New Things Is Coming On Board – High Chief Bakare Akuresanmi
High Chief Bakare Akuresanmi Amusa, the Ojomu of Oda Town, and the Atayese of Ikoro Ekiti spoke with Ayodele Ologunola on some issues. Excerpts
What can you say about the new local government created for your area?
Like I said other times when I had an interview with you, I said that our governor in Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, has been very pleasant to us. During his campaign period, he had promised us that he is going to give us LCDAs. By the time we heard this good news, it wasn’t a surprise to us. So, we are all happy with the good news.
What preparations have your people made for the smooth running of the local government?
When the officials came to inspect the area to be used for the take-off, all the leaders in the areas (Akure East), which comprises Oda Town, Ilekun, ijigba, Aye, etc, met and they agreed to have a place to be used as a secretariat and a place has been shown to the authorities that are concerned.
What benefits do you think they will gain from these newly created LCDAs?
A lot of benefits are attached to it. In the first place, the government is going to be closer to our people. The IGR to be generated will not be only used for our community alone as other communities will benefit from it. It will also create employment for our youths.
Oda community is very peaceful in the area of security. How do they manage it?
Our Kabiyesis Oba Ajayi Omomo is a learned Oba who has traveled all over the world. He understands what the security is. He has always had regular meetings with his chiefs, the Divisional Police Officer, and the Amotekun Corps, with this, we have only been faced with fewer problems in the area of security.
How cordially is the relationship between the King and his chiefs?
As I told you, our King stayed more outside the country. Since he was just installed as Oba, he is still learning. He is a father to us. It’s the King and chiefs that control the town.
How do you see all the things that are happening now in Ondo State?
What I have to say is a personal advice to the concerned people at the helm of affairs in the state is that they should allow peace to reign. The state has suffered a lot, the president of the country was able to have a say in what happened in the state. Having come back from Abuja to Ondo State, there should be no problem again. I am now appealing to the House of Assembly members, the state executive, and the party leaders, to come together to move the state forward. If things continue to go on as it is now, we may not understand what may happen in the end. They should allow Abuja’s decisions to stay.
What is your word of courage to our people during this hard time?
My advice to our people is to be calm. As our people say, there is nothing that has a beginning that will not have an end. Whatever problem we’re facing now, by the grace of God, we are going to overcome them. New things are coming on board, let everyone be hopeful that things will get better. Our president has just started, we need to allow him because he is ready to turn this country around for good, he’s going to work for us.
By 2024, there is going to be a governorship election in Ondo State, what is your advice for the politicians?
What I can say is that they should allow someone who has the fear of God to lead. I don’t believe in any political party. All of them were the same, we want someone who can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. They should understand what the law is, and know what the people want.
