Kogi lawmaker donates military base to army: Clarion call to foster new spirit in Ogbomoso, by Femi OGUNLANA
Femi Ogunlana is Publisher and Editor of The Insight Newspaper and ogbomosoinsightonline.com.
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The lawmaker representing Kogi West senatorial district, Senator Sunday Karimi, on Saturday, donated a Forward Operating Base in Egbe, Yagba East local government area of the state, to the Nigerian Army to enhance their security operations in the district.
The base is a 94-bed private initiative of the senator, not a constituency project. He solely funded it and is equipped with hostels, kitchen, communication, operational vehicles (two Hilux buses), 3 bedroom apartment, commandant office, CCTV, gun trucks amongst other facilities.
It is expected to provide a secured environment for “coordination, community and strategic deployment” for the officers and soldiers of 12 brigades and two division Nigerian Army, designed to meet their operational needs.
Speaking during the commissioning Saturday, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, stated that the base is a testament to the vision, dedication and collaborative efforts exhibited by the Kogi West senator.
The Chief of Army Staff who was represented by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General OG Onubogu, said that the Senator has proven to be a man who is focused on ensuring security and progress for his community.
“Let me express my heartfelt appreciation to Senator Karimi for his tenacity, and commitment in spearheading the construction and completion of this strategic facility,” he stated.
“I’m assured that the construction of this new FOB is very timely which is in line with the operational and logistical challenges we faced when the recent rescue of kidnapped students of Confluence University of Science and Technology, (CUSTECH) who were rescued from the forest near Egbe town.”
He added, “This Forward Operation Base will support our efforts in stopping and deterring bandits, criminals, gunrunners and other criminal elements who operate around the forest and rivers joining Kogi and Kwara states.”
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Senator Karimi in his remark asserted that the project was personally funded to enhance the security of lives and property for the community and communities bordering Kogi state, namely Ekiti, Kwara and Osun states.
“Having noticed all of this, it occurred to me that we have to join hands with government in reinforcing the security in this area. Yes the Army has a platoon of about 20 men here. We decided to provide a base for the military here so that it can help to reinforce security in the neighbouring community bordering Kogi, Kwara, Ekiti and Osun states. With the base, working with the government, we will have an improved security of lives and property.
“This project is not a constituency project as spelt out in the budget. It is my personal initiative and fully funded by me personally and my family for the good of our people and neighbouring communities. It is not a government funded or constituency project as can be found in the budget.”
IN SEARCH OF NEW BOLD PUBLIC SPIRIT IN OGBOMOSO
There is no doubt Ogbomoso as well as other communities are in dire need of individuals driven by such spirit as demonstrated by Senator Karimi. A selfless, public-spirited drive that dares to accomplish the unthinkable, huge projects, which will make life better for all, in the real sense! It is obvious government cannot do all, thus, it’s incumbent on the privileged individuals, the rich, the politicians, to stand in the gap. There are many needs in a society, which government might not be aware of; men of goodwill are expected to intervene to fix the needs.
Recently, Ogbomoso Insight reported the road construction projects embarked upon by both Senators Solomon Adeola and Orji Uzor Kalu representing Ogun West and Abia North respectively, in their constituencies. Such will have direct impact on the generality of the people in the constituencies and not only on a category of people who are mainly party members and loyalists, when motorcycles (okadas) and the likes are distributed. The so-called empowerment programmes are mostly rewards for followers and should not be celebrated as monumental achievements.
Ogbomoso particularly yearns for that orientation, that thinking from its well-to-do people. It needs individuals who will break grounds in road projects’ execution. We need individuals and associations who will prioritize infrastructural developments and commit resources to them. There are several public schools which have suffered physical degrading like blown roofs whose repairs are ignored by governments; good-spirited men are needed to rejuvenate such academic environments. Many socio-cultural organizations abound which can adopt schools’ renovations as community development project (CDP) – there are individuals too who are so blessed and capable of undertaking such without hassle. We have the Police Secondary School and Police College already approved for Ogbomoso, but are yet to take off years after because the police authorities requested few infrastructures are provided by the community, which no one has ventured to do. Don’t we have privileged people and associations that can undertake that? Years after, the sites are taken over by forests! Furthermore, the police authorities have assented to the take-off of the institution (Police Secondary School) from a temporary site of which Oyo state government has approved the use of Ogbomoso Grammar School but no one has come forward to volunteer to rehabilitate the section released for the commencement of the school – an initiative that will provide employments, swell the town’s population thereby boosting its economy as well as being a lever to attract other related police facilities and institutions. We have the Senator representing Oyo Central senatorial district, where the police secondary school and police college are located in Surulere local government, Odanbon and Igbo-Aka respectively, that is Senator Dr Yunus Akintunde, as the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Police Affairs, has any representation been made to him to lobby him to include the projects in the budget? We have people, including the Soun, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, who are close to the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and the Chairman Police Service Commission (PSC), they can leverage on such relationship to get things done as far as the police schools are concerned. The Alaaje of Aaje Ologo, HRH Reuben Adesina Amao JP (dss dir rtd), is familiar with both the PSC Chairman and the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) according to his comments when the two were appointed, what can he accomplish in terms of development based on his familiarity with them? There are others too who have strong or stronger bonds with these men; they should rally to approach them for the good of our land. We need to be smart about these things, time is short.
