OGBENI SHOULD LEARN FROM HISTORY

2003 gubernatorial election in Osun state will linger long in the memory of many political stalwarts in the state, most especially, Chief Bisi Akande, the national leader of Action for Progressive Change (APC) who was then a gubernatorial candidate in the election keenly contested with Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola with the later winning the election from the platform of Peoples Democratic Party.

Prior to the 2003 elections, it was gathered that Chief Akande who was gunning for a second term in office took some callous decisions which affected many indigenes and students at different levels in the state. The effects of the compelled mass exodus of secondary school teachers from the teaching service in the state during Chief Akande regime will continue to be a plus factor in orchestrating his failed attempt to return to office coupled with reckless neglect of the four state owned higher institutions – Osun state college of Eductation, Ila- Orangun and Ilesa, Osun State polytechnic, Iree, and Osun state college of Technology, Esa- Oke among many other contributing factors.

Few years after, power changed hand in the state and one of Chief Akande’s political sons, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola got the mandate to govern the state in November 2010, after the court of appeal abolished the 2007 gubernatorial election. Aregbesola took over from Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola in November 2010.

Since 2010, the state of Osun has experienced great developmental strides with different lofty projects getting executed in different sectors within the state. But one area the governor has failed is in the incessant industrial tussle between the state lecturers downing tools, which is now termed an ‘annual strike.’ Record has it that the lecturers went on a 5 months strike in 2011, shortly after the governor assumed office.  And again, by December 2012, lecturers went on another 3 weeks warning strike before embarking on a full stretched strike in March 2013 which lasted 4months, leaving the students and the society to the menace of students being temporarily out of school and disrupting the normal flow of the academic calendar. More disgustingly, on February 2014, all the four institutions were again closed down as the academic staff resumed the adjoined strike.

In Osun sate, students are tired of the annual strike they are now accustomed to because governor Aregbesola has failed to meet lecturer’s demands to a satisfactory extent for over four years. Some of the demands which include: elongation of retirement age from 60 to 65 years, full implementation of the federal government consolidated polytechnics and colleges of education academic salary structure, the non-remittance of contributed pensions and address the issue of understaffing in the higher institutions.

 However, governor Aregbesola’s courageous steps in revitalizing the educational system in the state with transformation reform policies being enacted in the elementary and middle and high schools. But the governor should extend these gigantic streaks to the higher institutions. Many are the deficiencies of these schools in term of infrastructural decay, understaffing, poor road networks, hostel accommodation and eventually find a lasting solution to incessant demoralising industrial action. Aside reduction in school fees and increment in bursary allocation for finalist students alone, the governor, has not really extended his reforms policies to higher institutions. 

Finally, with gubernatorial election fast approaching, the governor should remember his hopes lie in the hands of the electorates, students and lecturers inclusive. And like his fellow kinsman, Chief Bisi Akande learnt his lessons and was denied 2^nd term ambitions in 2003; Governor Aregbesola should set his house in order and reach a logical compromise with the warring opponents.   

Olaomo Gboluwaga John.

Osun State College of Education, Ilesa.