PHOTOS – Gbangba D’ekun: Iwo Stands Still For Aregbesola

Residents of Iwoland recently used the opportunity of meeting the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to express their minds on government projects in the community.
The town hall, located at the heart of the town was filled to capacity, as monarchs, chiefs, opinion leaders, market men and women and artisans thronged the venue in anticipation of meeting the governor face-to-face.
OSUN DEFENDER observed that the residents of the three local government council areas constituting the constituency competed to outshine one another at the event, as they strived to register their presence at the venue with different insignia.
The Asiwaju of Iwo land, Chief Gbadegesin, expressed the feelings of the people on the ongoing beautification in Iwoland and the state in general.
According to him, the project was long overdue, while commending the governor for taking the bold step towards making the state a haven for investors around the globe.
He contested argument from opposition in the state, saying the scheme was not meant to punish anyone, but to improve the standard of living of residents of all the affected communities.
“I built a market 18 years ago that was affected by the scheme, but I am certain the market should be relocated, because the realities on ground have over-grown the objectives of the market.
“What I would suggest is that government should create a forum for meeting with stakeholders regularly to make government more participatory”, he added.
Furthermore, the Iwo chief stated that the approach of Governor Aregbesola to governance has opened the eyes of the state residence that former administrations in the state have been cheating the electorate over time.
He then solicited for the support of everyone for the administration in its bid to move the state to the promised land and make it a reference point for others in the federation.
The Iyalodes of the various towns in the federal constituency protested that the state government has placed more emphasis on market women, therefore prevailing on government to show similar affection for the office of Iyalodes in the state.
Also speaking, the President of Kuta Front Association, Dr Adigun, commended the various road projects executed by the state government in the area, while urging the state government to come to the community’s rescue on Kuta-Ede road.
According to him, the road, which is a Federal Government road, has been slated for construction for about 25 years, but has since remained abandoned.
In his contribution, the Olupo of Oluponna, Oba Oyeleso, who said he was speaking on the occasion as a farmer, commended the state government investment in the agricultural sector, while urging everyone in the rural areas to go back to farming.
According to him, there is no government that has invested in the sector like the present administration is doing since its inauguration in 2010, calling on the youths to embrace farming as a means of reducing unemployment.
The peak of the event was the arrival of the governor, as residents thronged the roads leading to the venue in a bid to catch a glimpse, who they referred to as “Omoluabi Original”.
Security operatives had tough time clearing the road to pave way for the governor to gain access into the venue.
OSUN DEFENDER