AN ARTICLE PRESENTED BY AARE BABAJIDE ONIYO ON THE OCCASION OF YOUTH CONVERGENCE SEASON 2, HELD ON THE 22ND AUGUST, 2018.

It is better to light a candle than to blame the darkness.
AN ARTICLE PRESENTED BY AARE BABAJIDE ONIYO ON THE OCCASION OF YOUTH CONVERGENCE SEASON 2, HELD ON THE 22ND AUGUST, 2018.

The Aseyin Of Iseyinland, Oba Dr. Salaudeen Adekunle Oloogunebi, Ajinese 1,
The Oyo State Honorable Commissioner of Works and Transportation, Hon. Dauda Oladimeji,
The Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, Hon. Abolade Akanmu,
The Chairman Iseyin South Local Council Development Area, Hon. Shittu Khalid,
The Vice Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, Hon. Isiaq Adeniyi,
The Oyo State Chairman of People's Democratic Party, Alh. Kunmi Mustapha
The Honourable Representing Iseyin/Iwajowa/Itesiwaju/Kajola Federal Constituency. Hon. Abiodun Olasupo,
The Hon. Representating Iseyin/Itesiwaju in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Afeez Adeleke,
The FILGS President,
The Alliance Of Oke-Ogun Development (AOD) President,
All Political Party Chairmen here present,
All progressive minded fellows present,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
All protocols are duly observed.

All honor, adorations and sanctifications are all due to the Almighty Allah, the creator of the universe, the All knowing, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, benevolent, beneficent and merciful for granting us another great opportunity to discuss progress, development and way forward to a better Iseyin and Oke-Ogun at large.

The word development is key in all facet of life and this in turns affects the living condition of the entire inhabitants of a particular geographical space. It should however be noted that development is not natural like human growth but needs to be facilitated through either artificial or even natural human endowment. For development to be feasible, there must be a thorough examination of issues militating against the same and possible panaceas should be adequately articulated and applied. Alas! These seemed to be either missing or inappropriately administered in Our Iseyin of today and Our Oke-Ogun at large.

First, let me begin from home, Iseyin. We are so much addicted to the saying, “what would be would be” without considering working towards same. Most of the indigenes celebrate mediocrity at the expense of community development, and what is most pathetic is that literates are the highest player of this dishonorable act. People now believe in the act of extravagant demands from politicians as the only means of good livelihood, forgetting that this could constitute major distraction from good governance. Youths now follow politicians gullibly just to earn a living, not considering which one has something to offer, while politicians in their own part misconceive distribution of material for empowerments. Lol and behold! They have no blames, they actually gave us what we want. Albeit Eisten’s once said, “Anyman who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves”. This is the scenario that plays out when everyone puts his burdens on the few elected politicians. It is indeed distractions that eat our dividend of democracy to the marrow not a demon.

It is also worthy of note that though, our political representatives have done their best in their own respective capacities but it is also very key to note that their best is not enough. We are looking forward to feel them more in bringing home dividend of democracy amongst all odds. We are very aware of the tug of war in the houses of Rep and assemblies, as this could be likened to a football match where 22 players aim a single ball. The fittest would not have the goal but behold! The Smartest. They should shake table and Step on toes if that is needed to bring home something tangible.

International market and tourist centre has come to stay, however, we are all enjoined to give it all supports it requires to meet the world standard of its class, ranging from construction of stalls and provision of infrastructure to facilitating all that is necessary to make the market functional. We also crave for federal government presence like school and institutions which will positively place Iseyin's name on the lips of old and young. Businesses are also being solicited for and we request that Our honourables metamorphose their empowerment programmes from distribution of items to construction of Skill Acquisition center where all trades would be learnt and a little grant given after the programme, that will definitely empower people more than the latter and shall give them hope to rise again amidst all challenges.

Back to Oke-Ogun.
Freedom is said not to be willingly given but demanded. It is then disheartening that we have now graduated from being only subtle but have also added hypocrisy to our title. Is it not sickening when elites hinge on the statement “home is not homely” as the reason why they can’t subscribe to notion of having a governor of Oke-ogun extraction come 2019. The question would then be ' What have they put on table to make the home homely? They see us as being so good in supporting candidates but we cannot be supported. They find in us a very meticulous skill to be a deputy, but don’t see us worthy of being deputized. Genuiness of purpose is facing out, leaders are no more accommodating may be because of excesses of the youths. Youths are now material conscious even if the price would be against them and saints of yesteryears are becoming the notorious Judas of today. Behold! just 2 things are responsible for the other lots, and they are: Lack of LOVE and UNITY.

A region of Oke-Ogun magnitude without a single developmental parameter or any federal government presence is very tantamount to a deep well with a depth measuring 1,000,000 ft below the sea level without a single drop of water. What a Irony. A ní Aso nílé, à n wo àkísà, Omo eleran wá n jàsámó eegun. We are this marginalized, yet, we can't think straight and work in harmony to claim our own bit of the jointly owned right, being monopolized from the time immemorial. Let’s cast out the procrastination and delay demon now and stand tall to relax our challenges. It is not bad that we have been silent for ages but could be very unreasonable for not waking up as at the time when slumber is very disastrous.

Apology to Marthin Luther King Jnr who said and I quote, "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent". Oke-Ogun Project is such an excellent one which a sane, right thinking and a true son of the land would always identify with. It has come to our attention that some of Oke ogun indigenes are currently acclimatizing with non indigenes for the number 1 seat of the state, this is indeed a satanic plot to distort the God's stamped project.

We may all have our preferred aspirants or belong to certain political party, that's fine. But it is sacrosanct at this moment to put all and any preference behind us and embrace Oke-Ogun candidacy, no matter which political party fields the candidate. For this we can vote for an interest and consider parties in other polls if necessary. Dear fellows, it's because we settle for anything we are always being belittled. Since our back is bent, any unscrupulous elements would feel free to climb on us. This has to stop!

It's on this note I appeal to the conscience of all political stakeholders to free this region of lingering marginalization by ensuring the fielding of Oke-Ogun candidate as a flag bearer and follow latter to the successful ending.

Dear countrymen, let's keep our feet firm and believe truly we can do it regardless of the bigwigs who are for or against. We should also endeavor to use this grace of extended Continuous Voters Registration to register for our PVC so as not to be disenfranchised in the coming elections. I would like to end this piece by Rene Descartes's saying thus: I hope that posterity will judge me kindly, not only as to the things which I have explained, but also to those which I have intentionally omitted so as to leave to others the pleasure of discovery.

Oh God of creation,
Direct our noble course,
Guide our leaders right,
Help our youths the truth to know,
In love and honesty to grow,
And living just and through,
Great lofty height attain,
To build a nation where peace,
And justice shall reign.

With everyone doing it right at all times, better Iseyin and Oke-Ogun is very achievable!

Long live Iseyin,
Long live Oke-Ogun,
Long live Oyo state.

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