Ikale Royal fathers, stakeholders brainstorm over the ruins in Okitipupa; set up 5 billion naira fund raising committee under Gen.Bajowa
– Steve Ovirih.
Aftermath of the ruins that was visited on the ancient city of Okitipupa by hoodlums who hid under the guise of EndSARS Protesters late last week, Ikale Royal fathers having denounced the condemnable conduct of the arsonists have moved on to thinking outside the box on how to rehabilitate the destroyed public facilities strewn across the community.
At a stakeholders meeting to this effect held at the Palace of the Jegun of Idepe Okitipupa , Oba Michael Obatuga Adetoye, at the behest of Ikale Royal fathers, the concerned Ikale stakeholders charted ” a significant way forward” out of the challenge of rehabilitating and lreconstructing the public facilities in the town which were fed to inferno by hoodlums.
The Abodi of Ikale Land, HRM, Oba George Babatunde Faduyile , leading discussion at the session noted that the meeting was called to allow sons and daughters of Ikale to have a say on the issues on ground, stressing that the meeting is opened to pieces of advice and opinion on how to help rebuild and rehabilitate, as the case may be, the Government structure and public facilities wantonly destroyed by hoodlums who hijacked the EndSARS Protest in Okitipupa and Igodan.
Pastor Segun Ayerin, former Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government Council said the ruins will continue to affect Okitipupa for a very long time. ” There will have to be thorough investigation and the culprits have to be brought to book. How the investigation will be done is beyond us here at Okitipupa but I strongly believe the matter has to be investigated,” Ayerin added. He equally thanked Gen. Olu Bajowa for his handsome donations , noting that more is still required from well meaning Ikale sons and daughters.
Chief Diran Iyantan in his own reaction called for ” vigilante group ” in Ikale communities, adding that strangers and people of questionable character have infiltrated Okitipupa and its suburbs hence the ease with which public facilities were touched on the day of the protest.
Another former Chairperson of the Local Government Council, Hon. Morenike Alaka advised the sitting to raise a special committee to visit the State Governor on the matter so as to know his reaction and the worth of assistance the state government will be able to offer the people of Okitipupa and also to make the government know the efforts the people of the town have made so far on plans to rehabilitate the affected public property.
Rebuja of Osooro, Oba Gbadebo Bajowa thanked the Jegun of Idepe Okitipupa, Oba Michael Adetoye for his prompt gesture to forestall the attack. The Royal father also expressed his appreciation to Ikale Central Organization for their proactive stance on the unfortunate
development.
Regent of Ayeka Kingdom, Barr. Oluyemi Bajowa noted that a total cost analysis and financial implications of the ruins to be rehabilitated should be carried out first so that everybody can have an idea of what is needed to complete the facilities to be rehabilitated.
Oba Faduyile , harnessing the plethora of opinion raised at the meeting maintained that committees will be set up to fast track the process of fund raising and rehabilitation.
Gen.Olu Bajowa expressed his sadness over the unfortunate development. ” I have not seen such destruction as huge as this before. I was a Captain during the ” Weti e ” crisis of 1983. There wasn’t arson of this proportion on private and public property . The youths have the right to protest but with the destruction of government facilities , they have breeched their own rights.
” I support the committee to be set up . We will continue to offer support with what is within our means,” Gen. Bajowa added.
A fund raising committee was eventually set up under the Chairmanship of Gen. Olu Bajowa (RTD). A total sum of 5 billion naira is to be raised which will be deployed towards the rehabilitation of the public facilities wantonly despoilated in Okitipupa township.
Other members of the committee are Barr. Bayo Ehinmosan ( ICO Chairman), Barr. Abayomi Akeremale, Retired Commissioner of Police; Hon. Segun Ayerin, Princess Dupe Adetuwo and Hon. Diran Iyantan.
The rest are Abagun Kole Omololu, Prince Babatunde Ayeyowa, Prince Kunle Ayeku and Barr. Ajibola Morebise, who is to serve as secretary of the committee.
Ikale Royal fathers are to serve as Trustees.
In a related development, Gen.Olu Bajowa, the Jagunmolu of Ikale Land and Ojagbulegun from the Source and his wife, the Regent of Ayeka have paid a visit to the Iye Lumure House along Erinje Road which has been given out to the Local Government Council to kick off their administrative function pending the rehabilitation of the rased Council Secretariat.
Gen. Bajowa’s first reaction to the crisis in Okitipupa was a five million Naira offer of assistance and the releasing of the Iye Lumure House for the use of the Local Government staff.
The retired Army top brass and his wife also went round other public facilities burnt during the unfortunate EndSARS Protest in Okitipupa.
