Ona Ara Local Government deserves better representation comparative to what is obtainable in other 32 Local Government Areas in the state. Firstly, this write up is not meant to drag Hon. Mohammed Fadeyi or Seyi Makinde but to speak the truth to all our representatives across the public service including Hon. Akin Alabi and Sen. Teslim Folarin.
There’s so much we need to bring to the table to drive Ona Ara Local Government forward. From good road network, better power components; like transformers, improved loans for small and medium sclae enterprises, better security apparatus, improved mechanized farming, good health care system and modern schools with good educational facilities. And truth be told, this is not a task bestowed on Gov. Seyi Makinde alone, it is a collective task for all public servants without exonerating the LG chairman.
The agitation for LG autonomy must never be swept under the carpet. It will go a long way to solve most of this undoing by the State Government especially. The trunk C roads are way more in numbers and kilometers than both the Trunk A and B combined for the whole of Nigeria. As recently expressed by Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Minister of Works and Housing, in his speech at an event to celebrate his 59th birthday, titled ‘Opinion! Who am i voting for?’ He emphasized the massive kilometers of roads which is owned by the LG 65% as against the state and federal government who both combined to 35%. In his words “Let me quickly conclude this part by letting you know that out of the over 200,000 Km of roads in Nigeria, the Federal government owns 35,000 KM (17.5%); the state government own 31,000 km (17.5%), while the local governments combined own 132,000km (65%)”. So it is imperative that the government concentrate more on the trunk C roads which basically connects the inner roads, aids movement of agriculture produce from the rural towns and agrarians to the urban, also helps to decongest the trunk A and B roads during heavy traffics. And this can only be possible with LG autonomy.
Photo Credit: Trailblazer News
For a commensurable growth in the living standards of our people, autonomy of power should be restored to the LGAs, only then can we rightly apportion blame and air our grievances to the right authorities. State governors need to cede adequate responsibilities to the LG authorities, they should be independent same way, state government is independent in governance to the federal government. We cannot blame the LG chairmen and other executives until power is accorded to them without the influence of the state governors.
However, we can always air our views and opinions on the table of the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde like we always do from time to time. Our roads have become death traps in Ona Ara LG. We thank God there was no casualty during the overdue collapse of the Paara – Gbaremu bridge. The tioya bridge is there unattended, the linking and alternative roads are terrible causing traffic within suburb and into the metropolis. Rehabilitating the alternative routes would have been a fair deal before initiating major road projects where we now have the contractors going AWOL during execution of project, perhaps due to fund unavailability or misappropriation, like the Tioya bridge under prolonged construction, making life unbearable for the common man.
The state and federal law makers are not contributing their adequate quotas either. Instead of making their voices heard on troubling issues concerning their people and constituency, they will rather display their ineptitude and incompetency to the people who voted them to power. It’s a shame where we find ourselves in developmental politics in Oyo State and Nigeria by extension. Everyone will rather play politics with people’s life and living standard than do the right thing and contribute to community and human capital growth. This type of governance is unhealthy for our immediate community and constituency. It will only lead to loss of more lives and properties, flood, poverty, joblessness, homelessness, armed robbery and more corrupt practices by our youths and adults.
We apportion blames to Seyi Makinde corridor at when due, we will not exonerate or absolve anyone of their ineptness to offering the people of Ona Ara LG good governance, including the state and federal house of assembly representatives in our constituency. Our growth and prosperity as a nation is bottom-up approach, all concerned public servants and even private individuals or parastatals will be brought to the fore and duly scrutinize for any positive and negative contribution to the growth of Ona Ara LG. Ona Ara and its people deserve more from the government.
I will not end this piece without appreciating the effort of Engr. Dotun Sanusi, the Chairman and CEO of Ilaji Farms for his immense and invaluable contribution to the growth and development of Ona Ara LG. Some sect mischievously say it’s a business relationship but his contribution to making life easy for the people is way too underated and underappreciated. His efforts has surpassed even that of the state government in terms of social development, infrastructural growth, security, tourism, revenue and international relations and growth for Ona Ara LG and it’s people. The government is better poised to dwarf these contributions of Engr. Dotun Sanusi if they get their acts right and get to work. We pray they someday do.
Ona Ara A Gbewa O
By Tobi Adisa Deeduke
