- Seek Govt Attention to Deplorable Mopa-Okeagi-Imela Road
Sons and daughters of Okeagi community in Mopamuro Local Government, Kogi State at the weekend gathered to mark this year’s edition of Okeagi Day in what has been variously described by those who witnessed the ceremony, which was streamed online worldwide, as “a beautiful and historic occasion”.
It was however one occasion that came with lamentations over the deplorable condition of the road linking Mopa, headquarters of Mopamuro LGA and Okeagi, through to Imela within the LGA, with a clarion call for immediate government intervention.
Tagged “Okeagi Day 2022 Yam Festival and Launching of N25M Town Hall Development Fund”, indigenes, friends of the community and well wishers flocked from far and near as they celebrated and donated towards the development of the community.
The colourful ceremony was co-chaired by business mogul, Otunba Muyiwa Ibeun and Member, House of Representatives for Ikeja, Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Rt Hon James Abiodun Faleke who was represented by Mr Olumuyiwa Omoniwa.
Dignitaries who either were personally present or sent their representatives and goodwill/donations included the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer for Kogi West Senatorial District, Hon Sunday Karimi and African Democratic Congress (ADC) flagbearer and incumbent member of House of Representatives for Yagba Federal Constituency, Hon Leke Abejide who were the Chief Launcher and Special Guest of Honour respectively; flagbearer of Accord Pary (AP) for Kogi West Senate, Chief (Dr) M D Eseyin; flagbearers of the APC, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Yagba Federal Constituency, namely Engr Folorunsho Olafemi, Hon Jeremiah Oladokun and Hon T J Faniyi; Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Hon Kingsley Olorunfemi Fanwo, Secretary to Kogi State Government, Dr Folashade Ayoade, Chairman, Mopamuro Local Government, Hon Moses Sunday David, Commissioner in the Kogi State Pension Commission, Hon Femi Iroja, former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon Mrs Bolanle Ampitan, Chief Oluseyi Omotosho, the Akeweje of Oggaland; Engr Toba Adebayo Belushi; Chief Olushola Mofobi, Chief Edward Meseko, ADC and PDP candidates for Mopamuro State House of Assembly Constituency, Hon Daniel Jones and Hon Oyebode Makinde respectively, Kingsley Femi Fanwo Foundation (KFFF) family, Ibukunoluwa Social Club, among others.
Guests were entertained by Golden Voice Band and cultural groups.
Mopamuro LGA Council boss Hon Moses Sunday David who was personally present described Okeagi as a great community whose people are never tired of community self help projects. Hon Moses enjoined the people to remain fervent in what they do (communal help). He pledged the support of the local government within the available resources to see that the people benefitted as expected from dividends of democracy.
Earlier, National President, Okeagi Progressive Union (OPU) Mr Seth Ibigbemi, who spoke on behalf of HRH Oba Isaac Abayomi Ogunkolu, the Danayagun of Okeagiland welcomed and appreciated the dignitaries for identifying with the community and their donations towards Okeagi community development efforts.
According to him, the project conceived for a befitting multipurpose Okeagi Town Hall estimated at N25m was started in 2019 but activities on the project were slowed down by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
“However, as at today the foundation has been laid for the building with N6.5m raised so far”, he said.
Noting that Okeagi Day 2022 was an occasion designed to raise more funds for the project, the OPU President enthused that sons and daughters and friends of the community would rise to the occasion in ensuring the project is completed in good time and not delayed further in view of the skyrocketing costs of building materials.
Secretary, Planning Committee of Okeagi Day 2022, Mr Moses Bablo speaking with journalists after the ceremony disclosed that Okeagi Day debuted since 1993 but skipped consecutively in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.
Aside from the Town Hall project which he said the groundbreaking was done during the 2019 Okeagi Day, Mr Bablo identified the Mopa-Okeagi-Imela road as a major challenge confronting the community.
“From the Oba’s speech, our major concern is our road. Mopa to Okeagi to Imela is 14 kilometres. while Okeagi to imela is 12km. It is just 8km from Mopa to Okeagi and see our suffering.
“We call on Kogi State Government, our representative In Yagba Federal Constituency, Kogi West Senator and all other well placed officials of government to come to our aid as Okeagi is the food basket of Mopamuro due to the arable land”, he said.
