DEMO-SENSE WITH ALH IDRIS ISMAIL IBADAN DEVELOPMENT: BETWEEN MEN OF VISION AND TOWN MEN

 

IBADAN DEVELOPMENT: 

BETWEEN MEN OF VISION AND TOWN MEN

Ibadan remains undoubtedly the largest capital city in sub Saharan Africa. It was the capital of old Western Region.

Ibadan has the fortune of continued expansion and development by all and sundry as a result of her capacity of hospitality misunderstood by maxim , Ibadan gbole, ogbole ( Ibadan is home for all)

Ibadan has history of input of development from inception by conglomerate of people of vision especially non Ibadan indigenes who have come to adopt Ibadan as a home but only answer where theycome from.

Right from the time of assembly of warriors from various parts of Yoruba land, from Basorun Ogunmola to a number of migrant warriors, it has been a city whose development was driven by collection of men of vision and valour. .

The substantial development that went through Western Region becoming subject of reference in entire Sub Sahara Africa germinated in Ibadan and bulk of such monumental indices domiciled in Ibadan still.

These were all driven by vision of a man , Chief Obafemi Awolowo from Ikene.

The evidential and still impacting development monuments of Western Regional Government from various companies, Stadium, Television stations, University, Farm settlements , Cocoa House , Housing Estates (Bodija) and think tank headquarters for the most ambitious Education program in Sub Sahara Africa ( Free Education) domiciled in Ibadan and they were all products of man of vision not men of town.

After Chief Obafemi Awolowo from Ikene came a man of knowledge and vision, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola from Ogbomoso, who intelligibly sustained the developmental monuments and project the region to National politics as against permanent regional and bitter opposition politics

The man who held sway during the emergency Dr Majekodunmi managing us towards lasting peace was also not man of the town but a man of letters and vision.

We had at the Second Republic, and during the Old Oyo State , the fortune of another man of vision not of town, Chief Bola Ige from the then hidden and quiet town of Esa Oke ( now in osun state) who was sitting in the Agodi government house enjoying the hospitality of Ibadan people to execute the Free Education program ( I was a beneficiary) , aggressive Agricultural development projects and massive infrastructure facilities.

This, he was doing very well before arrogance got good part of him and took Ibadan, the town , for granted and lost his second term bid to another embodiment of vision , Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo , Coincidentally of the town Ibadan.

Dr Olunloyo was driving the state and towns to greater heights but after six months plus, in 1984 the military struck and halted democracy for more than 10 years.

On the resumption of democracy in 1992 we had Chief Kolapo Isola' s short-lived administration in which the turbulence that followed June 12 annulment made it difficult to trace any development stride to that administration. He was a man from a neighboring town with his own vision eclipsed by emergency.

As we returned to the enduring democracy in 1999, we had a man though of the town but oozing with vision , Alh Lamidi Adesina known as LAM ADE ( A veteran teacher, a democrat and hero of June 12 deannulment struggle). He was known for reactivating the free Education project of old but with some objectionable features.

He did his best though was troubled by another prominent man of the town who insisted on collecting isakole from Omo onile ( Compulsory monthly levy from the incumbent though not due from a man of the town).

It was another impunity in history typifying taking the town and the men for a ride and for granted. This every day crisis never allowed substantial development recorded in history .

The crisis by the aged man of the town, consumed Lam Adesina's Administration and forcefully replaced by another man of the town , Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the current Osi Olubadan of Ibadan Land.

The insatiability of the political Godfather stole the peace needed to allow us see the vision inherent in the Chief Adewolu , a brilliant Chemical engineer and magnate in shipping industry ( kokoro o je ka gbadun obi togbo).

Chief Ladoja was impeached on the instruction of the man described as half of Ibadan Land by the dadakuada music legend, Alh. Odolaye Aremu with an accomplice in President Obasanjo ( it was a very dark part of our history) to be replaced by his Deputy Chief Adebayo Alao Akala.

Then came another man from Ogbomoso , Chief Adebayo Alao Akala .

He Governed in a way that suggest appreciation of the opportunity . He was building roads and rehabilitating monuments.

I was inside Mapo Hall one of this days of my irinkerindo in Ibadan when I saw the renovation done by the administration to a hall so important to the town but neglected by the men of the town ( This was registered on the wall of Mapo Hall as I write).

Chief Alao Akala registered himself in anal of history of Oyo state governance.

After Akala came a man of towering vision , Senator isiaka Abiola Ajimobi . He came with undoubtedly big vision and he executed as much, though he should have done more with resources available under

Jonathan and second term under President Mohammadu Buhari .

The developments recorded was not commensurate with the unusual allocations of first term in office and unusual opportunity of second term ( never ever before him in the history of the state). Ajimobi is undoubtedly a man of vision but then a man of town who smartly took the town for granted and for a ride .

We have currently, another man of the town, Engr Seyi Makinde spending fifth year in office remodeling, re-awarding, reinstalling, reconstructing and repairing.

I have personally not seen the vision driving this regime other than media sensation and deceitful propaganda of the retinue of followers who only intend to get the available crumbs .

One actually expected so much from a relatively younger element, Engineer, coming from private sector to be supported by another qualified Engineer who has navigated through many regimes in the history of the state.

Oyo state did not substantially benefit from the experience of the presiding Engineers except mutual suspicion fueled by the amole olonje iya( apology to any Amole reading this).

Unfortunately, the current Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has been hijacked by political jackals and hyenas who have no history of achievement in their test of leadership.

In summary, it is evident men of vision are not necessarily men of the town . Major developments recorded in the history of Oyo state right from the days of Western Region were driven by men of vision not really men of the town.

Coincidentally, most of the men of vision were not men of the town . We have a good number of men of the town with vision but with load of distractions.

Most men of the town took the advantage of the town, not propelled by known vision and therefore took the state , the town and her people for granted and a ride.

Men of the town selfishly concentrate major developments and infrastructures around mini estates that serve them , their friends and families neglecting the interior of the city that carries the name and history of the city.

I tell you poverty walks on her two legs at the interior of this noble town.

As we move towards another election in 2027, I strongly advocate we look for men of vision and not necessarily selfish and low visioned men of the town.

Ajumobi o kan taanu , eni olohun ran si ni ni nse ni lo'ore