By Hammed Tajudeen.
It is a common belief among indigenes of Osun that infrastructure like the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park situated in the state capital, Osogbo would have been one of the major source for the state government to increase her internally Generated Revenue (IGR) if it was jealously given the maximum attention needed.
Recall the park was one of the major social protection projects of the former state governor, who is now the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola before it was privatized under his administration.
Although, the fun park was not completed for it to enjoy proper commissioning before it was handed over to a private company as at the time when Osun Government was confronted with allocation reduction from the federal government under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Since the privatization of the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park to become Bristol Park, the amusement park not only lost the high patronage of fun seekers who formerly troop into the centre weekly but the facilities provided by the state government are also begging for maintenance.
The fun park is not only becoming a lodestone but the serene environment with beautiful flowers is also becoming a wasted project heavily financed by the former administration of All Progressives Congress (APC) because of the financial incapacitation of the private company to maintain the centre.
It is crystal clear that the funfair park management can not be handled by the private company which calls for a matter of urgency for Governor Gboyega Oyetola to revisit the fading property of the government for future generation to benefit from.
Agodi fun park in Oyo State which was established in 1967 on 150 acres of land not only serves as tourism centre but also attract families and tourists to visit daily and occasionally, especially during festive periods which as a result contribute to the state IGR.
Nelson Mandela Freedom Park also has the potentiality to generate billions of naira for Osun State Government provided Governor Gboyega Oyetola revoke the liecence from the private company and provide modern equipment into the park which will not only attract local fun seekers but foreign tourists as well.
As Governor Oyetola is rejuvenating other dilapidated infrastructures in the state like roads, hospital as part of his campaign to provide social amenity for residents of the state, Nelson Mandela Freedom Park is also crying for revitalization.
History will never forgive this present administration if this beautiful garden with great potential built with the money of Osun tax payers is abandoned to die as a result of total neglect by the government to revisit its privatization.
