Stakeholders in Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State have reaffirmed their unwavering support for Governor Seyi Makinde following the presentation of a comprehensive performance scorecard by the Executive Chairman of the council, Dr. Temitope Kolapo Glorious.
The chairman, who spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the local government secretariat in Akanran on Tuesday, January 20, attributed the pace of development being witnessed in Ona-Ara to the leadership style, vision, and consistent support of Governor Makinde.
Dr. Glorious expressed appreciation to the governor for the opportunity to serve at the grassroots, noting that all interventions of the administration are guided by the Six-Point Development Agenda tagged the N.E.W.E.R.A Agenda — Nourishing Ona-Ara Heritage, Education per Excellence, Welfare and Social Services, Economic Growth and Development, Road and Infrastructure Management, and Agricultural Improvement.
Under the pillar of Nourishing Ona-Ara Heritage, the chairman disclosed that the local government secretariat has been reconstructed and remodelled, while the construction of the Ona-Ara Traditional Council Hall is nearing completion. He added that during his first 100 days in office, his administration visited charity homes, including a school for the handicapped, where food items and household materials were distributed.
On Education, Dr. Glorious revealed that the Ona-Ara Local Education Office has been reconstructed into one of the best in the state. The council also distributed megaphones to primary schools, donated a generator to Amuloko Community Grammar School, provided free JAMB forms to 500 public school students, awarded scholarships to selected tertiary institution students of Ona-Ara origin, and facilitated construction and renovation projects in 10 schools through state support, CSDA, and NGO interventions.
Other education-focused initiatives include free transportation and entertainment for NYSC members, radio sensitisation campaigns, and the distribution of exercise books.
In the area of Welfare and Social Services, the chairman listed the payment of medical bills for accident victims, support for a maternity centre, empowerment programmes for widows, women and persons living with disabilities, and the distribution of 100 free POS machines to youths and women entrepreneurs with full CAC registration sponsorship.
He also highlighted extensive public health interventions, including cholera prevention campaigns, mass chlorination of water sources, installation of WASH facilities in health centres, construction of over 15,000 home-based toilets leading to Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across all wards by UNICEF, as well as the drilling of boreholes and installation of solar-powered water projects across communities.
On Economic Growth and Development, Dr. Glorious noted the creation of an official council website, inauguration of IGR-boosting and database committees, improved revenue mechanisms, and the commissioning of Adeagbo Heritage Limited, described as the first international-standard bakery in the local government. He added that investment-focused sensitisation jingles have attracted increased NGO presence.
In the area of Infrastructure, he listed sustained bush clearing at major entrances, rehabilitation and grading of over 100 kilometres of roads, construction of the Ajia interchange, dualisation of the Olorunsogo–Ariyo Road with extension towards Odeyale, renovation of Amuloko Junction Road, and reconstruction of seven bridges, including the recently commissioned Onisebe Bridge.
Other achievements include river dredging to prevent flooding, installation of streetlights across all 11 wards, completion of a new magistrate court building, clearance of an old dumpsite, enforcement of environmental and traffic by-laws, and the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern registry and multi-purpose hall.
In Agriculture, the chairman disclosed that disputes among farmers’ associations have been resolved, farmlands allocated to investors and cooperatives, and access to soft loans facilitated. He added that over 100 farmers have been empowered with inputs, while the Ona-Ara New Era Food Day was organised to provide low-cost food items to residents.
Dr. Glorious attributed the council’s sector-by-sector development to what stakeholders described as the “GSM Effect,” referencing major state projects within Ona-Ara such as the Ibadan Airport upgrade, Oremeji–Airport Road, Olorunsogo–Ariyo Road and the Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road.
He noted that about 90 percent of the circular road corridor and parts of the airport upgrade fall within Ona-Ara, describing Governor Makinde as a mentor and role model whose prioritisation of the local government has accelerated development.
The chairman also disclosed that the governor has directed local governments to recruit vigilante personnel to strengthen grassroots security and that efforts are ongoing to curb land grabbing. He cautioned against ethnic profiling and urged community leaders to strengthen neighbourhood watch structures.
Speaking at the event, the immediate past Special Assistant on Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency to Governor Makinde, Hon. Adegboyega Akinlolu (Akin Oosa), described Dr. Glorious as the grassroots version of Governor Makinde, whom he called a visionary and pragmatic leader. He vowed that Ona-Ara remains solidly behind the governor.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers in Ona-Ara, Comrade Titilolu Ibukunolu Sunday; CDC Chairman, Ambassador Adebayo Olawale Adekunle; the Babaloja and Iyaloja of Ona-Ara; and other community leaders commended Governor Makinde for prioritising the council despite its relatively low revenue base.
They reaffirmed their support for his vision for Oyo State and pledged unity and continued loyalty as the next election cycle approaches.
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Chairman of the Ona-Ara Traditional Council, Oba Kamorudeen Adebowale, expressed appreciation to the governor for unprecedented development in road infrastructure, agriculture, socio-economic growth, and improved well-being of residents.
Other dignitaries present included the Ona-Ara PDP Chairman, Alfa Kehinde Adeyemo; the SSA to the Governor on SDGs, Hon. Mufutau Ogunremi; party leaders, and past local government officials, all of whom commended the administration and reaffirmed their sustained support for the state government.
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