Ogundokun, PDP Chieftain, Donates LG Secretariat Complex in Osun

                  … Tasks Wealthy Nigerians on Development Projects

By Abdulrofiu Agboola, Osogbo

Chief Abiola Ogundokun

A Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Chief Abiola Ogundokun, has challenged Nigerian politicians and wealthy individuals to use their resources and positions to assist government in developing the nation.

Chief Ogundokun gave this challenge at the Commissioning of newly constructed Secretariat complex which he personally built and donated to the Iwo East Local Government Development Area Secretariat Office in Osun State.

Iwo East is one of the newly created LCDAs in Osun, South-West Nigeria.

An erstwhile spokesman of the defunct National Party of Nigeria said politicians must move beyond condemnations and device means of supporting the government in the onerous task of development.

“In view of government’s limited resources, which is not limited to the state of Osun and the present realities of the global economic recession, I believe good governance like that of Rauf Aregbesola’s administration deserves to be supported by us all.

” What we need today is to separate sentiments, emotions and selfish interests from collective benefits that could help fast track growth. This is not the era of pulling down good governments but a time to look back and say, ‘Yes, I did my best and contributed to a golden era of speedy development, even at my own expense.

“The Governor deserves commendation for initiating and executing series of capital projects, despite serious economic recession. I personally monitored these projects and my conclusion is that the projects have the potency of laying a solid foundation for future development of our state,” Ogundokun said.

Governor Aregbesola who performed the official commissioning the office complex challenged other wealthy citizens to emulate the commendable efforts of the donor, who refused to be swayed by needless political sentiments or differences.

Aregbesola said the era of free money from Abuja was over and it was time citizens took their faith into their hands by payment of taxes and embarking on development-oriented projects.

Describing Ogundokun as a politician worthy of emulation in Nigerian politics Aregbesola also called on the citizens of the state to learn from what the political icon has done in his community.

Aregbesola lauded Ogundokun for conceiving the idea of the project and personally implemented such within a short period of two months.

The Governor said Ogundokun has taken a bold step to bring the government closer to the people by building a Secretariat in order to ease administrative functions in Iwo community.

According to him, the government would continue to accommodate any individual who is willingly to contribute his or her quota in bringing the people closer to the government through humanitarian efforts.

Aregbesola said the LCDA Secretariat would serve as a stepping stone to more of it kinds from true indigenes of the State.

The Governor named the LCDA Iwo East Secretariat after the Oba of Iwo land, Oba Abdul – Rasheed Adewale Akanbi Secretariat.

The host monarch, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Akanbi expressed appreciation to the good gesture of the PDP chieftain and enjoined Nigerian politicians to be servant-leaders.

He also urged religious leaders and citizens to go beyond theoretical preachments and live by the scriptures.

“Don’t just ask from government, ask yourself what you are contributing to the nation. Don’t always ask God to bless you,  seek ways to help God too. And since you can’t see God, the only way to assist Him is to assist His creatures, His servants. It is only then that you can reciprocate God ceaseless blessings on you.”

On why he refused to celebrate his one year on the throne in a flamboyant way, Oluwo said he decided not to celebrate it because he has not fulfilled his plan to transform the town and make life better for the people of the town the way he wants.

Oba Akanbi added that he was not ready to celebrate until Oluwo attained enviable height he aspired and the youths of Iwo were gainfully employed.

While speaking on the state of the nation’s economy, Oba Akanbi said there was need for Nigeria to outsourcing and look beyond agriculture as a means of overcoming the current economic predicament.

Oba Akanbi recommended a technological shift that would make the country be industrialized and thereby create more jobs to the massive unemployed graduates.

The monarch said: “I don’t believe in diversification of the economy into Agriculture, I will only recommend industrialization as the best alternative at this point in time. Agriculture would take more land with little workers while industrialization would absorb large workers with just a little land”

The Council Manager, Mrs Abiola Felicia Olabamtan commended the move of the government for taking the bold step to move governance closer to the people despite the economic downturn

She described the Chief Ogundokun as a patriotic Nigerian and a true father who conceived the idea of the project and ‘personally implemented it in less than two months’, saying it was a promise well kept.