IDU National News

Meeting with Oyo State Governor Senator. Isiaka Ajimobi

The IDU delegates met with the State Governor on November 16, 2011 at his State Cabinet Room at the State Secretariat.  Introduction began with members of IDU and other state officials. Chief Bayo Oyero, the Chairman of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) presented the IDU-USA and Great Britain members  and expressed his gratitude to the governor for his warm welcome of Ibadans in Diaspora.

In response,  Dr.Gabriel  Isioye thanked the governor for welcoming us, and gave a synopsis of IDU-USA membership, indicating that one of its former member by the name of Mr. Kola Ajadi is a senior adviser to the governor.  He added that the IDU members were there to seek support from the government to restore the old glory of the City of Ibadan as a pace-setter. One of the areas of needs, he emphasized, has been the city sanitation problem which has been the root of public health issues.  He further added the need to rebuild the infrastructure to encourage state-wide investment from home and abroad, and asked the government what IDU can do to assist.

Dr. Isioye then presented Prince.Bimbo Onibokun of the Center for African Settlement Studies and Development, who submitted a proposal on the need to bring all stakeholders together in re-building the city infrastructure.  Prince.Bimbo Onibokun expressed that the Ibadan problem is a national problem, and the citizens have to be involved to resolve the problem.  He challenged the governor to call for a forum  in which solutions and implementation strategies could be discussed and ratified by all before funding is sought.

Dr.Gabriel Isioye also urged the governor to attend the  next IDU convention October 19th and 20th, 2012 in Dallas, Texas as it would be an opportunity for the Governor to reach the indigenes of Ibadan and to garner support for needed changes in the State. He informed the audience of the ongoing fundraising activities for the recent flooding incident in Ibadan; the fundraising exercise is being conducted in association with the Ibadan Descendants in the United Kingdom under IbadanAid.
He also expressed his concern over the Oyo State government website, there  is nothing on the website how can investors be reached when the website is not a source of information.

The Governor thanked Chief Bayo Oyero, attendees and members of the Press in presence.  The further thanked IDU for its commitment, and acknowledged Ibadan as the intellectual and political capital of the country, owning “first” in everything, e.g. education, technology, and infrastructure.  He however, expressed regret that Ibadan has not kept up with its values due to mediocrity.  He emphasized that Ibadan needs transformation, restoration, and repositioning. He is happy that IDU members came this week as the previous week’s visit could not have been favorable for our visit because he was being declared as having dual citizenship of Nigeria and USA.  Persons of such criteria are not eligible to hold public office according to Nigerian Constitution.   He reminded us that though we enjoy all the benefits of living in developed countries, “home is home,” and we should remember that Oyo State is in need of everything, and it poses a challenge to all of us.  He challenged citizens of other cities in Oyo State to do the same that IDU has embarked upon – that is, showing interests in their localities and intent to help.   He emphasized the areas of need: health and agriculture for example, and technology in particular.  He then urged IDU to bring to the State what they have and promised to work with us on projects that would make the Oyo State another example of a progressive state.  He then thanked us for the visit and our “huge deposit in my emotional bank account.”

After the general meeting, the Governor met us again in a close-door session where individuals have the opportunity to talk further about various issues already discussed in general meeting.  The delegates were feted at Premier Hotel from where everyone dispersed.
A tour was organized for us to see the devastation of the flood area.  An audio visual report of the visit was made accordingly, and shall be posted on IDU website later.