The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been tasked to start work on building an international seaport in Ondo State, and mining the fabulous bitumen deposits in the state for export, once he assumes office next month.
Making the call in a congratulatory message to the former Lagos State governor for emerging victorious at the February 25 presidential election, an Akure, Ondo State based cleric, Prophet Segun Akintoye, urged the incoming Tinubu administration to open the Free Trade Zone at Olokola for economic and commercial activities.
He also appealed for special financial assistance for agricultural activities in the state.
To him: “We are more than confident that if these aforementioned requests are met, the presence of international bodies in the State will create job opportunities for the masses, mostly our teeming youths.”
Noting that Ondo State has the longest and largest sea coast in West Africa, he regretted that successive administrations have not lived up to expectations, as they allegedly failed to harness the deposited resources in the State optimally for the benefit of the citizens in the State and the Country at large.
According to him: “Metaphorically, the governments only serve in the sanctuary to feed themselves fat, neglecting the burning of incense that produces fragrance for the Altar!”
His words: “You would recall that Ondo State has the longest and perhaps the largest Sea Coast in West Africa. It is saddening to see it lying fallow up till today, borrowing from the agricultural language.
“There is also ‘The Olokola Free Trade Zone. There is Bitumen at Agbabu, considered to be the second-largest deposit in the world. These resources are there contributing nothing to the economy, because they are not tapped.”
Akintoye, who is the National Coordinator of the Divine Redemption of Our Nation Group, said: “Sir, it is disheartening that those resources that would have created wealth for the people of Ondo State and Nigeria as a whole were carelessly left untapped by those successive governments.”
He appealed: “Your Excellency Sir, we wish to place before you our requests for your action, and praying that they are blessed with favour in your consideration. They are as follows:
1. We want our Sea Coast to become an international Sea Port;
2. We want the Free Trade Zone at Olokola opened for economic and commercial activities;
3. We want the Bitumen at Agbabu explored and mined for export purposes; and
4. We want financial assistance for agricultural activities.”
He said he tabled the requests and worries before Tinubu confident that the President-elect is endowed with the ability that “can save the situation and cure our State of the deplorable economic situations we found ourselves,” and out of the belief that that “God has a date for us, by giving you the coveted victory.”
Akintoye said: “The words of Galileo ring a bell to my consciousness that says: “I do not feel obliged that the same God Who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended for us to forgo their use.
“In another development, the Bible book of Isaiah in chapter 45 verse 18 says: “God formed the earth, not in vain but to be inhabited.” There is no doubt that inhabiting the earth must include making use of the divine provisions so called natural resources deposited in it fully according to their human capacity.
“Sir, it is disheartening that those resources that would have created wealth for the people of Ondo State and Nigeria as a whole were carelessly left untapped by those successive governments. Metaphorically, the governments only serve in the sanctuary to feed themselves fat, neglecting the burning of incense that produces fragrance for the Altar!
Noting that “election has come and gone, leaving behind a victorious song for you and all well-meaning Nigerians”, Akintoye said that he is elated that Tinubu, in view of his leadership traits, “will now be leading the most populous black nation as from 29th May, 2023.”
Also, he called for allocation of more resources and infrastructures to the South West Region, saying: “Sir, it is no doubt that the South West of Nigeria has not been favoured in terms of infrastructural development as well as actualization of human resources.”
According to him: “It is no gainsaying that the yearning of every citizen is for a government to be responsive to their requests and demands. It is also duty-bound for a reasonable government on its part to meet the requests and demands through explicit and implicit values of proper administrative policy.
“A Yoruba adage says: “A kii leni nimosan, ka mu ibaradidi.” Meaning: When you have an ally on top of an orange tree, chances are that you won’t lick the sour ones.
“There is no doubt that the nation today is faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, that have greatly affected the living standard of the citizens, and the South West bearing the brunt mostly.
“Now that we have you, we are proud and happy that the darkness that has engulfed us for long will soon break into a glorious dawn. Thank God, the storms had assisted our oak trees to take deeper roots.
“Excellency Sir, in scanning the pages of history for guidance, it has been an established fact that the International Communities refer to Nigeria as Paradise on Earth. Why? Because of the natural and human resources deposited in the country, and the South West taking the lead in the acquisition.
“You would recall that before the advent of Crude Oil, there had been Cocoa plantations spread everywhere in the region. There are palm trees in millions as well as various species of Timbers the region could be proud of.
“Lagos State on its part remains the fourth largest economy in Africa with its Aquatic Splendor.
“I cannot but recognize your immense contributions in making Lagos what it is today – ‘A Bride of The Century.’ You are a leader who will not create enough for greed, but for human need.”
