The Avatar And Social Democracy At A Crossroad

Kanmi Ademiluyi

THE birthday of the immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came on the heels of the inaugura on of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the President of Nigeria. There is a connec on here and it goes beyond the fact that the two men worked closely in a path-breaking administra on in Lagos State between 1999 and 2007. A significant thrust is the view that a government based on the ethos of social democracy has been installed on Monday, the 29th of May.

The an cipa on of the advent of a social democra c progressive government is not yet the conven onal wisdom, the expecta on is based on cau ous opmism. It has to be so because in the inheritance of a poisoned chalice real polics might overcome idealism and even cau ous projec ons. Nevertheless, the new administra on will be a litmus test for progressives and the con nuing relevance of the creed. It is a rare opportunity a er so many near misses as well as false starts.

Reinvigorated rather than jaded a er his ministerial interlude, Aregbesola will be relevant as a mixture of the keeper of the ins tu onal memory and sage-inresidence like an emeritus professor. Ins tu onal memory is important to guide and guard. Poli cs as the Italian poli cal philosopher, Antonio Gramsci, explained is about shi ing the territory of the discourse in the direc on of one’s posi on. The Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) was very much an a empt to completely discredit progressive poli cs and demon- symptoms are already cropping up and a skilled astute tactician like Aregbesola will be essential to contain them and then mount a counterattack.

This is important as the incoming government sails into a maelstrom not entirely of their own making” strate it as not just irrelevant but harmful. SAP le carnage in its wake not least the erosion of the produc ve base of the state and the weakening of purchasing power parity through the con nuous devalua on of the currency, it was a catastrophe much like a crime against humanity. The SAP con nues to resonate and laurels must be given to those like Aregbesola who in theory and prac ce have been at the forefront of moun ng a fight back.

Aregbesola had the good fortune to have had an opportunity to fuse theory with prac ce as governor of the State of Osun. He was instrumental in using the posi on to reinstate the efficacy of progressive administra on, demonstra ng that the State s ll had a decisive role to play contrary to the intellectually dishonest narra ve underlying the SAP narra ve. The gains not least in the social interven on, infrastructure, and educa- onal programs were massive. The adopon of the social interven on program in other states and by the Federal Government tes fies to the acceptance of the program.

The new government will face resistance from a conserva ve block used to cozy rela onships as well as the old order which has been so beneficial to them. Here we can recall Antonio Gramsci again. In the Prison Notes observing a similar dysfunc on in Italy of his me, he noted that “ the crisis lies in the old order that refuses to go away, a new one cannot be born, in the interregnum all manner of morbid symptoms reveal themselves”.

Osun Defender

Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.

Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman

Morbid symptoms are already cropping up and a skilled astute taccian like Aregbesola will be essen al to contain them and then mount a counterattack. This is important as the incoming government sails into a maelstrom not en rely of their own making.

Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa

Reporter – Yusuf Oketola

Reporter – Kazeem Badmus

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Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere

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The context in which history is analyzed is of importance. To paraphrase Marx, Aregbesola made an impact in “ways and in circumstances,” he might not if giving the choice not have chosen. He s ll has “a long way to go and promises to keep”, he will con nue to be a key mova ng factor as the torch bearer and beacon of a propeople “alterna ve perspecve”. He is up to it and here is wishing him the best.