Gen. Bajowa hosts Ikale Fund Raising Mobilisation Group.
– Steve Ovirih.
The efforts of Ikale stakeholders to rebuild public facilities in Okitipupa that were destroyed during the October 22nd ill fated EndSARS Protest have gotten further boosts as the Fund Raising Mobilisation Committee set up by Ikale Royal fathers under the Chairmanship of Gen. Olu Bajowa (RTD) met at Igbotako to fine-tune logistics on fund raising, contact and mobilization.
The meeting held at the Utako country home of Gen. Olu Bajowa (RTD), the Jagunmolu of Ikale Land and Ojagbulegun of the source. The meeting is coming on the heels of the second stakeholders meeting which held at the palace of the Jegun of Idepe Okitipupa, HRM Oba Adetoye Michael Obatuga where the Fund Raising Mobilisation Committee was given the mandate by Ikale Royal Fathers to use their wealth of knowledge, experience and contacts to help raise the required fund of ten billion naira needed to rebuild all the public facilities burnt down by arsonists in the October EndSARS protest.
In his speech at the session, The Chairman of the committee, Gen. Olu Bajowa stressed that the assignment given the group will require the cooperation of people of like minds irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations. While saluting the steadfastness of the members of the committee, Gen. Bajowa said, ” I can confirm that you have distinguished yourselves in your chosen careers and businesses. This was the very consideration that
influenced your membership in this committee which task is to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.”
Gen. Bajowa urged every member to leverage on their expertise, connection and assets for the assignment at hand in the overall interest of our people and the respective communities making up Ikale Land. ” The assets destroyed served the needs of people of old Okitipupa Division that now constitute Okitipupa, Irele, Ese Odo and Ilaje Local Government Areas of Ondo State.
” We are therefore gathered to use our endeavors , contacts , goodwill and leverage to reach out to and mobilise for funds from individuals , agencies , corporations , local and foreign donors.
” Our target is a sum of Ten Billion naira as the Assets and Valuation Committee’s report put the total valuation cost of vandalised property at #6, 164, 265, 000, less few areas yet to be estimated. The rising cost of inflation and recession in our economy should also be taken into consideration,” Gen. Bajowa added. He equally noted that a broad based press conference on the efforts of the committee so far will come up in the first week of December.
The secretary of the committee, Barr. Ajibola Morebise in his remark noted that the aspiration of the stakeholders is to reach out to all Ikale sons and daughters both in Nigeria and in The Diaspora as the work has now required the contribution of every member of Ikale community. He said the committee under the able leadership of Gen. Bajowa (RTD) will do justice to all the terms of reference and mandate handed over to it by the Ikale Royal fathers. Barr. Morebise urged members of the public and public spirited people who are passionate about advancing the growth of Ikale Land to extend a hand of support to the Fund Raising Mobilisation Committee as plans have been concluded to reach the people vide different media of Communication.
Chief Ayesanmi in his own opinion advised that correspondence should be extended to all the communities in Ikale Land , stressing that no community should be left out. He said Okun community for instance was yet to be sent any letter and it will not bode well if any community within Ikale Land is denied the opportunity to contribute to the lofty project of rebuilding our public facilities. He also suggested that members of the community who will be a representative should be a grassroots person who can be easily accessible.
The Lisa of Ayeka, High Chief Babatunde Michael Ayeyowa called the attention of the committee to the fact that the security committee was yet to become effective, adding that there is an urgent need for this committee to swing into action as he observed that the security of the land has obviously become porous after the EndSARS protest in Okitipupa.
The Publicity secretary of the Committee and the General Manager of Awawa 94.1 FM, Ode Ayeka, Chief Oluwole Akinbo, the Luhare of Irele kingdom intimated the committee with the steps taken as regards pushing the needs and demands of the committee to the public domain through the orthodox and new media of online communication. He presented to the committee the jingles produced to create fund raising awareness towards the cause of rebuilding the torched public facilities.
Barr. Ehinmosan speaking with thepolity.net thanked Gen. Olu Bajowa for his fatherly support and passion for Ikale. He said the first major donation to the cause of rebuilding the affected public facilities to the tune of five million Naira was made by Prince (Dr.) Gen. Olu Bajowa and his Chairmanship of the committee on fund raising will go a long way in making the Committee’s work a huge success.
Gen. Olu Bajowa while speaking with thepolity.net on the side line of the committee session expressed satisfaction with the work of Ikale Fund Raising Mobilisation Group so far and noted with optimism that with the commitment shown so far by members of the committee, the mandate given them by the Ikale Royal fathers shall be achieved in record time.
It will be recalled that Ikale Royal fathers and some concerned stakeholders met at the palace of the Jegun of Idepe Okitipupa, Oba Adetoye Michael Obatuga after the October 22nd EndSARS protest in Okitipupa to assess the level of destruction of public facilities by hoodlums who hijacked the protest ; the outcome of the meeting of these eminent stakeholders resulted in the Constitution of four major committees one of which is the Ikale Fund Raising Mobilisation Group mandated to help raise the sum of ten billion naira needed to rebuild and rehabilitate public facilities burnt down during the unfortunate EndSARS Protest .
Stakeholders who attended the meeting were Gen. Olu Bajowa (RTD), Chief Idris Bagudu, the Odofin of Idepe Okitipupa, Abagun Kole Omololu, Barr Ajibola Morebise, Chief Ayesanmi and the Chief Imam of Igbotako who was respesented by Ustaz Abas Ishola.
Others were High Chief Babatunde Ayeyowa, the Lisa of Ayeka Kingdom, Pastor Daramola, Barr. Ehinmosan and Chief Oluwole Akinbo.
