Why Governor Aregbesola may soon be stoned by his own people (Editor's note)

Editor’s note: Abdulrofiu Muhammed, one of the NAIJ.com readers, in this opinion piece appeals to the government of the Osun state to ease the sufferings of the people. The author explains why the residents of the state may stone Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Beyond all shadows of doubt, the emergence of the present administration in Osun was indeed a popular opinion. In 2007, it came as the long-expected messiah to the people, who they now seek help from God and gods for a way out of the unsympathetic manner which the government of today cohabit the ideology of frustrating the citizens of the state.

To my humble surprise, the same person they once prayed to take the mantle had seemingly become the destiny killer, what an irony of expectation to say the least.

Alas, after the election, a sigh of relieve was their companion, a breath of victory at last gladden their mind, and an expectation of a new dawn was at a stone throw proximity. They believed a wide river had been crossed and what next was to start enjoying the fruit of such  endeavor, but again, their hope were shattered, their faith dampened, their believe crippled, their smiles turned  sour. The enthusiasm used in voting and waving to eulogize the new chief servant became a memory to curse for many. In fact, children were reported to have the culture of waking to pray for ‘AREGBE’ first before greeting their parents in the morning, today, the picture of that savior AREGBE has vanished their minds, gone into oblivion even faster than the vapour from a boiling water, what then is wrong? Why do they still suffer even after seeing their messiah?

Recently, a story of a mother of six was related about the hardship the people of the state encounter, it is sad to say the least, this woman went to a market far from her area, to buy foodstuffs, and she had to exchange one of her children for the service not known to the seller. The family had been starving for days before this woman took this deceitful action to save her children from hunger. Many are like this, whom their life routine are spent in penury.

A hungry man is an angry man they say, when hunger gets to unbearable level, the hungry may not revolt. Criticism and annoyance may rise soonest and when that happens, there’s fire on the mountain. Casting a critical view on the state of Osun, it is no gain-saying that this administration have gotten more critics than eulogy, this has gone so high and exhaustive that some are even tired of discussing government and his cohorts in the state.

It is quit disheartening that even the media popularly identified as watchdog which is expected to repeatedly remind our office holders that they are servants not leaders, thus holding them responsible to the people. Regrettably, media are not helping matters as the have become a victim epitomized that ‘He who pays the piper dictates the tune.’

In view of this, some have been tempted to say that OSBC has been more of an institution set to maintain the status-quo of painting the government as a messiah to the people, an old notion which had not lived up to expectation. In fact, there are some respected media experts expected to use their pen power, the likes of Semiu Okanlawon, Sunday Akere, Kunle Oyatomi and others  may have unknowingly offend the people on how the fare their trade.

Osun people are bothered, bugged, hassled, irked for the way the state is being ruled. Therefore, the need for strong opposition is a prioritized necessity as a matter of urgency to safeguard the economical, social, political future of this gifted state. An opposition who will hold this government accountable to the people of the state, requesting the satisfaction of their fair share of the dividends of democracy, even when the political rodomontade of the current administration was to give them heaven and earth.

Some have often argued that prayer without work is a fruitless endeavor, but when you are the one to put in that work, your prayer may still be answered. Thus, I pray situation doesn’t rise to the hill before the government find lasting solutions to the problem, because a lot is at stake, the people of Osun are currently more angry than those in other states, therefore, if Saraki could suffer such fate of being stoned by his own people, nothing will stop or prevent the Osun people from doing the same. A word they say is enough for the wise.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial policy of Naij.com.