The Federal Polytechnic Ayede in Ogbomoso has built up its permanent site to a level it can be occupied but poor road to the location is stalling the movement – despite repeated cry, no one has come to its aid through facilitation of the construction by government either federal or state. The damages on the major trunk A through the town has made traveling on it a nightmare, and has adversely affected the economy of the community; for months now, no one could walk up to the President from among our “Big Men” to tell him about our plight. Yet, we love to chant, “We are valiant people.” Perhaps that cognomen belongs to our ancestors. Who says Ogbomoso cannot do with a Forward Operating Base like the one conceived and built by Senator Karimi in Egbe to fight insecurity especially in Oriire local government? If no one else takes it, the Ogbomoso Valiant Club can adopt it as its CDP! We continue to cherish the Heroes Arcade built by the association at Oja’gbo, but it needs new exploits. Such a military base can in the future be built into a battalion and then, a brigade can spring up from it.
Meanwhile, the reigning Soun, Oba Olaoye has demonstrated such spirit being canvassed. Among others His Majesty spearheaded the resuscitation of the moribund Ogbomoso Water Works mobilizing few indigenes to contribute towards the multi-million naira project – work is still ongoing, perhaps the ineptitude of those handing the project evident in failing, prior the commencement of the project, to carry out a thorough technical survey of the old network, is stalling the completion. The Oba has also intervened in repairing the grounded road construction/rehabilitation machines and equipment of Ogbomoso North local government; just he committed personal resources to energizing sections of the new international market at LAUTECH area in Ogbomoso. In addition, the monarch has on more than one occasion undertaken the patching of roads in Ogbomoso metropolis. That is the spirit that can develop this community in the face of government’s lackadaisical approach to development particularly outside the state capital.
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However, I understand forces of Sanballat and Tobiah are often active against such noble initiatives especially in this clime. They constitute themselves into opponents, resenting developmental moves planned by the people they consider as their contemporaries. They are aroused to antagonism and hostility. It is ridiculous; people, who aren’t disposed to ideals like that, often, due to envy predilection; strive fiercely to truncate selfless projects as that, by weaving all manners of yarns to frustrate and jeopardize their execution; they put up flawed wisdoms why such projects are objectionable; they dismiss the originator as an arrogant soul seeking relevance and glory. Even in some quarters the Soun is being slammed as exposing government’s inaction in the areas he has intervened. They are engaged in trying to run him down as treading in areas where he should not have, castigating and holding him in contempt before the powers that be, it is learnt. What they have no mind of doing, if someone else now sticks out his neck to do it, they are provoked to jealousy and animosity. Perhaps the fear stems from the notion that the encomiums the good person will receive will dwarf their own status (or how can one explain such deplorable and retrogressive attitude?) When a politician or highly placed person facilitates a project, his/her contemporaries feel insecure, and try to downplay the effort; they accentuate the weak lines; they are scared of the accolades being heaped on the initiator. Many have been held back from executing good deeds as a result of antics of such negative individuals, saboteurs.
But good-spirited men and women need not be dissuaded by the shenanigans of the Sanballats and Tobiahs of this world, they will always abound. Rather, they should be driven by the spirit of promotion of CDP, of bequeathing enduring legacies that people will talk about in positive light even after they are long gone. What is the essence of stashing millions, billions of naira in bank accounts that will be lost after one’s death when such can be channeled into CDPs and philanthropic activities? In some climes, in the face of governments’ negligence of the Ogbomoso nightmarish roads, groups, individuals will come forward to fix the roads even if the cost is N1b. The aftermath no doubt is that such persons, groups have secured immortality for themselves, they will forever occupy place of fondness in people’s heart and their children and descendants they love so much will reap the benefits, the people they bailed out of troubles will reward their descendants so handsomely. Sanballat and Tobiah and their cohort were brought to their knees by Nehemiah and other good-spirited persons, so, will it always be.
That is the clarion call – a new wave of spirit of community development to overtake every resident. Let’s constantly ask ourselves, individuals and groups, what can I/we do to foster the welfare and development of this community? We are not interested in beholding only your flowing babariga and beautiful cars when you have occasions but in the sustainable legacies you created or helped to create.
