By Ismail Omipidan
For close to two decades, I have been involved in the business of gathering, processing and dissemination information to the public. Although I still did same thing in the last three years plus that I have been in Osun, it is primarily to promote and propagate the activities and leadership philosophies of my principal, Adegboyega Oyetola, who until midnight November 26, 2022 was the Osun Governor.
Until I met my principal for the first time in my entire life in July 2019, I never had any close contact with any governor or governorship candidate of Osun since 1999.
Before I met him in July 2019, I had spoken to him on the phone once to crosscheck some information about a story I was doing at the time. Coincidentally, it was in July 2018. It was about two weeks to the primary election that produced him as candidate in 2018. I was humbled by the fact that he picked the call at first dial from a total stranger, a rarity with most big men of his status.
And he ended the conversation by saying: “Endeavour to be coming home regularly so you can contribute your own quota to the growth and development of the State.”
As fate would have it, he became the facilitator of my being in Osun to serve. Alhamdullah!
Considering my long years in the North where I had stayed for 42 unbroken years, I had thought that if I would ever have any opportunity to serve in the public service, it would either be in Abuja, which I had tasted in any case as a Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to a Deputy President of the Senate, or any of the States in the North where I have strong links. Osun had therefore never been on the radar for me.
But my appointment rekindled my hope in Nigeria that one truly does not need to know anyone in the corridors of power to be given an opportunity to serve. It also validates Oyetola’s disposition as a leader who not only believes in merit, but is also passionate about Osun’s growth and development.
Until 2019, I was not a resident in the State. But I have always had more than a passing interest in its politics and governance because I am passionate about the growth and development of the State, my home State.
From Osun, I have been able to connect with political gladiators in the South West region, some of whom I had known from afar. Osun made it possible for me to connect with the ever conscious and articulate Osun youth community. Osun made it possible for me to connect with the vibrant Osun civil society community. Osun reinforced my belief and conviction that you can be decent and still play politics. Osun is my success story. I wholeheartedly endorse Osun Facebook Hangout 3.0. Be there!
...Ismail Omipidan, a senior journalist, is the immediate-past Chief Press Secretary to former Osun state Governor, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola. Omipidan is also a former Group Politics Editor of the Daily SUN Newspapers. NNL.
