-Canvasses Addition of Political Class
-As Forum Honours Distinguished Academics
The Sabiganna of Iganna Kingdom and Permanent Chairman of Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs in Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Soliu Oyenmola Abdul-Azeez, Ayefemiloye 1 has called for the inclusion of all stakeholders to ensure overall development of Oke-Ogun geo-political axis of Oyo State.
Oba Abdul-Azeez made the clarion call even as he commended Oke-Ogun Development Consultative Forum(ODCF ) for the inclusion of the Academia in the concerted efforts to achieve vibrant and virile social, economic and political development of Oke-Ogun zone.
The Agunloye 1V who is the 18th Sabiganna of Iganna , however stressed the need for ODCF to facilitate the inclusion of the political class,in addition to the existing traditional class and strata of distinguished Academics in the Academia, in order to aggressively galvanize rmeaningful development of Oke-Ogun geo-political axis.
The highly revered Monarch spoke at a special celebration in honour of distinguished Academics of Oke-Ogun origin tagged, ” Oke-Ogun Celebrates The Academics”, held on Friday at Onosode Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan (UI),Ibadan, Oyo State.
Sabiganna of Iganna was a frontline prominence who led dignitaries of Oke-Ogun extraction, especially erudite scholars from the nation’s Ivory Towers and in the diaspora, to the auspicious occasion that is a major boost to the quest of the teeming people of Oyo North in ensuring lasting progress for their homestead,which over the years has been relegated to the background of development.
Speaking at the occasion,the Graduate of English, University of Ibadan, in his speech which he delivered infectiously with spices of diction and catchy extemporal injections commended and expressed gratitude to ODCF for honouring distinguished Academics of Oke -Ogun origin deservedly.
Clad in glistening white two flowing layers of native attire fondly known in Yoruba axis, Southwest, Nigeria as ‘Agbada’, the foremost Royal Father in the sprawling Iwajowa Local Government Area who held his audience spellbound with his oratory prowess, described the event as a welcome development that is already tilting and itching towards galvanizing strategies for a firmly established and deeply rooted development that Oke-Ogun is in dire need of.
According to Oba Abdul-Azeez ,
“We are happy today that we are on the right track because Oke-Ogun as a geo-political zone is in dire need of development and to achieve this we must strategise.I thank ODCF for being at the vanguard of development of Oke-Ogun”.
Speaking further, the 18th Sabiganna of Iganna in the annals of history of the agrarian city revered as one of the ‘food baskets’ of the nation lauded ODCF for the inclusion of the Academia more than before,describing the development as a value addition to the existing class of Traditional Rulers.
He,however, stressed the need for ODCF to balance the tripodal equation of Yoruba proverbial “Aro meta ti kii da obe nu” (a round peg in a round hole) by co-opting the political class into the platform, in order for the trio of traditional, academia and political class,among other stakeholders to join hands so as to ensure well grounded and seated development for Oke-Ogun.
His words, “ODCF has taken the bull by the horns by co-opting our revered academic class into Oke-Ogun development drive more than before and in addition to the existing traditional class”.
“The next thing to do now is to co-opt the political class for the progress and development of Oke-Ogun “, he added.
Waxing philosophical, His Imperial Majesty who is a reputed product of Iganna High School and former President of National Association of Kajola Students reminded the people of Oke-Ogun that development is elusive in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony.
He therefore called on stakeholders and indegenes of Oke-Ogun,in general to forster synergy and unity of purpose, in order to collectively better the lots of Oke-Ogun.
The occasion peaked with presentation of award plagues to deserving distinguished Academics of Oke-Ogun origin.
Notable among the erudite scholars is the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture and Technology,Okeho (FUNATO), Prof.Olaniyi Jacob Babayemi, a renowned Animal Scientist and former Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan (UI,) among his giant strides.
