Breakfast And Banter With Governor Ibikunle Amosun

The virtue of humility, which was once the beauty of mankind, has given birth to that fount of rare manliness in Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Perhaps he had always been humble, he had simply been too shy to make a fine show of it. Despite the pomp and bluster attributed to a lot of his peers, Governor Amosun on March 3, 2015, ditched protocol and pageantry emblematic of his office to hobnob and share banter with gentlemen of the Nigerian press.
The Governor of Ogun State rose very early in the day to hold a breakfast meeting with the Managing Directors (MDs) and Editors of several media organizations across the country. The event which took place at the Government House in Abeokuta, the State capital, was scheduled for 9.00 am and at exactly 9.00 am, the Governor was seated. Before he did, he went round introducing himself to over 70 media gurus in the hall. This no doubt manifested as a very sharp contradiction to insinuations that he might not be too friendly with the press.
Governor Amosun seemed bent on establishing the fact that he is neither arrogant nor contemptuous of journalists. Besides going round to exchange pleasantries and occasional jokes with his guests, the Governor, during the breakfast buffet, stood up to hand out plates and other eating utensils to his guests in the hall.
Interestingly, if virtue is the fount of honour, then Amosun certainly redefines the bounds of honour. He remains enigmatic no matter how much is seen of him. As an esteemed politician and unassuming statesman. Despite his simplicity and overwhelming inclination to play meek, it may never be enough to describe him as the best thing to happen to Ogun State politics. Both the youth and peers of this brilliant Accountant continually seek a clearer picture of him, and they have a rich cache of his words, principles and public record to shape their typically flattering interpretations.
There is something inspiring about Amosun.  Like a man of conscience, he is empathetic and scornful of wile. The life and work of  Ibikunle remains the stuff the best of dreams are made of. He is undeniably wrought from that proverbial iconic and stately mould frantically affected by quite a few self-acclaimed statesmen and yet deficient in the bulk of their work and character. This makes him worthy recipient of acknowledgement as an indispensable agent of that progressive change that has eluded Ogun State for so long.
During breakfast, he appreciated the presence of the media chiefs and spoke about his achievement in his first term in office. According to him, before his assumption of office in 2011, the State Capital was in dilapidated state, insecurity was high and national and international agencies shied from doing business with Ogun State.
But no sooner than he took over the reins of administration than he normalised security in the State.  Today, Ogun State enjoys stable security, he enthused highlighting five areas in which his administration has made visible impact in the State. They are, according to him, the educational, healthcare, agriculture and industrialisation, housing and urban renewal, and infrastructural development sectors. He stated that, besides free education that is been enjoyed by students in the State, the standard and quality of education has also improved tremendously.
The health services provided to the State by his government during his first term administration, he claimed, focuses on preventive measures, eradication of maternal and child mortality and ensuring that the vulnerable ones in the society have access to good health care services. Besides re-building and re-equipping the primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities in the State, Governor Amosun disclosed that he has also set up a programme modeled like a community-based health care insurance scheme; it is called ARAYA and GBOMORO and it facilitates the widespread dispensation of free anti-natal healthcare services to pregnant women in the State.
Agricultural development has also improved during his first term in office, he claimed. According to him, his administration established farms where local farmers get exposed to new modern technologies thus creating a new corps of graduate farmers even as he provided loan facilities for farmers in the State to take advantage of among other incentives.
As of 2008 and 2010, the State ranked the poorest performing state in the aspect of business. But in 2014, Ogun State topped the list of reforming State in business under Governor Amosun. The governor also stated that his administration has been paying attention to housing needs of the citizenry and investors persistently thronging the State for business opportunities. So far, four housing estates has been completed by his administration.
However, the area in which his government has enjoyed rave reviews is the development and construction of roads and flyovers across the three senatorial districts of the State. The Ayetoro-Olodo road, Ibara bridge, the Akin Olugbade road, Abiola way-Muda Lawal link and other major roads in the State have been completed even as construction continues on other road projects.
In his effort to provide security to the State, Governor Amosun claimed his administration has provided Armoured personnel carriers and Hilux vans for efficient and rapid response to crime in the State. In his bid to make transportation easy for the people of Ogun State, he provided mass transit buses and taxis, thereby creating more job opportunities for the youth of Ogun State.
The governor reassured the people of Ogun Sate that his administration will not relent but rather fulfill all his electoral promises to transform Ogun State into a peaceful, tourist and investors’ haven.
However, the governor spoke glowingly about his team, especially Hon. Ronke Sokefun, the ebullient Commissioner of Agriculture, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, the very industrious and intelligent Commissioner for  Commerce. All Progressives Congress(APC) senatorial candidate for Ogun East, Prince Dapo Abiodun was also in attendance. Alhaji Yusuf Olaniyan, the Commissioner for Information was a good host and Idowu Sowumi, the brilliant SA too.
People who know Amosun well are never tired of purring odes about him. And it’s no doubt that they are right on that account. He was at home as chief host, keeping the guests and enthusiasm aglow. He ensured that there was a seamless flow of gaiety. He made new friends and converted new disciples today as he is preparing for his 2nd term in office..