The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has challenged leaders of towns, villages in the state to come up with developmental agenda that would assist governments in facilitating infrastructure to their domains.
He said the idea of rural communities leaving their comprehensive upgrade solely in the hands of the government should be jettisoned.
Adeleke made this known while speaking at this year’s annual Iwo Day Celebrations held in Iwo.
He encouraged towns and villages to come up with well thought out ideas about their needs, articulate same to government and political candidates and follow this social contract up for implementation.
Addresing the Oluwo of Iwo, dignitaries and residents of Iwo at the event, the governor said, “I have attended several communal celebrations and as your governor, I have developed a set of thoughts over what community development should be. Increasingly, growing our towns and villages demand active involvement of stakeholders within community groups. We must grow a community of activists who see local development as their passion. Our developmental growth now requires each community to develop a developmental agenda.
“Our towns and villages should no longer leave their comprehensive upgrade solely in the hands of the government. The best practice which supported growth of the advanced societies is for towns and villages to be development ready. In this sense, each town must be able to articulate its aspirations across sectors, Town leaders must set an agenda for the government of the day.
“The present practice of the government determining priorities for communities compels a top bottom developmental approach. A bottom top model is required to fully satisfy the needs of communities. Imagine a town confronting a political candidate with an articulated developmental agenda? A social contract is entered into which actually puts the people on the driver seat of governance delivery.”
He announced that his administration has approved the first dual carriageway for Iwo town, saying the decision was in line with the resolve to expand infrastructure across the state.
According to him, the dualisation of the Adeke-Odori road will be done in two phases.
The governor further said the first phase would run from Odoori to the Post Office Area of the town and branch in front of Oluwo palace, while the second phase would run from the Post Office to Adeeke junction.
“In line with our commitment to equity and fairness, our administration has approved a dual carriageway for Iwo. The dualisation of the Adeke-Odori road will be done in two phases.
“The first phase will run from Odoori to the Post Office with a branching to the front of the palace from the Roundabout. The second phase will run from the Post Office to Adeeke junction,” Adeleke said.
He, therefore, directed the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to host community engagement events with stakeholders on the proposed highway, adding that work would begin on the project by January 2025.
