From Toluwa Agboluaje, Ibadan
In a Press Release signed by the President of the Forum, Dr. Olusegun Ajuwon, OON, the umbrella body for Oke Ogun people advised that the loan should not be spent only on the two proposed farm settlements located in Ido and Eruwa alone, because these settlements are in the same Oyo South Senatorial District.
The body described as unacceptable the Oyo State Government’s view that proceeds from the projects in these two settlements would later be spent on the other farm settlements in the State, arguing that the amount involved was huge enough to be spent on all the seven identified settlements in the state. It added that justice, equity and fairness in resource distribution demands that all settlements in the state should benefit from proposed government intervention. Fair play dictates that such a loan should not be spent in just one District at the expense of other two.
In the release, Governor Makinde was reminded of his confirmation that Oke Ogun is the food basket of the state and the commitment that his government would do everything possible to ensure that agricultural produce from that region feed the state.
The body said Oke ogun is well known for development in agriculture, a fact acknowledged by even the World Bank which created in the region the Oyo North Agricultural Programme (ONADEP) in Saki, some decades ago.
The release further stated that given Governor Makinde’s assurances during his electoral campaigns that he would improve the agricultural potential of Oke ogun area, the expectation of the people from this area is that it should be among the first batch of beneficiaries of such intervention.
ODCF concluded that the state governor should consider the inclusion of farm settlements in the three senatorial districts including Oke ogun, Fashola-Oyo, and Ogbomoso in disbursement of the CBN loan. etc.
In a related development, ODCF also criticized the decision of the state government to spend about N8billion on an access road and roundabout in Iwo and Ife Roads interchange in Ibadan, the state capital, stating that there are other areas of the state, particularly roads leading to Oke ogun area that deserve equal, if not better attention of the government.
It said: “In terms of strategic importance, Moniya-Iseyin road should come first, especially since Iwo/Ife interchange in Ibadan is partly a federal road’ has part of it that belongs to the federal government.”
ODCF appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde-led government “to reconsider its decision in line with the arguments articulated by the body.
