Akeem Olatunji Relocates LCDA Back To Olode As Oluyole LG Draws A Battle Line Against Land Grabbers

…as the Council chairman also inspects ongoing community primary school projects.

The executive chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, has announced the relocation of Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) headquarters from Akorede back to Olode.

The relocation was part of decisive moves by the Olatunji led LG administration aimed at resolving long-standing issues surrounding grassroots development in line with the primary purpose of creating LCDA which has been abandoned for a long time.

The Council boss, Olatunji made the announcement on Monday, September 16 when he visited Olode community following a distress call about activities of a notorious land grabber in the area.

It was however, gathered from the community that the LCDA previously operational at Olode was abandoned due to some reasons including a deplorable access road from town to the place by LG staff under the previous administration leading to the building becoming dilapidated and surrounding by thick bush.

While calling on members of Olode community to wake up to their civic responsibility by providing adequate and timely information to the authorities in any event of suspicious illegal activities, the executive chairman said restoration of full operation of the LCDA at Olode would not only improve government presence and enhance people’s confidence but also engender community based developments in the area.

Consequently, the Council Chairman ordered immediate renovation of the LCDA administrative building and clearing off of the bush surrounding earnestrhe facility ahead of other works which he directed should commence in earnest.

He equally declared that local government staff would be posted to resume duties at the LCDA in Olode begining from October, next month, assuring that he would ensure that the deplorable access road to between Olunde and the LCDA at Olode, which was a major demotivating factor, was graded to ease up workers transportation to and from town.

While lamenting the attitude of some workers in the habit of feeling reluctant to comply with postings, Olatunji maintained that the primary purpose of creating an LCDA was to facilitate grassroots development and as such, any workers posted but feel reluctant to resume duty at the LCDA was free to resign from the service of the Local Government.

In his words, Olatunji said, “The relocation of our LCDA back to its original location was a carefully thought out decision aimed at fulfilling the primary purpose of the LCDA which is to bring rapid development to undeveloped and underdeveloped rural communities.

“This move is expected to improve accessibility for residents and enhance the delivery of essential services especially to grassroots communities. It also signals our avowed commitment to addressing local issues with a focused approach which aim to provide a more secure and conducive environment for both administration and community development.” Olatunji said.

Meanwhile, the Council chairman, who is also the Chief Security Officer of the Local Government has assured that no inch of Oluyole land would be encroached upon by any land grabber warning that, it is no longer business as usual for saboteurs frustrating efforts of government in its giant strides to facilitate speedy development to its people.

He warned that any individual or group of persons attempting to sell local government land would be made to face the full wrath of the law, stressing that ignorance was no excuse for anyone to perpetrate crime or criminally attempt to swindle innocent people of their hard earned money on property belonging to government.

“I heard that a certain man notorious for land grabbing and selling same to unsuspecting members of the public was here last week to carry out survey. I’ve also been inundated that the man has illegally sold off several hectares of land at different locations within Oluyole local government but I’m here today to personally send a note of warning to him and whoever his allies in the community are, that I don’t want to see him anywhere near LG property again.

“I’ve met with relevant security agencies including the Police and local security outfits. The era of shenanigans is over, my administration will not condone or tolerate any act of illegality from anyone no matter how highly placed such person may be, therefore, those who know the land grabber should pass our message across to him to desist immediately, and if he attempts to undermine this warning, then we will not hesitate to deploy all instruments of the law to apprehend and bring him to book.

Impressed by the Chairman’s address, Councilors representing ward 6 under which Olode falls, Honorable Taiwo Isaiah and Demola Dauda, in their separate submissions, narrated how the previous administration abandoned the LCDA alongside LG workers working there for Akorede. He expressed confidence and optimism in the leadership of Engr. Olatunji to restore the old glory of Olode as the administrative headquarters of the LCDA.

Overwhelmed with joy and excitement, the Otun Baale of Olode, Chief who spoke on behalf of the community thanked the Council chairman for providing the long desired visionary leadership that has restored the hope of the people in his political influence to directly impact on grassroots development in accordance his electoral promises. He reaffirmed the support of Olode community to his administration.

Others who spoke including a leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Olode, Mr Taiwo Aremu and residents of the area lauded latunji for his proactive and pragmatic approach to governance, and appealed for more security presence to keep intruders and criminally minded persons away from their community.

Meanwhile, the chairman also inspected an ongoing construction project of Apadi community primary school, Apadi. Olatunji said, when completed, the school will enhance access to qualitative elementary education for children in the area and assured that his administration remains committed to domesticating Governor Makinde’s education policies at the grassroots.