Recap: Ogungbangbe's Consultations With Osun East Over Senate

By ISAAC OLUSESI

Let's get straight to it. Dr Thomas Olaleye Ogungbangbe's recent consultation with the Osun East Senatorial District leaders of the state All Progressive Congress (APC) remains a strategic move that strengthened his connection with the party leadership and afforded him insight into the party's expectations of him on his ambition to earn the party's Senate ticket to the National Assembly (NASS).

He's a chieftain of APC and Senate aspirant from Osun East.

Here's the deal, but wait a bit. 

The consultation, steadily focused on objective, was not one stopping often, with short-intervals between stops. The three-day tour  stopped at the scheduled federal constituencies of Ijesa North, Ijesa South and Ife, with the kaleidoscope scenery-shifts, through the convoy window, flipping the picturesque of the hustling and bursting urbans and rural scenes, and the gallery of diverse landscapes kept the view exciting.

As the tour pulled up at each destination, the sight of the host party leaders offered a refreshing perspective on the homogeneity of APC in Osun. The principles, ideals and values of the party, and the appearance, style and character of the party leaders conveyed a transparent likeness of mindset.

And in a jiffy,  the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CITA ENERGIES anchored on his curriculum vitae, nationally and internationally rich, and he did a snappy, detailed and penetrating retrospection of his humble beginning, life and times, efforts in and out of politics, other explorations and achievements in the private and public sectors of the nation's economy.

Let's recap the *constituency allowance project* and *energy production in Osun East* as key highlights of Ogungbangbe's consultation on his bid for public service in the Senate, the upper chamber of National Assembly (NASS).

He made a milestone of his consultation with the Osun East party leaders as he pioneered a completely new perspective on the legislators' constituency allowance. He pledged to the party leaders that  any such constituency allowance credited to him as a Senator, representing Osun East, would be managed by his constituents.

He dropped the revolutionary change, trailblazing community committees to be formed by the respective federal constituency for the purpose of constituency allowance, and would be charged with the management of the funds.

By his landmark innovations,  Ogungbangbe, forward-looking, would bring significantly productive reformation to constituency allowance, that guarantees transparency, fairness and real development, to build trust and accountability. 

The historicism of the paradigm shift is the Senate aspirant, thinking a utilitarian, to involve constituency stakeholders in decision making; development processes and management; distributing resources based on constituencies' needs and priorities; and allocating funds to projects that will benefit the constituency. 

The bottom line is Prince Ogungbangbe, a Senator in view, sharing responsibility, and the committee demonstrating accountability that can be probed or blamed, if anything goes wrong.

He however, said that the committee would have its operational independence and clear guidelines for funds management and project implementation, while oversight will be provided to preempt potential mismanagement.

He bared his plans for Osun East, exploring natural gas as a renewable cleaner energy alternative, and investing in technology and infrastructure to support cleaner energy production and consumption to foster local growth and investors' confidence. 

He explained the plans by him would stimulate the economic growth of Ife/Ijesa, create jobs, ensure energy security,  increase revenue to the state by reducing dependence on the monthly federal handouts, promote sustainable energy development, improve infrastructure including roads, and other crucial facilities, fiscal benefits and other incentives to companies that would be involved in oil and gas production in Osun East.

"This is broadly my strategic plan, well integrated in my blueprint, still kept to my chest, to grow the Osun East that would require developing policies and such incentives as tax incentives, streamlined procurement processes and other benefits for companies to be involved in the oil and gas energy sector. 

"I pledge, this far reaching involvement would be executed by legislative initiatives, required of me, introducing bills and collaborating with colleague Senators for support for the bill that would benefit my Senatorial District and foster local growth," Ogungbangbe stated.

The Senator-to-be knows what a clear and supportive regulatory framework for his high energy technology plan for Osun East, just as engaging with the Ife/Ijesa would be  necessary to ensure the success of the plan. Let's give it to him, he knows how to go for it.

Other *key takeaways from Ogungbangbe's consultation* with the party leadership in Osun East.

 *(To be continued)* 

 *OLUSESI writes via* isaacolusesi@gmail.com