WHY THE UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN ILAJE NATION?

By Ikuemonisan Bababo Major.

05-06-2022.

Historically and subsequent upon the colonization of Nigeria by Britain, Ilaje Nation had fallen under four distinct governments.

First and foremost, on the 3rd August, 1885 agreement relinquishing in favour of the Government of Lagos was signed for which the law of the Colony of Lagos were applied to the Mahin Country of Ilaje. Consequentially, on the 12th November,  1895, the area was administered by the District Commissioner at Epe until 1914.

Secondly, by 1914 and as a result of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Nigeria, Ilaje Nation became part of Ijebu District of the Abeokuta Province.

Thirdly, in 1915, Ilaje country was incorporated in the Ondo Province being in Ondo Division. 

Finally, in 1928, the Waterside District of the Ondo Division was formed into Okitipupa Division.

Interestingly, and fundamentally, Ilaje Nation has since been part of what is today known as Ondo State and Infact, the only Oil Producing Local Government Area in Ondo State and the entire Yorubaland, or Southwestern, Nigeria.

Ordinarily, as a highly resourced or resourceful and naturally endowed geographical entity, Ilaje Nation should have experienced remarkable developmental strides. Against this backdrop, underdevelopment is the order of the day in Ilaje Nation.

You wonder why? 

As I type this article, it is pitiable to say that since 2010, Ilaje Nation remains in total darkness. Its connection to the National GRID has collapsed while electric poles and expensive cables are laying waste across various communities in Ilajeland. Surprisingly, Ilaje sons and daughters, who are fortunate to be on the corridors of power and occupy eminent, enviable and exalted positions in government find it more convenient to donate Generating Sets to their individual communities rather than form a formidable, responsible and fecund bloc to facilitate reconnection to the National Grid and restore electricity supply to Ilaje Nation?

As if that is all, today Ilaje Nation has been completely neglected, marginalized and scorned in the scheme of development. This is why communities like Ayetoro, Awoye, Mese,  and others are at the mercy of the Atlantic Ocean, which continue to wreck havoc on private properties, destroy livelihoods and are at the verge of extinction yet both the State and Federal Governments make billion of nairas from Ilaje Nation, feed fat on our resources and abandon Ilaje Nation and her people to languish in misery and man-made impoverishment.

The activities of Multinational Oil Companies on and offshores had and still continue to rob us of fresh water, our existence has been threatened and remain threatened due to environmental pollution yet nothing has been done to bring us succour. 

You wonder still "What our people in Government are doing?". They are speaking big, big grammars, getting fat while their people back home suffer! I am being honest. I can mention ten grammars speaking Ilaje sons amidst the underdevelopment of Ilaje nation. It's their way.  Confuse them with superlative grammars and cheer them with signature dance to biripo and Zion praise songs.

In Igbokoda, the Local Government headquarters and many villages in Ilaje Nation,  there are uncompleted and dilapidated school buildings, health centres and Community Town Halls built by NDDC and OSOPADEC wasting away. I kid you not! These projects would have brought succour to the people and usher in modernity. Unfortunately, the fund to complete these projects has been swallowed and washed with ogogoro down the bellies of unfortunate politicians, contractors and community leaders, who were and are still in unwholesome relationship with the Powers-That-Be in Akure and Abuja. 

Ilaje Nation and people are denied basic Health Centres, quality Medical equipment, Personels yet we have Representatives in Government at both State and Federal levels. 

Since Ilaje Nation had been incorporated into Ondo State, our people have no where to go for treatment of major sickness in Ilaje Nation than surrender to fate. How long shall we continue like this? 

Any reasonable State's Programme, is never felt in Ilaje Nation. This is not because we are politically irrelevant but because we have failed to unite and demand for the disbursement of the entire thirteen percent derivation of Oil to Ilaje Nation for our holistic human and infrastructural development. Isn't it saddening and mumuric that we fold hands and watch people from far away Akure, Ondo, Owo and Akungba channel the bulk of NDDC and OSOPADEC projects to their domains while Ilaje Nation is underdeveloped? Ask our Representatives at the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly why. Them speak bombastic English, pretend like they know nothing about it, appear empathetic and a minute from now you will see them dancing to thrilling biripo dance.

We are the forth largest Oil Producing Community within the Niger Delta yet Oil Revenue Expenditure reflects in far away Akure, Owo, Ondo, and Akungba at Ilaje expense. 

There is no major hospital, Tertiary Institutions even Marine University, Navy School, Petroleum Institute, Tourist Centre, Industry, Government Agency in Ilaje Nation. Not even an Ogogoro Joint Own by the State or Federal Government is anywhere in Ilaje Nation. Check am. E no gel at all.  Olorun!

Oluwa Glass Factory that used to be our pride was rendered useless, folded up and no concerted effort by Ilaje Leaders and government to revamp it. The raw materials for glass production is laying waste. What a Nation and crop of Political Elites we have? At a point in time, OSOPADEC Headquarters was in Ilaje Nation, some Ilaje Leaders and Obas advocated and had their signatures appended to paper to renocate it to Akure. Now, their Oju Lila Don clear.

Today Ilaje Local Government Secretariat is the most unattractive Secretariat in the whole of Nigeria with dilapidated and outdated structures. It may even be the least effective and efficient in solving Local problems yet we don't see a problem with that. 

OSOPADEC and NDDC no longer pay bursary as should be done. Same with recruiting teachers, supplying school materials to students and teachers to improve the quality of Education in the Riverine. They neither provide quality community services yet there is budgetary allocation increase yearly and the fund are spent, claimed to be expended on project. I beg, make dem show us. Nah lie! 

Isn't it shocking, lamentable and saddening that in the 21st century as an Oil Producing Nation, we don't have well planned, highly developed and industrialised coastal/fishing communities and an Acquatic Tourist Communities that can compete with those in the United Arab Emirates, generate Ilaje Nation Revenue, usher in relative harmony, development and self-reliance? Aren't our Ilaje sons and daughters in government sad that in the 21st century Ilaje still excrete and bathe into the same river from which we drink, Abi self that Ilajes are a people with water everywhere yet none to drink?

Canals in Ilaje Nation are drying up, been blocked and waiting helplessly to be dredged. These canals were great relief for the Ilajes at the coast when it was dredged but for lack of maintenance by the government, are now gradually been blocked. They must be dredged and where necessary channelled into the sea. Lest, government is taking away from us our indigenous occupation. 

Ilaje Nation remains the only member of the Yoruba nation that has been treated with total neglect, relegation, scorned and highly underdeveloped for over 107 years since incorporation into diverse governments in Nigeria. The time has come therefore to demand not just our fair share but also everything that belong to us as a Nation. We must hence Rise, Unite and Coordinate Ourselves for the Gradual and Holistic Development of Ilaje Nation.

The Time Is Ripe! The Time is Now!