Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and his Oyo State counterpart, Engr. Seyi Makinde, as well as, the former Osun State Governor, Prince Olgunsoye Oyinlola, have lauded the community development efforts of Otunba Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) and Oba Oluremi Owolabi Obayomi (Aladepe II), the Elese of Ilese Ijebu, as the trio on Saturday 13th August, 2022 graced the 2022 Ilese Day Convocation in Ogun State.
The political bigwigs who stormed Ijebu Ilese in the Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, gave the commendation as illustrious sons and daughters of the town were gathered to further contribute their quota to the socio-economic and cultural development of the community.
The Ogun State governor, Abiodun, who was ably represented on the occasion by Femi Ogunbanwo (a lawyer), gladdened the spirit of the monarch and his subjects when he reacted to the fervent demand that the deplorable major road in the town be rehabilitated.
He announced that “the State Executive Council has approved the construction of Ijebu Ode-Ilese-Ijebu Mushin Road, and work will commence any moment from now. Construction of the road is already in our 2022 budget and it will soon be done”.
The Oyo State Governor, who was represented by the Acting Governor, Adebayo Abdul-raheem Lawal (a former Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, as well as, ex- Chairman of the State Housing Corporation), also celebrated the reunion of all sons and daughters of Ilese, while assuring the gathering of his boss’ support for the development of the town.
While addressing the cheering crowd, Lawal said: “Governor Seyi Makinde will give you support and encouragement anytime you are working towards the development of Ilese town. Otunba Kunle Kalejaye loves his town so much. He will stop at nothing to attract assistance, investment and development to this town. Governor Makinde who is on vacation associates with what you are doing today. He will send KK to you”, the Acting Governor promised.
The Acting Governor was accompanied to Ilese by Makinde’s notable allies including Otunba Seye Famojuro, some serving Representatives in Oyo State, Commissioners and Special Advisers, among others.
The ex-Osun State governor, Oyinlola, who is an age-long benefactor to Kalejaye, also used the occasion to express his delight at the vigour with which the community annually explores the development of the town by uniting its sons and daughters, advancing its socio-cultural, as well as, economic potentials.
Oyinlola, who reiterated his usual claim of being a son of Ilese because of his cordial relationship with Kalejaye and the monarch, stressed that there was the need for indigenes of various communities in the country to contribute their quota to the development of their respective towns, noting that “government can not do it alone”. He had for ages been a source of financial and material supports to Ilese town in many of the developmental projects that had been embarked upon.
In his remarks on the occasion, Kalejaye, the Chairman and Pro-Chancellor of the Ogun State College of Health Technology, Ilese, deplored incidences of vices among many youths these days, warning the traditional rulers in the community to tell their children not to engage in nefarious activities like ‘Yahoo yahoo’ cyber crime. He urged the traditional leaders to appeal to their children residing outside Ogun State to come home and develop their town, saying: ” Nothing will happen to them. If I am close home like this and no evil has ever befallen me, nothing will happen to them”.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) used the occasion to announce the presence of a Judge of the Lagos State Judiciary, Justice Oresanyan, who is an indigene of Ijebu Ilese.
He said: “Justice Oresanya is one of us. I am glad to introduce him because he has distinguished himself in good character. He is an illustrious son of this town. I enjoin our youths to also emulate him”, Kalejaye said.
The week-long programme was enlivened by a beauty pageant in which a student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Miss Adekoya Modupeoluwa Chiamaka, emerged winner among 12 contestants.
She came first and went home with N500,000 prize. Miss Ojelabi Tolulope Comfort clinched 1st Runner-up position, while Miss Tofunmi came third.
Comfort went home with N300,000 while Tofunmi got N200,000 as her prize in the competition.
