Ogun State, Politics, 2026 World Cup
Segun Odegbami
What is certain is that through this event, the country will make its current status as a major global tourist destination look like a child’s play.
Qatar recognizes the power of the football World Cup to make an impression in the world.
That’s where Ogun State comes into the picture and the World Cup of 2026 a metaphor. Ogun State will neither bid for nor host the 2026 World Cup, but it can do what Qatar has done using a similar model. Qatar is a rich State with a land area of
11,876 sq. km. Ogun State occupies a land area of some 18,675 sq. km.
Qatar is mostly desert, and its main resource is oil. Ogun State, with a population of over four million people, may not be quite as rich in actual financial terms as Qatar, but combined with its intellectual and human capital, its better environment, its untapped varied mineral resources, its rich traditions in culture and rich history, without doubt, what Qatar has embarked upon Ogun State can surpass, but with a different agenda in mind.
So why not?
The good news is that Ogun State does not have to go through the rigour, expense and torturous process of bidding to host the football World Cup.
Ogun State can create its own ‘World Cup’, even a technologically driven ‘virtual’ one to be hosted in the year 2026, and make it the fulcrum of a development agenda that will take the State into the 22nd Century, seven years being the time needed by experience to undertake such a massive project.
The future possibilities are now becoming limited only by how far a man can stretch the limits of his imagination, his creativity and innovation. The technology and knowl- edge to achieve once considered sci-fi movie goals are right here with us now.
The only thing that can stop this from happening will be the citizens of the Ogun State themselves; their failure to wake up from distractive political slumber and focus on a greater vision beyond the trivial conversations of regular politics and soar high into the greater goals and realm of leading the Black Race into the battle of Civilisations on earth as a catalyst of national development. The Yoruba hold the responsibility of unshackling the Black Race from the chains of colonialism, under-development and mental slavery. They must tap into their reservoir of resources, intellectual capacity, rich experiences, philosophy, culture, value systems, ethical standards and meritocratic leadership system, to embark on this exciting, inevitable win-win battle.
The Yoruba of Ogun State has a singular responsibility to embark on this course of rapid development of the State to impact the other South West States and eventually the entire country and the Black man on earth.
In seven years, facilities and infrastructure, using the latest technology in communication, in the sciences, in engineering, architecture, health, construction, management, law, immigration, security, culture, the arts, hospitality, travels and tourism, entertainment, media, telecommunications, broadcast, ticketing, leisure, agriculture, transportation and so on, would be put in place, creating tens of thousands of job opportunities, rapid development of needed skills for the youths in various fields, including transforming the several technology institutions into Nigeria’s ‘Silicon Valley’, producing graduates that will fit into the needs of the various emergent industries. Ogun Sate will follow the football World
Cup pattern and prepare 10 cities within it to host the world, possibly any of the following: Ilaro, Ipokia, Otta, Ijoko, Sagamu, Aiyetoro, Ijebu Ode, Ijebu Igbo, Ago Iwoye, Abeokuta, Odeda, and so on.
All the cities shall be connected by very good roads; functional inter-city and intracity transportation systems; constant energy supply from various power sources; regular water supply; first-class medical facilities; hospitality facilities in hotels and services; excellent telecommunication and communication facilities with connections to the rest of the world; well-lit and secure downtown areas; media facilities; entertainment and recreational facilities in each of the cities; tourism sites and entertainment places that visitors can go to and spend their money; and sports facilities in each town and local government in the State.
Ogun State’s greatest asset is its people – sophisticated, civilized, educated, wise, culturally sound, entrenched traditions in good conduct, ethics, tolerance, liberalism, respect for scholarship and intellectualism, and a philosophical disposition to some of humanity’s most intractable problems in other climes - religion, leadership, governance and a love of life and celebration.
Its proximity to the mega-city of Lagos makes the State, potentially, the best place to live and to do business in Nigeria.
Ogun State, with its long belt of limestone and granite across the State is a construction paradise.