by Kayode Awojobi
For ages, Oke-Ogun people are known to be self-reliant, they had worked and are working for the betterment of their region with or without the support government. This group of assiduous people had contributed to the growth and development of Oyo state and Nigeria, at large. However, we, as a region, have not really benefitted from our hard work as our communities are yet to garner commensurate support for their contribution to the state.
It seems that we’ve been relegated to being second class citizens of Oyo state and we are being treated like a minority group in the nation. Interestingly, the region consist of 10 local governments out of the 33 local governments in the state. It’s saddening that we’ve suffered greatly when it comes to social amenities, infrastructural development and other dividends of democracy that we should all benefit from.
This region, which doubles as the food basket of Oyo State, our ingenious crafts like Aso-Oke (woven clothes) and Koko Irin (iron pots) amongst others have gone beyond the shores of Nigeria but our roads are largely in bad shape. These roads have become death traps and it has disconnected the region from economic prosperity. It is unimaginable that the road that connects the region to Ibadan, the state capital is ridden with potholes, for how long will we all be suffering in a country we all fought for her independence?
It must be put on record that the present administration of Governor Seyi Makinde is giving the region attention and we hope the federal government, as well, will extend her hands of development to the region as well.
It is a known fact that there are some notable people who had represented this region in the top echelon of this country did not make significant contribution to their homeland and the region at large. This is a Clarion call on our political and administrative leaders to become more selfless in their representation of the region. This will go a long way to change the perception of people about the region.
In addition, the region has honourable members in the Oyo State House of Assembly and the National Assembly. Unfortunately, they have not been aggressive in the pursuance of motions and bills that would alleviate the plight of our homeland. But it seems the tone is now changing for good, as bills and motions are now being sponsored. This will add to the betterment of the region.
At this time in history, there is a clamour for the establishment of a Federal University of Agriculture in Oke-ogun region of Oyo state. It is pertinent to note that this will be the very first time when Oke-ogun will be getting the desired attention from the Federal Government and it is very important for the good people of Oke-ogun both home and abroad to rise and fight for the common good of all. The bill, sponsored by Senator Fatai Buhari, has already reached the public hearing stage at the Senate and various stakeholders were at the National Assembly earlier this week.
This is high time renowned Oke-ogun indigenes from all walks of life arose for the good of our region, our various traditional rulers should not fold their hands at this point in time. Rather, they must stand in unity and claim what is meant for Oke-Ogun at this point in time. This is not the time to play politics with the overall development of Oke-Ogun, rather a time to collectively make a rhythmic sound of this drum of unity.
All the roads in the region either State or Federal roads needs urgent intervention and the topography of the region which has a lot of tourism potentials, such as Okeho Ahoro, Ado-Awaye suspended lake, Iyamapo hill amongst others should be maximized.
The Old Oyo National Park has become a shadow of itself. If these roads are re-constructed and made motorable, people from across the world would be delighted to visit this region researching and documenting our rich history for posterity and pedagogy.
The gateway to social emancipation needed in Oke-Ogun is social amenities, with this our artisans would return to the crafts and leave unworthy causes like okada riding amongst others. When there is electricity, people would be empowered, and the supposed joblessness in the region would be out of the issues that needs critical attention in Oke-Ogun and the nation at large.
We have a noble cause at hand and we need to maximize the opportunity. As a region, we have a preconceived notion of producing the governor of Oyo State. If we desire to win by two third of the total vote cast in the state, by pushing a unity front, we already have a third. There is a cause to increase the drum of unity that has sounded in the region in the days of old.
If the past generations have failed us in this region and made us an epitome of mockery in this nation, we, the upcoming generation, must not fail the generation yet unborn, we must strive and work towards the betterment of this region, we must claim our birthright again and showcase the glory of this region to the whole world.
Oke-ogun is a nation on her own, we must fight the good fight by securing our own independence from a nation where we have long being enslaved, it high time we stood to our feet, strong as solid rock, and change the lot of the region as a whole, because our future is in our hands, no one will fight for us, we will fight for ourselves and for our right.
Oke-Ogun is great, Oke-Ogun is blessed, Oke-Ogun people are not cowards, we are also an important fragments of the globe that needs attention as other people. We have being robbed in the past, it is a time to make changes, and we must be strong and very strong!
