US embassy cable - 04LAGOS1206

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001206 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
LONDON FOR GURNEY, PARIS FOR NEARY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KDEM, PINR, NI 
SUBJECT: AH, THE "O'S!" - A VISIT TO OGUN, OYO, OSUN, AND 
ONDO STATES (PART 3 0F 4) 
 
REF: A) LAGOS 1205 B) LAGOS 1203 
 
1. Summary. This is the third of a four-part report on 
ConOffs visit to four of the five  former Alliance for 
Democracy Party (AD) States, that were taken by the Peoples 
Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2003 and 2004 federal, state 
and local elections. (Parts 1 and 2 at reftels B and A) 
After one year under new administrations, all four States 
seem to be making progress in delivering critical government 
services such as free education, poverty alleviation and 
infrastructure improvements.  Osun State, under the measured 
and confident control of retired general, Governor Olunsoye 
Oyinlola, is moving ahead on infrastructure projects after 
six months of planning by State officials and community 
representatives.  The fact that Oyinlola was an official in 
the military regime of the late Sani Abacha still causes his 
actions to be closely scrutinized for abuses and compared to 
the Abacha era.  End summary. 
 
Osun - "The State of Young Faces" 
 
2.  (SBU) Osun was carved out of the old Oyo State in 1991; 
thus, like Oyo, its population is almost totally ethnic 
Yoruba.  Osun officials readily admit that the State is about 
50-50 Muslim to Christian.  However, casual observation of 
residents on the street and the ratio of well-maintained 
mosques to, obviously, older and aging churches leads to a 
supposition that Osun may have a much higher percentage of 
Muslims. 
 
3. (SBU)  The major highway into Osun's capital, Osogbo, is 
in excellent condition.  Amazingly, along the entire length 
that we traveled, the two-lane highway is being repaired and 
widened to a four-lane highway.  Heavy equipment and road 
crews were at work clearing the road shoulders and laying 
asphalt.  Except for the inevitable traffic jam, this one 
caused by an accident involving two sixteen-wheeler tank 
trucks, and the slowdowns for the ubiquitous police check 
points, our trip to Osogbo was fast and smooth. 
 
The Governor is also a Prince 
 
4.  (SBU) Governor Prince Olunsoye Oyinlola made time for us, 
even though we arrived a half an hour late due to the tanker 
accident.  The waiting room outside the Governor's office was 
packed with men carrying briefcases and folders of papers, 
obviously waiting for meetings with the Governor. The 
Governor had a tight schedule, but we were immediately 
ushered into his vast and ornately decorated office on the 
top floor of the State executive office building.  Oyinlola 
had arranged a formal press meeting with prepared welcoming 
statements, photographers and video cameras, assembly members 
(including the lone AD Assemblyman) and an exchange of gifts. 
 PolOff had a chance to speak one-on-one with the Governor 
after the welcoming ceremony.  Oyinlola appeared open and 
friendly, and he answered all our questions as fully as time 
permitted.  He said his administration is concentrating on 
poverty eradication and job creation in Osun.  As in other 
States in the federation, government -- local, State, or 
federal -- is the largest employer.  Oyinlola told us that 
79% of the State budget goes to the 5% of the population who 
are government employees.  There are no US businesses, 
franchises or partnerships operating in Osun, and the 
Oyinlola administration wants US help in changing that 
situation.   The Governor said that Osun is perfect for 
foreign and local investment; i. e. it has no crime or other 
security issues, a good infrastructure, and an educated 
population. 
 
Making progress, but the past still haunts him 
 
5.  (SBU) Osun is another of the non-oil-producing States 
that has turned to revitalization of its agricultural 
industry as a way to cut dependence on oil revenue 
allocations.  The State has purchased 330 new tractors that 
will be sold or leased to farmers.  Oyinlola told us his 
administration has secured government funding to improve the 
supply of potable water in the State, and has funded 
improvements in the delivery of health care services from its 
current federal allocation.  Osun has hired 1,500 additional 
health care workers, purchased 31 new ambulances and is in 
the process of constructing its own pharmaceuticals plant. 
This administration has re-hired 2,500 teachers laid off by 
the previous administration, and raised wages for 18,000 
teachers under a new program called the "Oyinlola Corps." 
The Governor said that all State payments to civil service 
and pensioners are now current. 
 
6.  (SBU) Oyinlola is a retired general and was the former 
military administrator of Lagos State during the rule of the 
late military dictator, Sani Abacha.  He has had to try to 
live down his history, but his critics in Osun point to 
wasteful spending such as purchasing motorcycles and cars for 
political supporters, and taking the entire House of Assembly 
with him to Brazil, the UK and the US to purchase the 
tractors for the agricultural development project.  Oyinlola 
counters that the equipment manufacturers paid for the 
travel. 
HINSON-JONES