Yesterday in Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilisation, the atmosphere was electric. The crowd was energetic and expectant. They had gathered not only to hear familiar campaign messages but also in anticipation of hope, direction and answers to pressing concerns. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola did not disappoint.
To many residents, Aregbesola has evolved beyond the status of a former governor. He has become a political symbol whose years in office continue to evoke memories of what supporters describe as a more purposeful era of governance. That sense of nostalgia was evident in conversations across Ile-Ife, particularly at Lagere Market, one of the town’s busiest commercial and transport hubs.
Among traders and residents, a common refrain emerged: they believe government under “The Symbol” placed the welfare of ordinary people at the centre of public policy. Many lamented what they see as a lack of continuity in programmes that directly affected their livelihoods. Their sentiments went beyond mere nostalgia; they reflected genuine dissatisfaction with the current socio-economic realities in Osun State.
Aregbesola’s continued political relevance, according to many of his supporters, lies in the renewed appreciation for the role of government in protecting citizens from economic hardship. Across the world, there has been growing recognition that strategic state intervention can provide a more sustainable response to inequality than the market-driven prescriptions associated with the Structural Adjustment Programme and the Washington Consensus, which have faced increasing criticism over their long-term social consequences.
Supporters argue that this changing economic thinking lends fresh relevance to Aregbesola’s philosophy of governance, which emphasised an active social contract between government and the people through investments in education, healthcare, agriculture and social welfare.
Conversations with traders, artisans and other players in the informal sector revealed a perception that both Aregbesola and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) represent a platform with programmes aimed at improving the welfare of ordinary citizens.
At Lagere Market on Tuesday, many traders openly reflected on what they described as an era characterised by robust government social intervention. Their biggest concern today is the steady erosion of purchasing power. Rising prices and declining incomes, they said, have made life considerably more difficult for households and small businesses.
Several respondents recalled programmes introduced during the Aregbesola administration, including the widely acclaimed school feeding initiative and interventions in agriculture, education and healthcare, which they believe helped cushion the impact of economic hardship on vulnerable citizens.
Today, however, many market operators say commercial activities have slowed considerably. For them, the enthusiasm that once accompanied government programmes has faded, replaced by growing anxiety over the rising cost of living. It is this longing for policies that directly improve the lives of ordinary people, they argue, that continues to fuel interest in Aregbesola’s return to the campaign trail.
