Kehinde Ayanboade,
Ibadan.
Founder and convene of the Olusegun Okanlawon Foundation (OOF), Engr. David Olusegun Okanlawon has on Tuesday disclosed that the Ibarapa zone of Oyo State has been marginalised by the state government right from it inception.
Engr. Okanlawon made this known in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, while briefing newsmen about the activities of the Olusegun Okanlawon foundation, and its aim of alleviating the suffering of the masses particularly from the Ibarapa region.
In his word, Okanlawon noted that Oyo State fathers five major zones which includes Oke-Ogun, Ogbomosho, lbarapa, Oyo town and Ibadan, insisting that only Ibarapa region is not enjoying much of the state development when compared to other zones within the state.
He further call on sons and daughters of the zone to support the development of the Ibarapa region so that it can compete with other zones within the state.
Okanlawon, an indigene of Idere town, who is also a contractor and consultant engineer with Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) maintained that “we have top government officials who are Ibarapa indigenes such as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Hon. Seun Fakorede, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, two House of Representative members, and State Assembly members to mention few, but all this doest not translate to the development of Ibarapa zone.
He lamented some benefits other zones in the state are enjoying with Ibarapa zone has been deprived on such as absence of dual carriage road, lack of standard education, standard stadium, television station, and constituency designate among others.
” Come and assist us in Ibarapa zone because there is a lot of untaped resources over there, this is a clarion call on the sons and daughters of Ibarapa land to join hands together in moving our land forward for development, all we want is for the dividends of democracy to reach our people, so that the people at the grass root can be happy, Oyo government should look into this.
“Stop marginalizing us, let our people also benefit more from the government, people are hungry, marginalization has nothing to do with sharing juicy political position, taking a good care of the people at the grass root is the most important, this zone has been marginalized right from the inception.”
While speaking about his philanthropist gesture and the aim of his foundation (OOF) in moving Ibarapa zone to a greater height, Engr. Okanlawon maintained that his joy is to see Ibarapa moving forward and competing with other zones in the state, adding that he has done a lot of things to make the zone a good destination.
“For his year alone, over (4m) four million naira has been invested in the zone, nothing less than 150 beneficiaries has benefited from payment of their Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) because I believe that investing in education is the solution our problems, alot of people have benefited from my charity, some have been giving scholarships, while some people have also benefited in many ways.
“OOF is organizing a dinner on 30th of this month where prominent Ibarapa indigien will be in attendance, 150 students who are beneficiaries of the payment of their UTME fee will be sensitized, gifts will also be giving to winner of the football match we organized which has been slated for 26th – 29th of this month.”
He however urged all monarchs, chieftains, fathers and mothers, and the youths of Ibarapa land to preach, pray, work and achieve unity in Ibarapa, saying that the major challenges of the zone required all of them to see themselves as one.
“I hereby blows the bugle of a clarion call to all Ibarapa Indigenes home and abroad to please come and join this moving train. Let us collectively negotiate to those in the government to provide for us all required amenities that will uplift the glory of Ibarapa land and also place us equal to our neighbours. Community development is a collective effort.
“This is a clarion call to all communities that makes up Ibrapa to unite as one, to achieve this fantastic feat. Our youths are really striving despite all the limitations they are facing, we can make Ibarapa more formidable by creating opportunities for the youths and if you all agree with me that investment in infrastructure is a long term solution and requirement for growth and sustainability of the community.”
