Gov. Ibikunle Amosun on Friday said that no village would be demolished for the establishment of the new Ogun State Polytechnic at Iwuku in Ipokia Local Government area of the state.
Amosun made the promise at the foundation laying ceremony at the site of the main campus of the institution in Ipokia.
The governor said that the decision to establish the school in Iwuku, Ipokia, was not to inconvenience the indigenes of the area, but to fulfil one of his electioneering campaign promises to the people.
He pleaded with traditional rulers and village heads in the area to moderate their traditional festivals and other traditional activities for the sake of the incoming students.
He appealed to the traditionalists in Yewaland and environs to accommodate prospective students of the institution.
The governor emphasised on ‘Oro festival’ which the community is known for and appealed to adherents to limit the timing of their rites to midnights.
Amosun said that it was when development was allowed in any community that the culture and tradition of such community could also be developed.
“We have our tradition and culture, but we must moderate it. We will do our ‘Oro festival’, but it is better done in the dead of the night because we want development.
“We don’t want a situation where students will resume and their movements will be restricted at times when they should be in school. It is when we have development that our culture and tradition can be developed.”
The governor said that the establishment of the institution in Ipokia would change the landscape of Ogun West, adding that well meaning individuals in the area should contribute to its development.
He said the establishment of the polytechnic in Ipokia was part of his administration’s socio-economic blueprint to locate infrastructure across the nooks and cranes of the state.
The governor said that the institution would take off in October or November as directed by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, advised all the Obas and village heads in the area to moderate traditions and apply wisdom in order to allow for smooth running of the new institution.
“I have to say this here, the Obas and Baales in Ipokia should moderate some traditions in this area, we should apply wisdom because we need to accommodate these students and lecturers coming around.
“We are not saying we should stop our culture and tradition, but we must apply wisdom and moderate what we are doing. We have started in part of Yewaland, we must also do same here in order to allow development,” he said.
Olugbenle called on all sons and daughters of the area to support government’s gesture by donating structures for the quick take off of the polytechnic.
Suraj Adekunbi, the Speaker, Ogun Assembly, commended the government for locating the school in Yewaland.
Those present at the ceremony include the Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, Chief of Staff, Odebiyi, Head of Service, Abayomi Sobande, All Progressive Congress (APC) National Financial Secretary, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello and members of the state executive council.
