which has recently been recurring like a decimal and common place; the just concluded governorship and state parliamentary polls could not be an exception.

Why we must salute the courage and enthusiasm of the great and articulate people of Ondo State for deeming it fit to register their preference for the election and installation of enlightened, progressive minded and more coherent State House of Assembly this time around as a full complement to boost the impactful policies and programmes of the governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu-led All Progressives’ Congress (APC) administration in the state.

That All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo State chapter was able to record overwhelming majority seats of twenty three seats (23) in the coming House conceding the remaining paltry three seats to the opposition side truly envinces and reflects the intrinsic quality inherent in any progressive political parties in all civilized clime in tolerance of voice of dissent.

This unassailable feat amply demonstrates the loyalty and tenacity of purpose remarkable amongst our people towards progressive ideals of good governance.  In the third place, it assuredly by words and in action upholds Ondo State as the true vanguard of democracy.

The people, indeed the electorate that trooped out in their hundreds deserve all kudos to have not capitulated this time around to the stratagem and fibs of religious bigotry, tribal hatred, politics of venality and rank cajolery which the opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) truculently and with reckless abandon unleashed on the hierarchy of All Progressives Congress (APC).

The unrestrained irresponsible crude and unpatriotic campaign of ethnic hatred and intolerance against the North was so unprecedented that it fouled and tainted the atmosphere.  Its largely occasioned the culture of political brigandage of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which was manifestly responsible for its so called pyrrhic victory in the ill-fated National Assembly elections as adversely affected and reverberated with its lugubrious echoes throughout the length and breadth of Ondo State.

What could we have said as it could have been inexplicable, insuperable an uphill task to accomplish if the PDP by own sheer folly and slipshodness hijacked  the government again and again. For her horse could have bolted away before unlocking the stable.

For a political outfit as derelict and morally deficit like PDP without any plans to tackle the basic needs of the populace but pride to steal from the public coffers and put the infrastructure and economy in comatose cannot and will not be acceptable let alone meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

In a scenario likened to blitzkrieg if People’s Democratic Party eventually hijacked or “capture” political power in Ondo State.  This will temporarily stop the tempo of accelerated good governance embarked upon by All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.  Our efforts, struggles and gains could have frittered away  within the  twinkling of an eye and the fledgling democracy goes into unalterable and permanent darkness.

For this glowing deed, the people of Ondo State deserve eternal credit and will not be forgotten to have jolly well reversed the imminent ill and untoward trend of dark days by electing persons guided by staunch ideological commitment buoyed by party supremacy to transform the state  to the Eldorado of our dream.

By the same token, our new parliamentarians wishing to take their oath and allegiance to serve come June 2019, they must sedulously cultivate hardwork industry, self sacrifice and Spartan self discipline in the business of lawmaking and essay to write their names and their sponsors which are the political parties.  Especially the elected APC members in the House.

They must approach lawmaking as an earnest business in congruous with the executive arm of government and consummate the ideals of good governance and democracy in all ramifications.

If we have our ways, it is humbly suggested and be imperative to ensure the sustainability of democracy and reduce lawmaking a part-time assignment aside from the few principal officers of the House statutorily charged with the salient and critical tasks that can assist the executive arm to fastrack the good governance for the citizenry.

Law making means simply enacting and reviving good laws for the upkeep of sane society.  The issue of oversight function is secondary; not be overflogged to ridiculous extent of having unhindered access to state finance which is the exclusive preserve of the executive; not oblivious of the checks and balances that is sine qua non in arriving at smooth conduct of government business without any hiccups of throwing the state into turmoil and scandals.

The hallowed chambers is not a licence for elected members to go haywire, be power drunk, be profligate and unnecessarily obsessed with lust for ostentatious lifestyle at variance with the standard of living of the people called upon to serve.

To buttress my point of contention.  The National leader of All Progressives’ Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu made some strong assertions and pronouncements  whilst casting his ballot in the last governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The former governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the defunct Alliance for Democracy/Afenifere-led administration in Lagos State adduced cast iron, indubitable facts and unassailable empirical evidence for the fervid, unbroken support and rapport with the progressive parties namely AD, AC, CAN now APC from time immemorial.

I quote this as a preface to this write up.  Our newly elected lawmaker must sharpen their intellect; are advised to get a copy of The Nation newspaper on Sunday, March 10, 2019 and thoroughly digest the thought provoking extra ordinary message freely expressed by the leader of men, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as a reference point on progressive move to serve the best interests of the common man on the street.

As a tip of the iceberg, our lawmakers still in the offing should know in tandem with the Executive that amongst other populist programmes that touch lives of the populace, free education at all levels is a right and desideratum in the South West.  Any government no matter its nomenclature that toys with this all important pivotal aspect in the economy and people’s lives does so at its greatest peril.

A word is quite sufficient for the wise.

Ayodele Fagbohun, writes from Akure.