Date: 2019-09-23

Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, the traditional ruler of Omu-Aran in Kwara State, on Sunday, appealed for more government's presence in the state, as a way of ensuring the desired socio-economic development in the community.

Adeoti made the call during an Inter-religious prayer to commemorate his one year’s installation and coronation, as the Olomu of Omu-Aran, in Omu-Aran, Kwara.

Adeoti, a former Executive Secretary, Kwara State Town Development Authority, assumed the position in Sept. 2018, following the death of the late Olomu, Oba Charles Ibitoye.

The monarch said Omu-Aran as an emerging urban city, deserves the presence of more government's developmental projects, to commensurate with its rapid expansion.

According to him, communal efforts in any community would amount to a minor, without adequate government intervention.

Adeoti urged the tiers of goverment to include the community in their development plans, as a way of achieving the envisioned growth, progress and development in the community.

"First and foremost, development will always commence from the indegenes of a community.

"Our people in Omu-Aran are always known for their giant strides in the area of development, it is our nature.

"But notwithstanding, we still count greatly on governments at all levels, because capital intensive projects will always come from government.

"We shall continue to solicit and beg the goverment at all tiers, that they should remember us in their developmental plans and projections.

"So that they can bring on board, the types of viable projects that would promote growth and sustain the development of our community," he said.

The monarch further said that the Omu-Aran community, going by its unprecedented expansion, was presently in dire need of a master plan to achieve the desired results.

"When talking of urban and regional planning, you will know that planning is a statutory function.

"There should be a master plan for Omu-Aran developmental plan, aside this, we need sub-regional plan that will dictate these phases of growth.

"An urban conovation requires adequate attention of physical planners and a consulting planner can only be engaged by government.

"So as we go ahead with our communal developmental efforts, we need goverment's adequate intervention," he said.

Adeoti thanked the people of the community, the Omu-Aran Development Association, (ODA) and Olomu-In-Council, for their support in moving the community forward.

Pastor Isaac Ajewole, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Irepodun Local Government Area chapter and Alhaji Sodiq Afolayan, Chief Imam of Omu-Aran, in their separate remarks, urged the residents to imbibe tolerance, unity and peaceful co-existence.

The highlight of the event was a special prayer for prosperity and economic development for the community, the state and the country at large. (NAN)