As the governments at all levels have been unable to effectively function and cater for the yearnings of Nigerians, citizens have taken it upon themselves to provide basic amenities, findings by The Point have revealed.
In some communities, residents have been tasking themselves to contribute money to provide amenities such as motor-able roads, water, hospitals, schools among other basic infrastructures.
The Point learned that many stakeholders and leaders of thoughts in various communities are displeased with lack of facilities that could make life more bearable for the people.
In Ijesaland, community leaders are rallying stakeholders and indigenes to contribute money annually for developmental projects.
Under the leadership of the Asiwaju of Ijesaland, Olayinka Fasuyi, Ijesaland Development Fund was established for sustainable development in the land.
Fasuyi, in an interview with The Point, described IDF as a necessity owing to the failure of governments to live up to expectations.
Describing the developmental model as one of its kind in Nigeria, he expressed hope that other communities in the country would come to Ijesaland and adapt the model for sustainable growth of their environments.
He explained how the Fund poll for communal growth was created, saying, “We met with community development associations from all the LGAs and councils in six LGAs in Ijesaland.
“In December, we launched a new development intervention in Iloko Ijesa, Ijesaland Development Fund (IDF), and this will be the first of its kind in Nigeria. It will be a development model which will be copied by all communities in Nigeria who seek sustainable development.”
He said the need for a development fund is a response to the failure of the federal, state and local governments to enthrone good governance for the people, saying the time was ripe for Nigerians, especially indigenes of Ijesaland to take their destiny in their hands.
Fasuyi, a consultant to the World Bank, berated the global institution, saying its efforts and loans to Nigeria have not impacted positively on the lives of the people.
“I was in China, and we have always read that Nigeria is a developing country and that China is also a developing country. It is only a fool who will see China as a developing country. There is nothing in America that is not available in China.
“The total number of high rise buildings in China alone is more than 11 countries added together including the USA. The cost of living is far cheaper compared to the U.S. The downtrodden in China eat three times a day. The United Nations projected saying that it would take China up till 2031 before it could escape abject poverty but three years ago, China announced escape from poverty. We must change the narrative; otherwise, our children and grandchildren will stone us.
“The World Bank came with a damning report that it will take 100 years for Nigeria to escape abject poverty. For me, Nigeria doesn’t need any loan again. Let communities raise money. We can never grow if we keep on taking loans. The moment we start taking World Bank Projects, the moment the project ends, the government stops funding. Budgetary provisions are not coming from the government. Two to three years, that project ended,” he said.
He maintained that African nations will come to Ijesaland to learn “how we are doing it right through this contribution for development.”
The community leader recalled how 267 Ijesa indigenes contributed over N1 billion that was used to build a new palace for the Owa Obokun of the land.
He added that less than 50 people contributed to ensure smooth take-off of the University of Ilesa, saying that 78 Ijesa people contributed for bursaries.
“144 Ijesas contributed for National Health Insurance for indigenes of our ethnic group,” he said.
Explaining how indigenes would, henceforth, donate to building key infrastructures in Ijesaland, Fasuyi said, “Under the Ijesa Development Fund concept, every living person in Ijesaland will have a contribution for the development of Ijesaland. We have ten levels of donations. We have those who will donate N1 million and above, some others will donate N500, 000, others will donate N250, 000, some N100, 000, some others will contribute between N50, 000 and N1, 000 annually.”
“We have pleaded with traditional rulers and well-meaning people to pay this money. We will publish all the names of all contributors, those who are Ijesa developers. These monies will be paid into each of the six local government areas of Ijesaland. Data will be captured about every payee.
“The social economic development of Ijesaland is paramount to us and since the government is not living up to expectations, we have to provide basic necessities of life for ourselves.
“I am a World Bank consultant, but the problem is not with the World Bank, it is with our poor leadership. China still takes World Bank loans but there is no sustainability in Nigeria,” he added.
Fasuyi said, henceforth, Ijesaland would be more intentional in probing the expenses of local government officials.
“Local Government Areas have been handicapped because of financing. It will be our job to meet with the LGA leadership on how we can improve continually on the security situation. We are talking to the traditional rulers to improve on the security situation. We have a blueprint on security.
He said, “Ijesa Development Fund concerns indigenes and non-indigenes who are aged 21 and above.”
Fasuyi stated how close to N1 billion was raised to construct the Geriatric hospital that is serving the needs of all.
“This money will be used to create schools, hospitals, roads, and other amenities,” he stressed.
Asked if the Ijesaland people are not taking the roles of government in their developmental agenda, Fasuyi said it was high time Nigerians started taking their fate in their hands.
Giving insight into another group established for the purpose of monitoring government’s expenses, he said, “I must confess to you that the government does not like this but whether they like it or not, it has come to stay. What the body is charged to do is to monitor the use of the money coming to the LGAs, ecological, SUBEB and Internal Generated Revenue, and the allocations from the Federal Government. We will monitor it. We are already developing a website and we will instruct elected chairmen and councillors to post in the website of the Ijesaland Development Monitors the monies they received and their expenses.
“We want to know what you are doing, how many hospitals have you built and other sensitive information to members of the public. Their team will go and confirm and come back and report to the website. Nobody is holding anybody responsible and many of us are timid and that is the bane of our problem as a country. We have to fight for the interest of the people.
“Let people wake up to their responsibilities. There is no government money, it is people’s money. We are going to compete with the government. It will bring a competition between government and the communities when we start using this money that will be contributed by Ijesaland people to construct infrastructures.
“We want other communities in Nigeria to emulate what we have done in IDF. The communities have supported it and they are interested in good governance, transparency and accountability,” he said.
