Beyond this issue of urban renewal, I would rather think that what our people need most at the moment is tackling the issue of unemployment and creating wealth for the people and the peoples' survival. This, I think, would be better served if several of our youths in the state are meaningfully and gainfully employed. Two things bother me mostly about the government's policy with respect to this so called urban renewal policy. One is the issue of cost; and the second is the issue of priority. By extension, if we are then to look at the issue of priority and cost altogether, we would then be asking for 'whose interest is being served'? What are the procedures for awarding all these contracts. As a public officer, I could not be unmindful of the need for development, but at what "Cost"- social, economic, political and cultural. As a Yoruba person, I grew up with the notion of "ebi npa mi, olose nkiri. Nigba ti mi o ba fo'nu, ba wo ni n o se fo'ode" (I am hungry the soap seller is hawking her ware, if I do not 'wash' my stomach, how do I 'wash' outside). In the face of growing poverty, I would rather think governor Amosun should focus more on reducing the poverty level, increase the tempo of economic activities in the state to generate employment and increase prosperity of the people before taking them out of other businesses like the demolition of stalls and shops in Omida, Sapon etc.
Kayode J Amusan
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