*Why government projects fail in the rural areas — Don
*‘Nigeria should adopt India experience’

By Dayo Benson, Henry Umoru & Isiaka Oyibo in Mopa

IT was yet another epoch making event as associates, disciples, friends and family members of late Chief Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi, the Aro of Mopa gathered Saturday to relive his memory with calls on the Federal Government to immortalize his name.

The occasion, held at Mopa Town Hall in Mopa  Amuro Local Government Area of Kogi State, was the second memorial anniversary lecture for the late elder statesman.  It was organized by the Okun Peoples Forum.

In his opening remarks, the chairman, organizing committee and former health minister, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, who noted that the gathering was informed because the people of Okun lost a great giant of giants two years ago, described Awoniyi as one who was admired by many alive.  He said: “We shall continue to admire him even in death because he was a charismatic leader, he was a man who fought for the cause of the people.

“I personally had an encounter with him when I was in the University of Ilorin; we had a problem and he stood by us and fought for what we wanted and we got it.  That is the kind of leader we want, a leader by example, a leader who is principled, a leader who will not compromise standards, that was the kind of person Awoniyi was, we are missing everything about him”.

Also speaking, the former deputy chief of staff in the Presidency, Chief Olushola Akanmode, said that one of the reasons for the lecture in honour of Awoniyi was because he was, by all standards the pride of Okun people and “had done many things that we are very proud of. The second reason for the lecture is because the Okun Peoples Forum thought it wise that even if government at various levels fail to do certain things to immortalize the late Chief Awoniyi, we should be able to put in place programmes that will keep his memory alive”.

General David Jemibewon said the gathering had no political undertone, as it was put in place by citizens of Okun land. “We are not representing any political party, we are citizens of Okun, and we believe in the legacies of Awoniyi, he was an advocate of good governance, transparency, equity and character. We are remembering a great man because of what he represents, he would ask us to be united to have a formidable front, all the politicians must unite. We have not come here for propaganda, but for reality”, he added.

In his presentation, the guest lecturer, Professor Ifeyori Ihimodu said that projects in the rural areas across the country fail because the government has not involved the people and making them part of the projects. Ihimodu, who pointed out that the government has in the past embarked on different programmes and policies that failed, stressed that things happened that way because of lack of proper planning, inappropriate implementation and lack of focus.

Speaking on the topic, “the Challenges of Rural Development in Nigeria: A need for Value Re-orientation”, the university don stressed the need for value orientation and spirit of hardwork among the youths.  He called on politicians to influence government in creating the required infrastructure as well as invest in meaningful rural projects, adding that there was also the need to assist the rural inhabitants to engage in productive activities.

According to him, “unless this is done, our rural areas would remain tourist centres which we visit at weekends and festival periods as we currently do. Thereafter, the tourists leave for the urban centres and the rural areas remain what they have always been, that is, remote, under developed and backward. I believe this was what the late Chief Awoniyi stood for”.

Ihimodu, who called on the Federal Government to adopt the India experience which has paid much attention to the development of the rural areas against the backdrop that most of them live in the rural areas, said, “Indian government pay particular attention to the rural areas of the country.

The Central Ministry of Rural Development is the largest in India. It is also about the most funded of all the Ministries. Most of the rural projects have recorded tremendous success as confirmed by all evaluations conducted internally and externally. India rural areas are about the most developed in the world”. The guest lecturer also blamed politicians on the problems in the rural areas, saying, “Specifically, the motive for hard work has declined very sharply.

Young people no longer value hard work. With so many opportunities that abound to earn a living, young people would rather become errand boys or political thugs to be used and dumped. Even craftsmen and artisans like carpenters, mechanics, bricklayers, electricians, vulcanizers etc, now abandon their trades for “okada” riding where quick money can be made on a daily basis no matter how meager.

“Another version of this trend is one where young men and women, and even middle aged and some elders storm the premises of politicians when the latter are around to wait for donations or to actually request for such. “This is a worrisome trend in our societies especially when these people have the options of asking for inputs for agricultural activities like tractors, seeds or fertilizer or even some loans from the financial institutions with the help of these politicians to engage in meaningful activities. This is a total break down of our cherished values that abhor laziness, dishonesty and other vices”.

Roll call

1.      Chief Silas Bamidele Daniyan
2.      Maj. General David Jemibewon(Rtd)
3.      Professor Eyitayo Lambo
4.      Senator Smart Adeyemi
5.      Hon. Dino Melaye
6.      Special Adviser to Senate President on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan
7.      Otunba Olushola Akanmode
8.      General Julius Oshanipin
9.      Oba Julius Funsho Joledo, the Elulu of Mopa
10.  Mr. Clarence Olafemi, Speaker, Kogi House of Assembly
11.  Sam Aro, member House of Representatives
12.  Representative of Kogi State Deputy Governor,
13.  Ronke Bello
14.  Brigadier-General S.A. Ayo
15.  Otunba Funsho Owoyemi
16.  Professor Albert Anyorin
17.  Chief Jide Omokere
18.  Mrs Florence Ebun Awoniyi
19.  Mrs Benedicta Awoniyi
20.  Gboyega, Dare, Yomi, Olu Awoniyi
21.  DG NDLEA, Lanre Ikpimisho
22.  Elder Abayomi Sunday Obaro Pedro
23.  Chief Frank Ayedu
24.  Rev. Olufemi Ezekiel, former Chairman, Mopa Moru Local Government Council
25.  James Olatunji Awoniyi
26.  Chief Moses Ayimodu
27.  Chief Tunde Olusunle, others.