Nigerians in Diaspora commend Aregbesola
By Ibukunolu Ayomide
Nigerians living in Ivory Coast has commended the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his hardwork and committment to uplift the economic status of the state, Irohinoodua has been informed. Ivory Coast is host to the largest number of Yoruba people in the West Africa sub-region

Speaking under the auspices of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Diaspora, Ivory Coast Chapter, Mr Halim Wahab Oladimeji has commended the State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his unprecedented developmental projects being experienced in the nooks and cranies of the state. Mr Wahab is the APC Chairman in Ivory Coast. There are no fewer than 3.5 million Yoruba in Ivory Coast many of them having migrated to the West African city as early as the 17th century.

Mr Oladimeji spoke mid-week during the commissioning of APC in diaspora, Ivory Coast Chapter’s liaison office, in Ede.
He said that APC members in diaspora, Ivory Coast have been planning to contribute their quota to the development of agriculture in Osun and Nigeria as a whole, especially in cassava plantation to produce ‘Acheke’ which is the most stable food in Côte d'Ivoire.

"Acheke factories will be set up in all major towns in the state. Also Abidjan Estate would also be built in the State of Osun to solve the housing problems and to complement the efforts of the government in finding solution to the housing related issues", he said. He then appealed to the state government to provide them with suitable and affordable location for the planned projects.

The chairman also said there are 3.5m Nigerians in Ivory Coast, from which Osun indigenes are in the majority with over 80%. He therefore enjoined Osun APC leaders to carry along APC members in diaspora, ‘as there are educated and intelligent members needed to be given political appointments for the purpose of encouraging them to work and contribute immensely to the development of the State.

The state chairman of the APC in the State of Osun, Prince Gboyega Famodun who also stood in for Gov Rauf Aregbesola praised members for not forgetting their roots and promised them that Osun APC and indeed the government would do everything within their power to encourage and make them happier and fulfilled members of APC, assuring them that no member of APC, both in the state and in diaspora, would be marginalized.

While speaking, the former Commissioner for Information, Hon Sunday Akere also stressed that in spite of economy recession that is affecting the whole world, Governor Aregbesola has, in the last six (6) years, tried and fulfilled all his promises according to the six integral action plans: Free and Functional Qualitative Education, Free Health Care, Banishment of Poverty; Banishment of hunger; Banishment of unemployment; and Banishment of insecurity, all which have made Osun to change positively and drastically. He then advised members and supporters of APC Osun and Nigeria as a whole not to listen to rants from the opposition.

Among other dignitaries present at the event were the speaker of the State of Osun Assembly, Rt Hon Najim Folasayo Salam, representative of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, and other political leaders in the state.