THISDAYonline

One man who attracts great attention in Yorubaland today is Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the Executive Governor of Osun State. His attraction to political observers is manifold. First, he literally rode the crest of a storm to clinch the gubernatorial ticket of his party. Secondly, some observers thought he was rather a quixotic character unsuitable to handle the dangerous political situation in the State.

Many were not sure about the strength of his political antecedents and his administrative capability to run a politically volatile state like Osun. Thus, when he emerged as candidate of the PDP, observers feared the worst.

The first anxiety was how he would deal with the crisis within the party as a result of the circumstances of his emergence as its gubernatorial flag-bearer. Also, there were concerns as to how he would quell the storm of a fratricidal political war of the titans which had devastated the state and left a tragic memory that is not even about to heal.

So, when he swore to the oath of office on May 29, 2003, only the uninformed were expecting Olagunsoye to indulge in the stunt of "a 100 days celebration of achievements".

For a practical and intelligent leader in the difficult circumstances of Osun State, 100 days in office is only just enough to lay the foundation for success that would be celebrated at a later date. Olagunsoye chose the path of wisdom and made his priority the laying of a solid foundation for peace and harmony in the state and between the combatants.

In the process, an enabling environment for development was created within the first 100 days in Osun State, during which Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola also began planting the seeds of progress.

In assessing the governor's performance thus far, one should take cognisance of his positive attitude to his immediate predecessor's achievements. Oyinlola chose not to dissipate energy on a vindictive probe of Akande's administration. Rather he set forth to right the wrongs of AD's administration and assuage the injured.

The dust is yet to finally settle after two years of disruptive crises that rocked Akande's administration with tragic consequences. Certain parts of Osun State are still restive for as long as some of the unfortunate events remain unresolved.

The unpopular retrenchment of teachers and civil servants which rang throughout Osun State set the stage for Akande's fall. Wisdom demanded a reversal of Akande's action, and Oyinlola chose that path. Hundreds of those retrenched have since been re-instated. You have to feel into Osun State to appreciate the impact of this singular deed.

Natural wisdom would have dictated to Oyinlola that the priority in Osun State was to restore order and calm before securing the peace so that progressive governance could thrive.

It is not proper to take only a cursory look at how the PDP overcame its internal problems specifically created by the process that threw Oyinlola up as the party's flag bearer. Osun State PDP leadership stretched itself to the limits of its intelligence to calm nerves, re-invent the party and assemble a cabinet that Governor Oyinlola appears to synchronise with.

Oyinlola appears determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Many observers have been inclined to use a faulty perception of the man to assess him. His tenure as Lagos State governor in the evil days of Abacha was deliberately distorted to give his administration a bad image.

Few people then had the wisdom to see through the wicked design of a dictator whose ultimate goal was to humiliate the Yoruba nation by discrediting its leadership and brains. Oyiniola was a victim of this evil plot; and only a few people availed themselves the option of sober reflection to grasp the "bitumen" saga as a set up. Today, however people are better informed about what really happened, and many are inclined to be more sympathetic to Oyinlola.

The governor himself revealed that his Lagos experience was his first time out on such assignment, and he didn't quite appreciate the power of information and publicity, and so he didn't capitalise on them to secure public sympathy by broadcasting his achievements. The vicious propaganda that followed his replacement is now history.

"This time around, I will shout to high heavens so that those who care to listen may hear, and those who care to use their eyes may see what we are doing to develop Osun State", Oyinlola told journalists recently in Oshogbo.

Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola will however have to be robust not only on words but also on actions that will set him apart from his predecessors. Therein lies the ultimate challenge.

Fela Kuye, Lagos