As it is usually celebrated every 15^th of January, this year’s edition of the 2012 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State was a unique one to honour the fallen heroes who fought gallantly for the unity of this country.

People were still in attendance despite the strike action embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and the Trade Union Congress TUC to press home their demands asking the federal government to reverse its initial plan by removing the oil subsidy on premium motor spirit PMS popularly known as petrol.

The men of Nigerian Army 19^th Battalion Barracks Okitipupa, members of Nigerian Legion Okitipupa Local Government Chapter and politicians as well as traditional rulers and Religious leaders converged at the Okitipupa Local Government Cenotaph, Oke-Oyinbo Area in Okitipupa to honour the fallen heroes.

The activities, which started with a thanksgiving service at Wesley Methodist Church Ode-Aye last Sunday, was rounded off with a parade by the men of Nigerian Army 19^th Battalion Barracks Okitipupa at the Cenotaph.

The day’s activities were kicked off by a parade and 21 guns salute to give honour to their colleagues who lost their life in the process of fighting for their nation.

The Chairman Caretaker Committee Okitipupa Local Government, Hon. Wale Ogunmade represented by his special assistant Mr. Benson Akinbo appreciated God Almighty for sparing the lives of the living soldiers and for assisting them to still keep the country intact despite all security challenges facing the nation.

The Chairman also thanked the men of the Nigerian Army 19^th Battalion Barracks Okitipupa for providing adequate security for Okitipupa town and its environment particularly during the just-concluded labour industrial action.

He assured them that local government administration on its own part, will strive to provide adequate assistance in carrying out their duties and promised to always handle issues that concerns the retired soldiers and the families of the fallen heroes with utmost priority.

The Caretaker Chairman Okitipupa Local Government, Mr. Wale Ogunmade represented by his special assistant, Mr. Benson Akinbo, Jegun of Idepe Okitipupa, Oba Micheal Obatuga Adetoye, the Chairman Nigerian Legion Okitipupa Branch, high Chief (Major) Ola Aiyeku (rtd), the representative of the Army and the representative of the Nigerian Police, laid the wreaths to honour the fallen heroes. Special prayers were offered for the families of the fallen heroes, the retired soldiers, the living soldiers who are still actively in service, Okitipupa Local Government, Ondo State and Nigeria in general.

 

As part of his efforts to reach out to his people so as for them to enjoy more of the benefits of Ondo State government, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Prince Eni Akinsola has recently dispensed some cash to 45 widows across Ayeka, Igbodigo, Okumo and Igodan wards.

The philanthropist also gave scholarship to 12 final year students who are indigenes of Igodan-Lisa Community in the name of Oba Paul Akinsola foundation.

The concerned widows all gathered at the premises of the palace of Olu of Igodan-Lisa to receive a token amount of money as succor in the beginning of the New Year 2012.

Speaking,  Prince Eni Akinsola explained that the programme of caring for the widows is the first of its kind in the community and that it is to prove to them that Mimiko’s administration is the type that listens to people’s yearnings.

Presenting envelopes of an undisclosed amount of money to each of the widows, Prince Akinsola charged them to continue praying for the success of the present administration in the state and Labour Party in general so as to further enjoy dividends of democracy.

He stressed that what informed his decision of taking such step was because widows have no husband to cater for them.

Speaking with   coastalnews, some of the widows, Mrs. Abigail Bobo, Mrs. Iyabo Bowale,  Mrs. Veronica Babalene amongst others on behalf of the entire widows appreciated the kind gestures and offered series of prayers for the benefactors.

Meanwhile, 12 final year students who are indigenes of Igodan-Lisa community also got scholarship from the magnanimous philanthropist from the stable of his father Oba Paul Akinsola foundation.

Prince Eni Akinsola said the best legacy one can give to the young ones is education.

On behalf of the foundation, he explained that the scholarship which would be on   a yearly basis, would be a sort of financial assistance to the students throughout their final year in school.

The students who benefitted from the gesture, Daniel Ayesammi, Dolapo Akinsola and others expressed their gratitude to prince Eni Akinsola who they described as an indefatigable patron of the federation of Igodan-Lisa students union.

They also thanked the Olu of Igodan-Lisa, Oba Paul Akinsola for his kindness towards their academic pursuit.

The chairman, caretaker committee in  Irele Local Government, Hon. Oluwatobi Akinbiola popularly known as Nicholas has recently distributed some cash and materials worth about Nine Million Naira to his people across the ten wards of the council.

Beneficiaries of the empowerment materials all gathered at the local government secretariat at Ode-Irele expecting to go back home with their own portion of the materials ranging from sixteen motorcycles, ten sewing machine four hundred and eighty (480) cutlasses, one hundred knapsack sprayers among others which went round the ten wards of the council.

The chairman, caretaker committee in Irele Local Government, Hon. Akinbiola who handed over distribution of the materials to the labour party chairman in Irele Local Government, Chief Akin Ogeleyinbo said, the aim of distributing the empowerment materials is for his people to again enjoy the divided of democracy.

He thereby enjoined his people to always allow peace to reign in the area and charged them to throw their weight behind the present administration in the Local Government and in the state in general so as to continue enjoying the benefits of the government.

The Labour Party in Irele Local Government, Chief Akin Ogeleyingbo commended the move of the chairman of empowering his people describing it as a welcome development in the council.

Speaking with Coastalnews, some of the beneficiaries, Mr. Akinboye Olusegun, Mr. Akinleye Fagbemi among others expressed their gratitude to the local government chairman, Nicholas and the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for their magnanimity.

Investigation revealed that this was the second empowerment programme organized by the present administration in Irele Local Government within about four months in office.

As we compliment the effort of our Governor in transforming the lives of our people through the various people oriented programmes and projects, we pray that the New Year would bring many more of solid projects that will touch the lives of the people.

We are committed to massive rehabilitation of roads construction of feeder roads, construction of drainages, provision of portable water etc.

We wish all our people Merry Xmas and a prosperous New Year 2012 and we pray that new year will bring good tidings to our people.

Hon. Wale Ogunmade

Chairman Okitipupa Local Government.