Ona-Ara LG Chairman Presents Scorecard As Impressed Stakeholders Reaffirm Support For Makinde
•By OYENIYI KAZEEM
IBADAN – THE Executive Chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government, Dr. Temitope Kolapo, has presented a comprehensive scorecard of his administration, attributing the pace of development in the council to what he described as the steady support and leadership example of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Kolapo, who spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting in the local government secretariat, Akanran, on Tuesday January 20, expressed gratitude to the governor for the opportunity to serve at the grassroots, noting that the administration’s interventions across key sectors were guided by the Six-Point tagged “N.E.W.E.R.A Agenda”.
According to him, under the pillar of Nourishing Ona-Ara Heritage, the council has undertaken the reconstruction and remodelling of the local government secretariat, while construction of the Ona-Ara Traditional Council Hall is nearing completion.
He also cited visits to charity homes, including a school for the handicapped, during his first 100 days in office, where food items and household materials were distributed.
On education, Kolapo said the council reconstructed the Ona-Ara Local Education Office, describing it as one of the best in the state, while also distributing megaphones to primary schools, donating a generator to Amuloko Community Grammar School and providing free JAMB forms to 500 students from public schools.
Scholarships were awarded to selected students of Ona-Ara origin in tertiary institutions, while 10 schools across the local government benefitted from construction and renovation projects through state support, CSDA and NGO interventions.
Other initiatives included free transportation and entertainment for NYSC members, education sensitisation campaign on radio stations and the distribution of exercise books.
In the area of welfare and social services, the chairman listed payment of medical bills for accident victims, support for a maternity centre, empowerment programmes for widows, women and persons living with disabilities, and the distribution of 100 free POS machines to youths and women entrepreneurs with CAC registration fully paid.
He also highlighted extensive public health interventions, including cholera prevention campaigns, mass chlorination of water sources, WASH facilities in health centres, over 15,000 home-based toilets leading to Open Defecation Free status across all wards by UNICEF, and the drilling of multiple boreholes and solar-powered water projects across various communities.
Kolapo said the local government has also recorded progress in economic growth through the creation of an official website, inauguration of IGR-boosting and database committees, improved revenue mechanisms, and the commissioning of Adeagbo Heritage Limited, described as the first international-standard bakery in the area.
He added that investment-focused sensitisation jingles have attracted increased NGO presence to the council.
On infrastructure, he noted sustained bush clearing at major entrances, rehabilitation and grading of more than 100 kilometres of roads, construction of the Ajia interchange, dualisation of the Olorunsogo–Ariyo road with extension towards Odeyale, and the renovation of Amuloko Junction Road.
Seven bridges have been reconstructed, with the Onisebe Bridge nearing commissioning. He added that rivers are regularly dredged to prevent flooding, streetlights have been installed across all 11 wards, a new magistrate court building has been completed, an old dumpsite cleared, environmental and traffic by-laws initiated, and construction of an ultra-modern registry and multi-purpose hall is ongoing.
In agriculture, the chairman said disputes among farmers’ associations have been resolved, farmlands allocated to investors and cooperatives, while access to soft loans have also been facilitated.
He disclosed personal investment in poultry and maize farming, empowerment of over 100 farmers with inputs, and the hosting of the Ona-Ara New Era Food Day to provide low-cost food items.
The council boss attributed the sector-by-sector development in the council to what stakeholders described as the “GSM effects,” referencing some major state projects in the LG such as the Ibadan Airport upgrade, Oremeji to Airport Road, Olorunsogo–Ariyo Road and the Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road as legacies that can not be erased for generations to come.
He said about 90 percent of the circular road corridor and parts of the airport upgrade fall within Ona-Ara while describing Makinde as having transcended beyond political leadership to become a role model and mentor, adding that the governor’s prioritisation of Ona-Ara has accelerated cross-sector development.
He also disclosed that the governor has directed local governments to recruit vigilante personnel to strengthen grassroots security, while efforts are being intensified to tackle land grabbing. He cautioned against ethnic profiling in addressing security challenges and urged community leaders to strengthen neighbourhood watch structures.
The Immediate past Special Assistant on Egbeda/Onaara Federal Constituency to Governor Seyi Makinde, Hon. Adegboyega Akinlolu popularly known as ‘Akin Oosa’ said the Council chairman has grown to become the grassroots version of governor Seyi Makinde, who he described as a visionary and pragmatic leader, vowing that the LG remains solidly behind him.
In their separate remarks, stakeholders including the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers in Ona-Ara, Comrade Titilolu Ibukunolu Sunday, CDC Chairman Ambassador Adebayo Olawale Adekunle, the Babaloja and Iyaloja of Ona-Ara, and other community leaders also commended Makinde for giving priority to the council despite its relatively low revenue base compared to main city Councils.
They reaffirmed their support for his vision for Oyo State, pledging continued unity and unflinching support for him as the next election cycle beckons.
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Chairman of the Ona-Ara Traditional Council, Oba Kamorudeen Adebowale, expressed appreciation to the governor for unprecedented development in road infrastructure and agriculture, socioeconomic improvement and the improved well-being of residents in the council.
Other dignitaries present included the Ona-Ara PDP Chairman, Alfa Kehinde Adeyemo; the SSA to the Governor on SDGs, Hon. Mufutau Ogunremi; former and serving party leaders, and past local government officials, all of whom expressed commendation for the administration and reaffirmed sustained support for the state government.