By Kaseem Jenrade
Indigenes of Otu in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State have been charged to shun primordial sentiments, unhealthy rivalry and irrational discrimination in order to achieve unity of purpose for the overall development of the ancient town.
The admonition was part of submissions made by guests who spoke at the inauguration of the National Executive Council of Otu Community Development Unions.
The 41 member council has Chief Johnson Bayo Kehinde( Jaybee Ventures) as President and Prince Toyin Elegbede as Vice President 1, while Mr Ajasa Kamoru was sworn in as Vice President 2.
The General Secretary is Hon. Yekeen Oladosu while Prof Adeolu Akande will serve as Patron.
The duo of Alhaji Akeem Adesina and Chief Mrs Janet Aiyeku are to serve as Co patron and Matron respectively.
The colourful event, held under the auspices of the Oniro of Otu His Majesty Oba Sunday Adepoju Ayilola the third and the Onibise of Otu, His Majesty Oba Abiodun Oyerinde Owolabi Oyekuleyin the first, represented by the Onisia of Iwoye Otu Oba Isiaka Oyelekan Ayantunde Olaluwoye the first, also had in attendance.
Otu Community Elders comprising Pa Abdul Azeez Fajimi,Pa J.O Akinyemi,Pa Akande, Jagun of Otu, High Chief Samson Adekunle Adedokun,Otu Community Chairman Hon Paul Ajayi, Chief Imam of Otu Imam Abdul Ganiyu Abdul Salam Ayodabo, Reverend Dr M.O Olabiyi of First Baptist Church Otu and Oluwo of Otu land Chief Olaifa Ayansola Ifakayode among others.
While delivering his keynote address, the Chairman,Inauguration Committee; Otu Community Development Union, Mr Ayoade Bamiji Oyedokun admonished the newly sworn in executives to pursue unity and vision of the people of Otu devoid of any discrimination for the common goal of achieving accelerated development in the land.
He stressed that Chief Johnson Bayo Kehinde and his committee should see their appointments as a unifying factor towards addressing myriad of challenges bedeviling their ancient town.
According to him, the inauguration of Otu National Body is beyond merry making but an avenue to achieve unity of purpose.
In their separate remarks, the Community Chairman, Hon Paul Lere Ajayi, Chairman NUT Itesiwaju Local Government, Comrade Joseph Siyanbade and former Director of TESCOM, Mr Bamidele Afolabi urged the Otu Community Development Union executives to unite for the overall development of their father land.
In their goodwill messages, Pa Joseph Akinyemi,Mrs Shade Omoniyi; a member from diaspora, Engr Ajasa Kamoru Kehinde and Mrs Ajayi Elizabeth took turn to eulogise the choice of Chief Johnson Bayo Kehinde,describing him as a round peg in a round hole.
They urged him not to be deterred in his set objective towards changing the narrative of the town positively.
While appreciating the entire people of Otu and pledging his loyalty to serve the land with all sense of responsibility, Chief Johnson urged all sons and daughters of Otu to see the task of developing and rebranding their father land as collective responsibility.
He used the occasion to enumerate some of his achievements so far within a couple of months on education, security, infrastructure and youth inclusiveness. He added that a football academy has been established in otu in which no fewer than twenty five talented youths will be recruited and nurture to travel abroad to pursue their dreams.
President Federation of Otu Student Union Hazmat Mujeebat Kemisola in her comments testified to the philanthropic gestures of Chief Johnson, particularly towards students of Otu and described him as a man of impeccable character.
She appealed to the entire people of otu to throw their weight behind him with a view to achieving unprecedented development in the land.
Seriki fulani alaga Alhaji Jimoh Alidu,Seriki Hausa Otu Alhaji Shehu Ismail,Seriki Gbari Haruna Tanko and Somori Hausa Abdulahi Umoru explained the relative peace and harmonious relationship existing between the settlers and indigenes of Otu.
They all promised to consolidate the existing peaceful co- existence in the land.
The Chairman National Population Commission,Otu Branch Mr Abdul Rashid Olaniyi while speaking on the sideline of the event, explained the benefits to be derived in registering a child from birth till age 5 and urged parents and guardians not to forsake the future of their children.
He admonished nursing mothers to register their children through E registration.
The epoch event graced by otu indigenes in the USA and beyond also recorded the large gathering of otu indigenes from ile oluji,Ondo,Ekiti,Akure and Lagos State.
A minute silence was observed in honour of the departed souls of two prominent sons of otu who recently passed on Chief Isaac Ajiboye Omodewu and Alhaji Bashiru Alaro.