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‘Despite nature’s blessings, we live in dejection’, Osun community laments
The inhabitants of Atorin, a village housed by Atakunmosa East Local Government Area ( now Atakumosa East Central LCDA) of Osun state, reflect every moment and day, as whether the social contract advocated by Thomas Hobbes, the great philosopher of the ancient time, has been breached. As every partnership agreement are parties to it, so the government and the citizens form the contractual agreement to the Hobbesian law of social contract.
Atorin, the birthplace of late African warlord and the saviour of the Ijesha people, Ogedengbe Agbogungboro successfully accommodates no fewer than nine communities which included Temidayo, Olowu, Opesubu, Alapaede, Ayealuko, Aye oke, Oloko rebete among others.
According to the community, the contract is everlasting and monumental, so long the popular sovereign government respect the sanctity of the contract, and, thereby, provide the necessities for the citizenry. The necessities are expected to be directed towards absolute maximization of pleasure and minimization of various forms of pains.
Ifewara – Atorin Road
Despite nature’s blessings and agricultural prospect, particularly the large deposit of ‘precious metal ‘ popularly known as gold buried in the bowels of Atorin rich soil , which has attracted the activities of illegal miners, the village appears to have been forgotten, as its people languish in relative obscurity.
Because of its arable land, the major occupation of the inhabitants is agriculture as they grow both cash crops ( Cocoa, Teak) and food crops such as cassava, maize, yam, among others.
Sadly, Atorin people are suffering in the midst of abundance.
The village, connected by a deplorable earth road that leads from Ifewara is not only hilly, but dusty and disfigured with steep inclines that cause serious headache to those plying the route. Rainy season is always a period of pain for the inhabitants.
The road has been destroyed by years of neglect and trucks conveying agricultural produce to the market break down often due to the deplorable road. While the dwellers battle for survival without potable drinking water, they also lacks community health center.
Our reporter, who visited the settlement sighted an abandoned water project which was converted to a well; the only source of drinking water.
Source drinking water…
In a related development, the only existing health centre, facilitated by Hon. Israel Famurewa, a two term Federal House of Representatives member, who hails from Atorin Village is yet to be completed and equipped with both personnel, furniture, drugs and medical equipments.
Famurewa represented Atakunmosa East/ Atakunmosa West/Ilesha East/ Federal Constituency between 2011-2019 . During his tenure, he facilitated a block of 3 classroom to LA Elementary School, the only school in the village and a transformer.
Unfortunately,the Alatorin of Atorin (King) recently joined his ancestors, but the Women leader (Yeye Lobirin) and the Youth leader (Olori Omo Atorin) narrated their sufferings. They both cried out loud to any ‘messiah’ who could save them from their present predicament, especially infrastructural deficits and total neglect.
LA Elementary School, the only Education Center in Atorin….
The women leader, Mrs Bolanle Ojo lamented hardship resulting from the dilapidated state of the only major road leading to the settlement. According to her, the bad state of the road had made commuting unbearable for them.
She lamented further, “We are not happy with the deplorable condition of our road, this is really affecting us seriously. It is difficult for us to evacuate our farm produce to the urban communities. In fact, we cannot go to the market during the rainy season to sell our produce at Ifewara or Sabo market in Ilesha.
” We have not seen any government impact in Atorin and this neglect signified total disregard for the memories of Ogedengbe Agbogungboro who is described as the saviour of the Ijesha people. Despite nature’s blessings, we live in dejection”, Ojo added.
The Youth leader, Ayeni Ayodele also decried the living condition of his people, just as he called on the Gboyega Oyetola led Osun state government to help the community. Ayeni, however called on the well meaning sons and daughters of the town, particularly the Ogedengbes to rescue them from untoward hardship they are currently facing.
Mr. Busuyi Makanjuola, the council chairman of Atakumosa East Central LCDA could not be reached as he didn’t respond to telephone calls when contacted for his reactions
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, has extended warm felicitations to Barrister Sarafadeen Ali, the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial district, on the occasion of his 61st birthday.
In a statement released on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Saturday, Akande lauded the lawmaker, describing him as a luminary whose life has been marked by distinguished service to the nation.
“Today, I join the world in celebrating you on your special day, as you mark 61 years of God’s abundant love and glorious impact on humanity,” the former NCC gaffer expressed.
He added, “I wish you many more years of God’s grace in your life.”
The headquarters of Heritage Bank at Victoria Island, Lagos, was besieged on Thursday by members of the labour union, protesting the recent dismissal of 1,000 support workers.
The National President of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, Comrade Anthony Abakpa, led the demonstration, condemning the bank’s management for what he deemed a lack of adherence to due process in the termination of employment contracts.
Speaking during the protest, Comrade Abakpa asserted that the leadership of Heritage Bank failed to follow established protocols before executing the mass layoffs.
He emphasised the union’s commitment to pursuing justice for the affected workers, vowing to escalate their demands until the bank’s management rectifies the situation.
“We will intensify our demands for justice,” declared Comrade Abakpa, urging the bank’s management to take corrective action to address the grievances of the dismissed workers.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, clarified that Nigeria is not utilising its foreign reserves to bolster the naira, despite recent fluctuations in reserve levels.
Speaking from Washington DC, where he is attending the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Spring Meetings, Cardoso highlighted the influx of $600 million into Nigeria’s reserves account within the past two days.
While the naira has experienced a notable appreciation against the dollar in recent weeks, climbing over 40% from approximately N1,900/$ to about N1,000/$1, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have been dwindling. As of April 15, reserves dropped to approximately $32.29 billion, marking the lowest level in over six years.
Cardoso emphasised that the shifts in reserves are typical for any country, where various financial obligations, such as debt repayments, necessitate withdrawals.
He stated, “What you’ve seen with respect to the shift in our reserves is normal in any country’s reserves where, for example, debts are due and certain payments need to be made. They are made because that is also part of keeping your credibility.”
Continuing, Cardoso underscored the dynamic nature of the market, advocating for a system driven by willing buyers, willing sellers, and price discovery.
He emphasised, “The shift in our reserves has really little or nothing to do with defending the naira, and that is certainly not our objective.”
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