Ondo@50: Oleyelogun Salutes Founding Fathers, Leaders
The Speaker of the 8th and 9th Assemblies in Ondo State, Rt. Hon. David Bamidele Oleyelogun, has appreciated the founding fathers of Ondo State, both living and deceased.
Oleyelogun, in a congratulatory message to the government and good people of Ondo State on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the state, said past leaders, especially the founding fathers, deserved accolades for placing Ondo State on the path of honour and development.
“As a church founder and cleric, I know that God has a time for everything to happen on the surface of the earth, but such destiny is usually conceived and nurtured by a person or group of persons.
“In 1976, beyond the declaration by the then military government, some people somewhere must have carried out underground efforts which culminated in the birth of the old Ondo State,” he said.
According to the former Speaker, the creation of Ondo State in 1976 came at the right time, when communities in the then Western Region were yearning for development, noting that the region was too large for smaller communities to attract meaningful development.
While commending the roles played by military administrators during their 17 years of governance, Oleyelogun also hailed democratic governors for bringing dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the common man.
“It is crystal clear that our past military administrators tried their best to leave indelible marks on the development of Ondo State; however, the bulk of development was recorded under democratically elected governors in their 33 years of governance.
“I want to thank our past military administrators, from David Ita-Ekpemen to Col. Ahmed Usman. The people of Ondo State will forever be grateful to them,” he said.
He also saluted the first Executive Governor of Ondo State, late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, down to the present Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, noting that they all performed creditably.
“In fact, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa appears divinely ordained to lead Ondo State at this particular time. It is not by accident that he is the governor when the state is marking its 50 years of existence,” Oleyelogun stated.
The former Speaker commended the infrastructural facelift across Ondo State, as well as other people-oriented programmes implemented across the length and breadth of the Sunshine State.
Commenting on the role of the legislative arm of government, Oleyelogun said that during the 8th and 9th Assemblies, when there was a need to revamp the security architecture of the state, members of the Ondo State House of Assembly under his leadership acted decisively by passing the Amotekun Bill into law, which he said contributed significantly to the peace currently enjoyed in the state.
He listed other laws passed during his tenure to include the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law; a law establishing the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo; a law establishing the Ondo State Consumer Protection Agency; a law establishing the Ondo State Public Service Training Institute (PSTI); a law establishing the Ondo State Security Trust Fund; a law establishing the Ondo State Information Technology Agency (SITA); the Appropriation Law; Social Protection Law; Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law; Orange FM Law; and the RUWASSA Law, among others.
Oleyelogun urged the state government to accord greater recognition to the legislature as a critical arm of government and the custodian of laws necessary for effective governance and development.
“As it is being done for the judiciary in the Ondo@50 celebration, where a special court sitting is being conducted, a special plenary session should also be observed as part of the lined-up activities. This will make legislators feel included, identified and acknowledged,” he said.
The former Speaker, who noted the collective efforts of state legislators from the First Republic to the present Assembly, said their contributions would remain indelible in the history of Ondo State.
Oleyelogun also extended his felicitations to members of the state judiciary, the state workforce and the generality of the people of Ondo State.
E-signed
Rt. Hon. David Bamidele Oleyelogun
