Former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly and Speaker of the 8th and 9th Assemblies, Rt. Hon. David Bamidele Oleyelogun, has paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers of Ondo State, both living and deceased, for laying what he described as a solid foundation that has sustained the state over the last five decades.
In a congratulatory message to the government and people of Ondo State on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the state’s creation, Oleyelogun said the past leaders, particularly the founding fathers, deserved enduring accolades for setting the state on a path of honour, development and stability.
Reflecting on the historical journey of the state, the former Speaker noted that although Ondo State was officially created in 1976 by the then military government, its emergence was the result of deliberate and visionary efforts by individuals and groups who worked behind the scenes to actualise the dream.
“As a church founder and cleric, I firmly believe that God has appointed time for everything on the surface of the earth. However, such destinies are usually conceived, nurtured and brought to fruition by people,” Oleyelogun said.
He explained that the creation of Ondo State came at a critical period when communities in the old Western Region were yearning for development, stressing that the region had become too large for smaller communities to attract adequate attention and infrastructure.
While acknowledging the contributions of military administrators who governed the state for about seventeen years, Oleyelogun maintained that the bulk of developmental strides recorded in Ondo State were achieved under democratic governance.
“It is crystal clear that our past military administrators tried their best to leave indelible marks on the development of Ondo State. However, the greater part of development has been recorded under democratically elected governors in the thirty-three years of civilian rule,” he said.
He specifically appreciated former military administrators who served in the state, from Navy Captain David Ita-Ekpemen to Colonel Ahmed Usman, noting that the people of Ondo State would remain grateful for their service.
The former Speaker also commended successive civilian governors, from the first Executive Governor of the state, the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, to the current Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, whom he described as divinely positioned to lead the state at its golden jubilee.
“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is ordained to govern Ondo State at this particular period in history. It is not a coincidence that he is at the helm of affairs as Ondo State marks fifty years of existence,” Oleyelogun said.
He praised the present administration for the ongoing infrastructural renewal and people-oriented programmes across the length and breadth of the Sunshine State.
Commenting on the role of the legislature in the development of Ondo State, Oleyelogun recalled that during his tenure as Speaker of the 8th and 9th Assemblies, lawmakers took decisive steps to strengthen the state’s security architecture through the passage of the Amotekun Law, which he said has contributed significantly to the peace currently enjoyed in the state.
He listed several other landmark legislations passed during that period, including the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, the law establishing the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo, the Consumer Protection Agency Law, the Public Service Training Institute (PSTI) Law, the Security Trust Fund Law, the Ondo State Information Technology Agency (SITA) Law, the Appropriation Law, Social Protection Law, Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, Orange FM Law, and the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) Law, among others.
Oleyelogun, however, urged the state government to accord greater recognition to the legislature as a critical arm of government and custodian of the state’s laws, particularly during the Ondo@50 celebrations.
“As the judiciary is being honoured with a special court sitting as part of the activities marking Ondo at 50, there should also be a special plenary session for the legislature. This will make lawmakers feel recognised, identified and appreciated,” he said.
He further acknowledged the collective efforts of state legislators from the First Republic to the current Assembly, stressing that their contributions would remain indelible in the annals of Ondo State’s history.
The former Speaker also extended his felicitations to members of the judiciary, the state workforce and the entire people of Ondo State, wishing the state greater prosperity in the years ahead.
