YPP Ogun charges Governor Dapo to clear Abandoned 30,000 books container given to Ogun state students for free by World Bank.

The leadership and members of the Young Progressive Party Ogun State under the chairmanship of Prince Tolu Ajayi (P.T.A) express our profound gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Benjamin Osibodu for his unrelenting efforts in contributing handsomely to the educational development of Ogun State. Mr. Benjamin Osibodu is a United States-based Nigerian from Ikenne local government of Ogun state who had since March 2017 facilitated the donation of 30,000 books to Ogun state students from the World Bank. These books are currently in a container at the Tin Can Island port in Lagos and have been there for over a year now. This opportunity of free books by the World Bank to students in a developing country can be seized by any other country in Africa but took the efforts and influence of Mr. Benjamin Osibodu to facilitate this uncommon gesture to Ogun state and Ikenne local government in particular.

Prince Tolu Ajayi
(YPP Ogun Chairman) 

The Young Progressive Party Ogun state condemned in strong term the neglect of our education sector by the last administration. Education which is the bedrock of any meaningful society saw it worst in Ogun state in the last administration in all ramifications. It is quite unfortunate the way and manner the past administration of governor Ibikunle Amosun handled the issue of securing the container with lading number S314861401 from the Tin Can Island port which contained the 30,000 book. It was even disheartening and disappointing that despite the number of contacts made by the facilitator of the books Mr. Benjamin Osibodu to aides of the past governor including the then Secretary to Ogun State Government Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, Commissioner for Education and Ikenne local government Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Akinsanya, still no positive step and action was taken. The inability to secure the container and made the books promptly available to the students by the last administration shows clearly the regard the Amosun led administration had for education in Ogun state.

Sen. Ibikunle Amosun
Former Governor 

According to a report by Saturday Punch published on March 30, 2019 titled, 'Ogun govt abandoned 30,000 books donated by World Bank at Lagos port', Mr. Benjamin Osibodu lamented how he was embarrassed by the actions of Ogun state and Ikenne local government actors for their inability to clear the books from the customs. He lamented how the World Bank is now doubting his integrity and intentions with the ways the books had been left to rot at the port.

He said, “At the end of the day, I was thoroughly embarrassed by the way these people acted. The local government chairman told me he was in touch with an aide to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who would be able to help, especially since the vice-president is also from the local government.

“Ogun State should be a shining light to other states in Nigeria. For a state that produced icons like Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, it is quite shocking that those presently at the helm of affairs are unconcerned about the importance of books.

“I’m appealing for the intervention of the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

“The World Bank put in a lot of effort and money into that project. They are still sending me messages and I feel embarrassed. What do I say to them? This issue is already a public issue but I’m surprised nobody is doing anything about it.

“It will be a shame if the books are left to rot at the port and Ogun State children are deprived of the rare opportunity to read the books which have the potential to transform the fortune of their nation.”

The concern of the Young Progressive Party Ogun state is that further delay in clearing the container through the customs could lead to the container being seized and auctioned (as overtime container) by the Nigeria Customs Service. Also, of concern is the risk of the shipment being rerouted to another developing country where the books would be appreciated and judiciously used.

We therefore call on the present administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun to take this matter up in the interest of the students and Ogun state educational development at large. We salute the developmental foresight for our governor which he anchored on human development. As a political party of young progressive Nigerian, we believe the future of our dear state anchor more on human capital development starting from the grassroot of primary education. Even though Ogun state is yet to have a commissioner for education, I think an instructive directive to the Permanent Secretary in the education ministry and other relevant and concerned personnel will do the magic of securing these books for the use of Ogun state students.

Even thought we understand the task of governance and the responsibility before you in running Ogun state, we believe you will accord this matter it required priority and urgency. With your passion for education as enumerated during your campaign, we plead with you on behave of these innocent students whom are the direct beneficiary of this World Bank gesture to see to the release of these books within the next two weeks.  We believe posterity is presently judging the last administration in this regard and we believe these students will forever remember you for this as well if the books are promptly release for their use.

It is our hope that Your Excellency will treat this message with the required urgency and priority it deserves in appreciation of the efforts of Mr. Benjamin Osibodu and the timely use of the books by the students. This must not be allowed to block any future gesture and opportunity of such from World Bank to Ogun state and also to protect the integrity and reputation of the facilitator before the donor (World Bank).

Signed;

Comrade Salami Taiwo Ramon.
Ogun State YPP Publicity Secretary.