Leaders of Ugbo, Apoi and Adobe communities in the Oil Producing areas of Ondo State have pledged their full support to Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) Board and Management.
This was a product of meetings held at Ode-Ugbo, Igbekebo and Arogbo towns in Ondo State on Thursday and Friday last week.
Traditional, religious and opinion leaders praised the initiative of the Commission to interact with communities through stake holders’ meetings and promised to give maximum support to ensure success in its programmes.
At Ode-Ugbo session where the paramount ruler of Ugbo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Obateru Akinruntan (Obat) presided, the people urged the Commission to re-visit the development of Adagbakuja land reclamation as well as complete Igbokoda-Aiyetoro Road phase 3 in addition to undertaking empowerment programme for youths and women which reverberated across the length and breadth of the areas during the meetings.
At Igbekebo, the Regent of Kalasuwe of Apoi land, Regent Oladiran Ebiseni took charge with the support of other Royal fathers including the Gbaluwe, the Jowei, the Olu of Igbobini, and the Oba-elect of Kiribo with an array of other regents and high chiefs. A passionate plea was equally made for the empowerment of youths through OSOPADEC-sponsored Community vigilante groups and recruitment into Lakwa Vanguard.
In his addresses, the Chairman of OSOPADEC, Hon. Edema said the commission decided to organize the meetings because of its belief in bottom – top approach to development. He, therefore, called on the people to seize the opportunity offered by the meetings to make inputs into the 2018 budget of the Commission- the preparation of which he said would start soon. He said the uncompleted projects which the current Board inherited would be completed as directed by the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The OSOPADEC Boss also informed the people that Arakunrin Akeredolu had released fund for the clearing of waterways, adding that the thinking of the present government was in favour of sustainable human development rather than giving of dole outs.
At Arogbo, the Regent of Agadagba, High Chief A. O. Sofia, was present with other traditional and political leaders in the kingdom and cases were made for the quick completion of projects as well as empowerment, especially, of youths.
In another development, the people of Obe Nla and Odo Nla in Ilaje have urged OSOPADEC to provide concrete footbridges and housing units in their Communities. They spoke when the Board and Management of the Commission paid a courtesy visit to the Olubo of Obe Nla, His Royal Highness, Oba Andrew Ikuesan, in his palace, where the representative of the Odoka of Odo Nla, Oba Elias Ikuomola, was also present.
It would be recalled that a similar stakeholders’ meeting was held at Ode-Mahin recently with leaders of Mahin, Aheri and Etikan kingdoms.
