A regime of failed promises and gloom appears to be staring Osun in the face as the governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, technically dodged the question regarding his promise to offset the backlog salaries owed workers and pensioners within six months of coming to office. Adeleke had allegedly signed an agreement with some categories of the state workforce and pensioners to offset the backlog arrears owed them by the past administrations.
The Osun governor-elect was reported to have gone into agreement with the civil servants, particularly the pensioners who have been agitating for the payment of the arrears of their salaries and pensions with a promise to get it paid within two quarters of assuming office.
While fielding questions from Seun Okinbaloye, popular Channels TV politics editor, in a special interview, Adeleke neither provided a definite response nor spoke in line with the question to offset the backlog arrears in six months as early promised.
Okinbaloye had in the interview which was aired last night, grilled Adeleke on topical issues bordering on the socio-economic and political fortunes of the state vis-a-vis the quest to effect a change and ensure a total turnaround of the state for the good of the citizens.
Adeleke’s avoidance of the critical question that has to do with the life of the workforce has generated mixed reactions from the people and raised doubt as to the preparedness and capacity of the incoming governor to fulfill his electoral promises and deliver good governance.
It was further noticed that Peoples Democratic Party’s governor-elect couldn’t provide relevant responses to many of the questions on governance in the areas of education, infrastructure, security, mining, health, commerce and industry. The only sector where emphasis was made was agriculture, which, if not properly implemented and adequately funded, could be a mirage.
However the takeaway from the interview was the fear of uncertainty created in the minds of the citizens, particularly the electorate who cast their votes based on the PDP’s manifestos and electoral promises. The issue agitating discerning minds was that the PDP and its candidate (now governor-elect) sold lies to the electorate to earn their votes.
The reality flowing from yesterday’s interview is that the incoming Adeleke is not prepared to hit the ground running.
Mr Lanre Akeju,
Abuja
