Senator lbikunle Amosun , top left, Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, right, and Nigeria’s Presidential planes.

Ogun State, The House of Gaa, Ibi Kunle Amosun , Dapo Abuodun,

The most fitting inscription that should be placed at the entry points of Ogun State right now might be “Ekaabo s’ile Olooogun” (welcome to the home of troubles). Ogun State has been in the news frequently lately, for both positive and negative reasons, with the negative overshadowing the positive. Chief among these issues is the China business deal saga involving Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd., which has become a significant source of embarrassment for both the people of Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole. I do not envy Prince Dapo Abiodun at this moment, and I wonder how he is managing to cope with the difficult situation.

From Obafemi Awolowo to Olabisi Onabanjo, and many other wizards of political and governance wisdom that this great state has produced, including living legends in both administration and academia, I doubt that any of them, in the last few days, would have happily looked at the current events and confidently declared themselves natives of Ogun State—unless they are prepared to be seized and sent to China to serve time in exchange for the strange debt we are alleged to have been plunged into.

Whether Otunba Gbenga Daniel had good intentions when he entered into the contractual agreement with Zhongfu International Investment is something only he knows. However, the improper government handover in our country, combined with his statements in recent press releases, seems to suggest otherwise.

The British political publicist Ernest Benn once said, “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.” This observation seems to perfectly encapsulate the actions and decisions of Senator Ibikunle Amosun regarding the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ). The handling of the OGFTZ by his administration reveals several political and administrative shortcomings that have serious implications for governance. In what follows, we will examine a few of these issues.

Diligence, they say, is the key to excellence, but Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s administration appears to have fallen short in this area. In his press release, SIA admits that his administration appointed Zhongfu International Investment FXE as the interim zone manager based on what was later discovered to be false information. This hasty decision, made shortly after he assumed office, suggests a lack of thorough vetting and due diligence. Of course, the failure to properly investigate the claims made by Zhongfu has, now, led to a prolonged legal and diplomatic dispute that could have been avoided.

Moreover, the administration’s inadequate conflict resolution mechanisms exacerbated the situation. As claimed in the news release, the dispute between China Africa Investment FXE and Zhongfu International Investment FXE escalated to the point of disrupting business activities and threatening public peace. Instead of resolving the conflict, Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s administration arguably worsened it by appointing a party later revealed to be acting in bad faith. Again, this shows poorly on the administration’s ability to maintain stability in critical economic zones and undermines confidence in its governance.

It is important to note that the negative impact of these actions extends beyond Ogun State. The disruption of business activities in the OGFTZ, as mentioned in the news release, coupled with the international spread of the news about the seizure of Nigeria’s Presidential Jets due to a failed business deal, significantly damages the state’s reputation as a business-friendly environment and could deter future investments. Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s response to the situation, in which he claimed he would rather help Nigeria find a diplomatic solution through the President, only adds to the perception of poor leadership. His statement lacks evidence of critical thinking and a commitment to serving the people of Ogun State which further shows the self-interest that often plagues Nigerian politics— everyone wants to be a hero without, actually, exemplifying the traits of characters of one.

Sadly, the ongoing situation is a classic example of bad governance—characterised by poor decision-making, a lack of transparency, inadequate conflict management, and the failure to prioritise long-term interests. The intersection of local politics and international business has led to far-reaching negative consequences which includes the embarrassment of the entire country and the seizure of national assets abroad, as seen with the presidential jets in France.

For Prince Dapo Abiodun, this is a defining moment. I do not, in any way, envy him. He has inherited a state that has literally turned into the Augean stables by previous administrations. When someone finds themselves in such a messy situation, even if they try to clean it, the stench inevitably rubs off on them. As they emerge from the stable, they carry that stench with them causing people to look at them with disdain. The Ogun State he seems to have inherited resembles a stable that was expertly locked. As the screws and bolts begin to wear out, the decay starts to show in the form of uncompleted projects, deplorable roads, and bad debts—issues that were concealed until they began to unravel. The challenge before him is enormous, and how he handles it will determine whether he emerges as a hero or is relegated to obscurity

At this point, let us draw inspiration from the legendary Bashorun Gaa (At least the initials of the last three governors of the state aptly form the name of the powerful Bashorun GAA, which could symbolically represent the strength needed to tackle the challenges facing Ogun State) , who maintained political and administrative balance in Oyo during his time, (Even though numerous renditions of his story paint him as a villain, some commend the political and administrative muscles he flexed) Prince Dapo Abiodun must tackle the current challenges with the same ferocity and resolve. Given the lessons that can be learnt from the mistakes of his predecessors and ensuring that all decisions are based on well-vetted information, Prince Dapo Abiodun has the opportunity to set a new standard for governance in Ogun State, which I believe would be done.

It is important to recall a statement by President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China: “Some foreigners with full bellies and nothing better to do engage in finger-pointing at us. First, China does not export revolution; second, it does not export famine and poverty; and third, it does not mess around with you. So what else is there to say?” The latter part of his statement serves as a warning to anyone who challenges China: “China (and Chinese) does not mess around with you.” It is crucial that this case is resolved amicably to avoid unnecessary strain in our bilateral relationship with such a significant and productive country.

Taken together, the current administration can engage independent auditors or consultants to assess major projects and disputes to prevent a recurrence of such issues. Consequently, national interests can be protected, the people can be served effectively, Ogun State’s reputation can remain intact, and future investments can be secured.

Folorunso Fatai Adisa is a communication specialist who can be reached via email at [email protected]. He is currently based in Glasgow, United Kingdom.