Image caption: Aerial view of the market
Mind-blowing: New market inaugurated in Ogbomoso – How it’s facilitated, Onpetu Ijeru reveals
Jeremiah OYELEKE & Precious ADEDOKUN
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It was excitement as a new ultra-modern market, located at Sunsun area, opposite Ogbomoso South local government Secretariat, Arowomole, was commissioned in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Wednesday, .
Named Kajola Ultra-modern Market, the commercial centre, consisting of 120 lock-up shops, 84 open shops, abattoir, administrative block, VIP toilets, completed with road network, and built by the Ogbomoso South local government in conjunction with the Oyo state government, was commissioned by the Oyo state acting governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, who stood in for Governor Seyi Makinde, who is on leave.
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Barrister Lawal who is deputy governor of Oyo state, disclosing Governor Makinde mandated him to personally declare the market open on his behalf said it’s a project that is dear to the governor aimed at liberalizing the economy of Ogbomoso and Oyo state in general.
He revealed the state government committed huge funds to the project evident in its completion within four months, which he said is a testament the contractor was not starved of funds.
“So, we thank the governor who prioritized this market. The Oyo state governor has interest and invested heavily in this market. The effective period for constructing this market is four months, according to the contractor.and this is because they were not starved of funds,” Barrister Lawal said.
Disclosing it is the third such market being opened under the administration and the first under Omituntun 2.0, the previous ones under Omituntun 2.1 were Shasha Market at Moniya, Akinyele Ibadan and Akesan Market in Oyo, he assured the government was ready to expand the Kajola market if there was land and so urged the council boss, Hon Oyedokun Oyeniyi Timothy, to make application at the appropriate quarters so as to expand the market. He emphasized, “the chairman must double his efforts, make application and I know His Excellency will consider the application very favourably.”
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The enthusiastic acting governor went ahead to urge the administrators of the market to constantly ensure provision of adequate security to keep miscreants at bay just as he emphasized on maintenance of cleanliness to avert disease pandemic noting consumables will be the major wares. “This is a standard market, we can’t just leave everybody to do what they like.”
He added that government is “prepared and ready to assist our communities, as Kabiyesi (Onpetu of Ijeru kingdom Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran Lagbami Osekun III) mentioned that they are Oliver Twist, we will work to liberalize the economy of Ogbomosoland. For example, the university (LAUTECH) that went comatose several years back, this government secured its sole ownership and you know a university town is already a market place. We will continue to intensify efforts in our developmental strides.”
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Lawal also stressed Makinde’s administration is committed to improved road infrastructure as demonstrated by the construction of Moniya, Ibadan – Iseyin road and Iseyin-Ogbomoso road saying this is an effective alternative route to the usually unmotorable federal government’s Ogbomoso – Oyo road.
He retorted, “If Ogbomoso – Oyo road were to be a state road, we would have done something about it. That is the route (Moniya – Iseyin – Ogbomoso) we took today, less than 3 hours, so that is part of the developmental strides of this administration, opening up the economy, so, I am happy today that in the name of the governor of Oyo state we have come here to commission this project.”
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He similarly charged local governments that are “contiguous” to work collaboratively to tackle the the obnoxious security challenge bedeviling the nation.
The council boss, Hon Oyedokun fondly called “OOT” noted, “This is a dream come true. The project represents our shared vision for a thriving and prosperous community. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde, acting governor Chief Bayo Lawal, and the Oyo state government for allowing this to happen in my time and capping it with their presence today. I thank their unwavering support in making this dream a reality. Together, we move forward.”
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Also in his remark, the Onpetu registering his “exceeding appreciation” to the governor said he regarded the project as phase one and so urged the government to earnestly begin phase two.
The monarch also thanked the Chief of Staff to Governor Makinde Chief Segun Ogunwuyi and the council boss, submitting their commitment and good representation made the project a reality.
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Recounting how the project came to being, Onpetu disclosed, “His Excellency came for a programme in Ogbomoso sometimes ago and he was hosted by the Chief of Staff and I was invited, it was shortly after the commissioning of the Akesan Market in Oyo. There were different varieties of food but I said l was not eating that I had things to say as a way of making a request to the governor. I said, “Your Excellency you have built the Akesan Market in Oyo, we want a similar thing in Ogbomoso South.’ The governor said ‘you own Ogunwuyi, tell him.’ That is how the project was approved. So, Chief Ogunwuyi the Otunba Mayeloye of Ijeruland is representing us well, if not we won’t be commissioning this project today. And then he has a good person as chairman because if the chairman says that’s not his priority it won’t be done. So, ‘you own Ogunwuyi’ conversation is what birthed this project we are commissioning today.”
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He admonished Ogbomoso indigenes who are highly placed and have the wherewithal to prioritize the development of Ogbomoso, saying, “Whoever is ready to contribute to the development of this town is my friend. Anyone who is not ready to use his connection and relationship with the powers that be to bring development to this town cannot be my friend.
“Please, our elites, have a change of mind, we are not interested in you coming around to be flaunting beautiful cars, rather, we want you to come and contribute to the development of this town. I beg you all sons and daughters of this town, let’s join hands together to develop this town.”
The permanent chairman traditional council in Ogbomoso South local government further maintained, “It is a shame we cannot boast of a private polytechnic or university in this town and you want to tell me you are rich, you are not rich, you are poor. You can’t tell me you have reached the top echelon of government position in this country if you can’t tell me you influenced the employment of our teeming youths the way the Hausa people are doing , if you cannot say I have done this you are not occupying any position. Finally, we are happy about this (market), let’s have more of this. This is promise made and promise kept.”
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Dignitaries present at the event included Chief Segun Ogunwuyi, Chief of Staff to Governor Makinde; Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, the Majority Leader, Oyo State House of Assembly; Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi, commissioner for trade, industry, investment and cooperatives; Alhaja Faozat Sanni, commissioner for special duties; Dr. Saka Balogun, chairman, PDP Elders Council/Governor’s Advisory Council; Bishop David Moradeyo, chairman, Pilgrims Board Christian Wing and Bishop Ogbomoso Methodist Diocese; Mr. Joel Ajagbe, permanent secretary, ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters; and Alhaji Gbadegesin Kareem.
Also in attendance were executive chairmen from several local governments, including Hon. Sikiru Sanda (Egbeda), Hon. Bisi Fadiran (Iseyin), Hon. Isaiah Adegbite (Surulere), Hon. George Ogunlade (Ogbomoso North), and Hon. Alabi Teju (Oriire); former chairmen of Ogbomoso South, Prince Felix Akande and Hon. Wale Adeleke.
Traditional rulers included Oba Moses Olayiwola Ajiboye, Aresa Apa of Iresa Apa; Oba Bolarinwa Ezekiel Olajide, Onisapa of Isapa; some Soun of Ogbomoso chiefs, Oba Sunday Oyeniyi Ojewumi, Oniyaku of Yaku land, Ogbomoso; Sheikh Abubakar Musa Adesoji; Chief Imam of Ogbomoso South local government, as well as representatives from market associations, were also present.
