Understanding Ogun’s Impressive Economic Growth Under Ibikunle Amosun

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By Olufemi Lawson

As a close watcher of event in the Southwest State of Ogun over the past few years of assumption of Office of Senator Ibikunle Amosun as the Executive Governor of the State, there is no doubt that the State has continued to show a promise of unprecedented development for state’s inhabitants of today, and also the future generations of its people.

Taking a critical look at the Amosun administration’s commitment to the economic growth of the State, one can confidently say that the people of Ogun were factual in their choice of Senator Ibikunle Amosun as Governor first in 2011 and later in the year 2015.

As we speak, the State as continued to witness a rapid economic transformation and this can be viewed from several points of view, including the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) drive of Ogun State as rated by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which declared it as the fastest growing in the country.

The NBS report is instructive, especially for us as residents, who clearly knew what the IGR of the State was before Governor Amosun took over the mantle of leadership of the State in the year 2011.

The NBS Report indicated that Ogun State took the first position by doubling its IGR within the period of 2014, and 2016.

However, it is instructive to note that long before the NBS Report, Ogun’s impressive performance under the leadership of Governor Ibikunle Amosun had been propagated around, yet many people had regarded it as official propaganda until it was authenticated by the NBS itself.

Ogun is undoubtedly on a speedy rise under Governor Amosun even at a time that the country’s economy is gasping for breath having just exited an economic recession.

However, for many observers of Amosun’s revolutionary leadership in Ogun State, the state’s remarkable economic growth does not come as a surprise.

Since assuming office, as the Governor of the State, Governor Amosun has dedicated his focus at uplifting the standard of living of his people. This he began doing by bringing on board several capable and committed young and intelligent men and women, who are vast in financial management, economy and human capacity development.

It was from this point that the administration foresaw a stormy future for the Nigerian economy that would be induced by an imminent fall in oil prices.

Consequently, it began to layout measures and strategies for survival. This informed the creative search for improved revenue in a manner that would not wipe away the promises of the administration to the people of Ogun State.

Regardless, Governor Amosun must have taken over leadership with a heavy load on his mind; brooding over the future of the state under him and the brass task of leaving a legacy in a struggling economy.

He must have wondered what to tell his people, after wooing them with several electoral promises in the heady days of election campaigns. Falling back on his background as a Chartered Accountant, Governor Amosun approached the puzzle of providing a purposeful leadership in a difficult economy by first taking absolute control of what was within his reach. He tightened the noose on government finances and instilling stringent financial discipline in the government bureaucracy.

Besides instilling discipline and transparency in government processes, Governor Amosun also demonstrated a degree of dissatisfaction with each success attained that you find only in conscientious leaders who are sworn to make a difference.

So, he has ensured that the administration undergo periodic internal and external assessments in order to seek new ways that would sustain the State’s economy in the face of global economic uncertainty.

In Governor Ibikunle Amosun, one can see a pragmatic approach to issues that is alien to public office holders in these parts of our world. We see a distillation of thoughts in a manner that creates alternative approaches to problem solving.

Demonstrating what has now become a trademark drive for excellence, Governor Amosun has continued to avoid the luxury associated with positions such as his by working round the clock and practically getting involved in issues that can enhance the growth of infrastructure, which is essentially required towards achieving any meaningful economic growth.

To Amosun, there is no other secret behind the ability of his administration to continue with his massive infrastructural development programme in spite of the economic crunch in the country other than the strong Economic foundation built and being sustainable by his administration in Ogun State. This he has continued to achieve through various innovative means of expanding the revenue base of the State.

It is therefore no doubt that Governor Ibikunle Amosun through his commitment towards justifying the mandate entrusted in him by the people of Ogun State has rested all propaganda and infuriating idle talks which many of his detractors have hoped to exploit to paint the image of a non-performing Governor, when they came to the realization, that the business of governance is no longer the business as usual in the Gateway State.

As a people, we are happy and will remain eternally grateful to Amosun for the transformation of Ogun State and its economic liberation.

Omo Ogun, Ise yaa!!!

Olufemi Lawson is a Public Affairs Analyst. He writes from OPIC Estate, Agbara, Ogun State.

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