The Alliance For Democracy (AD), governorship candidate for Ogun State, Oluseyi Gabriel Olufade-Olowookere, has promised not to neglect the border towns like Agbara, Mowe, Akute, and Olambe in the state if elected into office. Responding to a questionnaire by Newdawn News editor, Charles Okogene, the youthful candidate said that he was aware of the economic potential of the areas and so will do everything under the sun to develop the area so that such economic benefits can be tapped.
Excerpts from the interview
Have you heard of Lambe, Akute, Ojodu Abiodun, Adiyan, Matogun areas in Ifo Local Govt Areas of the state?
Yes, I have heard of those areas and driven to all of them.
Have you ever been there?
I have been to all those areas and for every time I’ve been there, I come out pained, sad and disappointed at why our people have to suffer so needlessly. For a local government that holds about 10% of the state’s population and such huge economic potential, it is sad and unacceptable. On a few occasions, I drove myself to Akute and another time to Lambe, I came back home with pains all over my back and neck. It got me wondering about the cause and effect of those bad state of roads on the health, vehicles and the lives of people in general; the loss of economic value is also unquantifiable.
If yes, do you like the state of roads there? If not why have you not visited there?
I do not like the state of roads in those areas. I feel it is deliberate negligence on the part of government.
What are your plans to develop the area especially on the provision of roads, hospitals and schools and other infrastructures needed for a strategic border area like this with its economic and social benefits to Ogun state?
Some key deliverables of our Government within six months of being sworn in on May 29, 2019, is the rehabilitation of a Primary Health Care Center (PHC) and a Primary School in each ward to benchmark standard within six months. We will also fix two km of road in each ward within the same period. These action plans will be common to all 236 wards of the state. However, Ifo LGA is in the class of LGA with special attention and more would be done to strenghten the local government autonomy, enhance neighbourhood developments, MSME clusters and skills acquisition centers to serve Lagos and create huge economic turnarounds.
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It is apparent that both Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun governments have neglected the area in the past 16 years what are your plans to lift the area and should you fail what do you want people to do to you after electing you?
Already, if we take a close look at the four border local governments to Lagos State namely Ifo, Sagamu, Obafemi Owode, and Ado Odo Ota, we will see that they have some characteristics unique to them. Our action plan to uplift the areas would be to strengthen their comparative competitiveness in the areas of agriculture and agro-processing hubs (Sagamu and Obafemi Owode), knowgledge city (in Ota), media/technology hubs (Ifo) , industry (Obafemi Owode and Ota) to mention a few. We would pay careful attention to the master plan of these areas to cater for the development and expansion while also ensuring adequate security of lives and properties.
With every development come some potential social menaces. We will ensure the implementation of parks and recreation areas in every ward to gainfully engage and channel the energies of our youths. We will also coll…
Yes, we are very much aware of the revenue potential of the areas. We will ensure developments that will give meaning to the sweat and toil of all the residents of the area. We will put purposeful efforts to ensure a broadening of the economic capabilities in all dimensions. As outlined earlier, we believe when the dignity of life is improved plus adequate security, the government and the people are better for it.
