The founder of Olusegun Okanlawon Foundation (OOF) Engr. David Olusegun Okanlawon has disclosed that Ibarapa zone of Oyo State has been maginalised by the Oyo State government right from its inception, calling on sons and daughters of the zone to support the development of the zone so that it can compete with other zones within the state.
Okanlawon, who hails from Idere, one of the 7 towns in the 3 Ibarapa local government area, made this disclosure on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital during a press conference to showcase the activities of OOF aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the masses, particularly in Ibarapa region.
According to him, “Oyo State comprises of five major zones which include Oke-Ogun, Ogbomosho, lbarapa, Oyo and Ibadan but only Ibarapa has not been enjoying government attention,” adding that the development in the zone is very low compare to other zones within the state.
Okanlawon, who is also a contractor and consultant engineer with Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, noted 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 these have not translated into the development of Ibarapa zone.”
He lamented that Ibarapa zone has been deprived some benefits other zones in the state are enjoying “such as absence of dual carriage road, lack of standard education, standard stadium, television station, and constituency designate among others.”
He added “Come and assist us in Ibarapa zone because there is a lot of untapped resources over there, this is a clarion call on the sons and daughters of Ibarapaland 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 grassroots can be happy, Oyo government should look into this.
“Stop marginalizing us, let our people also benefit more from the government, people are hungry, maginalisation has nothing to do with sharing juicy political positions, taking good care of the people at the grassroots is the most important, this zone has been maginalised right from the inception.”
While speaking about his philanthropic gesture and the aim of his foundation (OOF) in moving Ibarapa zone to a greater height, 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 point for investors.
“For this year alone, over 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 one of the solution to our problems, a lot of people have benefited from my charity programmes, 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 indigene would be in attendance, 150 students who are beneficiaries of the payment of their UTME fee will be sensitized, gifts will also be given to winners 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 make a clarion call to all Ibarapa Indigenes home and abroad to please come and join this moving train. Let us collectively negotiate with those in the government to provide for us all required amenities that will uplift the glory of Ibarapaland and also place us equally with our neighbours. Community development is a collective effort.
“This is a clarion call to all communities that makes up Ibarapaland 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.”
