Buhari

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

President Muhammed Buhari will be part of history making as Ogun state will be celebrating 40 years of creation on 3 February. The event,tagged, Operation 40-40′, is to mark legacy projects in the state.

Addressing a world press conference today at the Press Centre, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, the Secretary to the State Government,SSG, Barr. Taiwo Adeoluwa disclosed that the celebration is not for birthday for the state, but to harvest some completed projects across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

Adeoluwa said, “our desire to celebrate the creation of the state is not for birthday. We want to speak less on the birthday, 40 is a milestone, but for us in Ogun state, the issue goes beyond 40 years.

“We have a huge harvest of projects which have been completed over a year, but we don’t like show off. But some elders called our attention to the state creation date which is February 3rd, we should make it a huge celebration. We have over 100 projects across the state and about 60 have been fully completed. We have selected 40 legacy projects to be commissioned by the President to commemorate the anniversary.

“Buhari has most kindly agreed to visit and commission some of the projects. He will be in the State between Monday, 1 and Tuesday 2 February, 2016. He will commission some of the projects. Though, we are working to see if he can commission all, they are scattered all over the state. All other projects will be commissioned by our past Governors and administrators”, SSG said.

President Muhammed Buhari, according to the itinerary of the activities, will arrive the State by 1pm on Monday,1 Feb and depart by Tuesday, 2 February, 2016.

The projects, according to the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Ogun Central leads the pack with between 14-16 projects, followed by Ogun East with 12-14 projects and Ogun West with 12 projects.

Flanked by the State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter Governmental Affairs, Barr. Leke Adewolu and his counterpart in the Information and Strategy Ministry, Otunba Adedayo Adeneye, the SSG declared that, “the celebration is not about birthday but harvest of glory of God on all the people in the state and also time of stewardship”.

Projects to be commissioned at Ogun Central are: Alagbaagba Cocoa Plantation, Odeda; Owowo Farm Settlement; Tomato Plantation, Kotopo; Model School in Kobape, Onijaganjagan and Ewekoro. Others are: A.A.K. Degun Workers Estate, Laderin,Abeokuta; Three Hills Estate, Kobape; Itoku Flyover ; Salon Flyover; Iyana Mortuary Flyover; Ojere-Adatan road; OGTV-Ajebo road, Omida road and Isale Igbein road.

From Ogun East, projects to be commissioned are: Model School, Sagamu; New Makun City, formerly Estate of Paradise City. The project was on 50 hectares of land and was abandoned by the last administration, but was expanded to 750 hectares.

Other projects are: Oba Akarigbo bridge, Sabo Flyover, both in Sagamu. Model school, Ikenne, now HID Awolowo Model school; Model school, Ago Iwoye; Mobalufon bridge, Ijebu Ode; Lagos garage flyover, Ijebu Ode; Emuren chicks Farm, which produces about 2,000 chicks daily and Ijebu Ode township road.

At Ogun West, the longest road constructed by the Ibikunle Amosun administration would be commissioned. The road cuts across four LGA’s out of five in the district and it is 110klm,its from Ilara-Ijoun-Tombolo-Oja Odan road.

Other projects are: Ilo- Awela road, Model School, Ado Odo, Sango-Ijoko road, OPIC New Dawn Estate, Agbara, Oil Plantation, Ipokia (50hectraes), Cashew Plantation and Rice Plantation, Egua.

As parts of the activities, all past Governors in the state will join at the Special Executive Council meeting. All Ex-SSG and all ex- HoS will be in attendance.

Similar special session will be held at the Ogun State House of Assembly with all past Speakers in attendance.

Other activities are lined up for the day, ranging from novelty football match, quiz competition among public secondary schools, celebration of indigenous icons, Ogun Got Talent and drama presentation, titled “Ojo Ola” will be performed by Ogun Indigene Entertainment.