N250m Omu Aran Road Intervention Fund captured in budget – Saraki

By Kayode Adeoti
The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Saturday, said N250 million for the rehabilitation of township roads in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, has been captured in the 2018 budget.
Saraki made the disclosure during the final funeral outing and thanksgiving of the late Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye.
Saraki, who was represented, by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, said the approval was already captured in the 2018 budget.
He said the approval under the Federal Government road intervention initiative was facilitated by his office as part of efforts toward ensuring the wellbeing of the people, especially at the grassroots.
Saraki gave the assurance that the senate, especially his office, would work assiduous toward ensuring that the road intervention becomes a reality.
Saraki described the late Oba Ibitoye as a courageous leader, who was committed to the growth of his community.
He said the late monarch was also an epitome of humility who did his best and gave adequate support to his administration as governor of the state.
The Senate President however urged Omu-Aran indigenes to strive to sustain the legacies left behind by the late monarch.
In his goodwill message, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, described the late monarch as an industrious and kind hearted leader.
Ahmed said: “He was a first class monarch with a difference, very industrious and kind hearted.
“We will surely miss his counseling and fatherly advice.”
Ahmed prayed for the community and the late monarch’s family for courage and fortitude to bear his passage.
Earlier, Bishop Israel Amoa admonished children of the late monarch, as well as government office holders to remember at all times that death is inevitable.
He stressed that everyone should live each day of his or her life as if it was the last noting that no one knows when death will come knocking.
Speaking, the acting Olomu, Otunba Jide Adebayo revealed that the transition process to name a successor to Oba Ibitoye has commenced.
According to him, the process will be rapidly processed adding that the kingmakers will soon be holding meetings that will facilitate the emergence of the next Olomu.
“I’m not in the position to say when another Olomu will be announced but it is our prayers that the replacement process which is about to begin will be rapidly processed.
“The last transition we had was between the late Oba Durotoye Abegunde II and the immediate past Olomu, Oba Ibitoye. The process did not last more than six weeks. The late Abegunde died on January 6, 1993 and Oba Ibitoye ascended the throne on February 1993,” he disclosed