Are saboteurs truly undermining progress and development in Ogbomoso? By Ben GEORGE

Are saboteurs truly undermining progress and development in Ogbomoso? By Ben GEORGE

Advertisemnt

Things are truly happening in Ogbomoso, which beat imagination. It is as if some are determined to frustrate genuine developmental efforts in the city in view of the various occurrences in recent times. It is as if some fifth columnists are working surreptitiously to stifle the progress of the city. Or perhaps it is all just a coincidence! Yesterday, it was reported that vandals struck at the much-awaited Ogbomoso 132KVA sub-station at Temidire/Ajeja. The project started about sixteen years ago but yet uncompleted. It is the belief of many that its completion will open a new vista that will boost development in the city particularly in the economic sector. Different Ogbomoso people in government over the years exerted their influence to get it completed to no avail. About August last year, the Soun of Ogbomosoland Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye also capitalizing on a meeting with President Bola Tinubu mentioned it and appealed that the President cause a triggering of action that will make work be expedited on the project for obvious reasons. Others had made similar push in the past and still making, towards achieving a better Ogbomoso. In fact, a team from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Abuja, was on ground last week for some technical inspection, with clear indication that the goal is on the cusp of being realized. But shockingly, less than a week later the place was attacked for vandalization. Such thing had never been recorded since the project started. It is thus inexplicable why now.

Similarly, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye rallied some public-spirited individuals including the Aare Musulumi of Ogbomosoland Alhaji Ganiyu Atanda Owodunni to fix the moribund Ogbomoso Water Works. With the approval of the Oyo state government obtained, the project started in earnest. Work was well advanced with water already flowing at some points, the work was at the verge of completion with about N100m already spent, but suddenly vandals struck at the place, carting away vital equipment. That effectively put paid to the effort. The project is now stalemated.

Why are things like that happening? Recall also that some fifth columnists caused the Oyo state Commissioner for Youths and Sports to issue a letter, days to the first edition of Ogbomoso Cradles Carnival in 2024, stopping the use of the Soun Stadium for the grand finale scheduled there. It took the last-minute intervention of Governor Seyi Makinde after he was notified by the Soun before the directive of the Commissioner was rescinded. It was later found out it was orchestrated by sadistic elements in Ogbomoso. Then, there was a time a programme scheduled for LAUTECH, one put together by one of the 25-year agenda sub-committees of the Soun, had approval for the use of the hall withdrawn without reason other than some people were aghast something like that would happen. But power suppressed power again for the door of the hall to be flung open. We have seen how some powerful forces also went behind the scene to teleguide the good people of Ikoyi to thwart the townhall meeting planned for Oriire local government recently. There are other instances which all point to a similar trend aimed sinisterly at hampering developmental efforts.

Advertiement

It is a funny scenario, when littler effort was made at upping the developmental index of Ogbomoso, no one constituted themselves into saboteurs, there was calm, inactiveness on their part, but now that the land is being shaken to transform the city, the saboteurs became hyperactive churning out different machinations to combat the drive and undermining efforts to up the ante. “Ogbomoso is not developed” used to be the slogan, we now know better why it is not and why Ogbomoso North seems to be ahead. Crystal clear now.

Whether true or not may Ogbomoso win under the new mantra of light. light always triumph over darkness.