Gale of Endorsements as Evidence of IIDM Acceptability....Read the Interface between ICDA and Atakumosa East Royal Majesties (PHOTOS)

All elected Chairmen in Ijesaland under the Local Government Autonomy as established by the Nigeria apex court unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim on Thursday, July 11, 2024 which is considered as a significant milestone in promoting grassroot development, good governance, and democratic decentralization in Nigeria, will have to be prepared to go the extra-mile to entrench good governance with direct accountability to Ijesa communities with the focus on delivering services and development projects that will lead to better governance and accountability. This is one lesson to learn from the gale of endorsements that has greeted the Ijesa Community Development Association's (ICDA) Ijesaland Independent Development Monitors (IIDM) initiative.

Henceforth, Ijesaland politicians aspiring for leadership positions in six local government areas of the zone (Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Obokun and Oriade local governments), should be prepared to be subjected to the collective initiative that prioritize projects and programs that benefit their communities thereby promoting grassroots development.

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OWA OBOKUN UNVEILS, ENDORSES IJESALAND INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT MONITORS

One would recall that the IIDM was first unveiled and endorsed by the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran 11, CFR, LL.D on Thursday 29th August 2024.

Friday 6th of September the Endorsement Register was presented to Atakumosa East Local Government Traditional Rulers Council by the ICDA Team led by the Asiwaju Of Ijesaland, Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi; Vice Chairman IIDM Steering Committee, Alhaji Lateef Akande Bakare (LAB); and Alagba Wale Idowu.

This is in keeping with the ICDA pacesetting initiatives that have successfully given birth to iconic projects such as the ultramodern Adimula Palace, the Ijesaland Geriatric Centre, Ijesa Elderly Health Insurance Scheme, scholarship program for 300+ Ijesa indigents at the Federal Science and Technical College, Ilesa, sponsorship of indigents youth at the Leventist foundation Agricultural School, Ilesa to mention just a few projected to lead the zone to the next level through rapid socio-economic transformation.

Speaking at the interactive session, Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi remarked that Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria are not covered by any constitutional immunity, and as a result, would be directly held responsible for the utilization of the funds accruing to them from the federation account. The offices of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies are aware of the corrupt practices and evidences of abuse of local council funds by state governors.

Whilst the President and Governors in the other two tiers of government are constitutionally immuned from prosecution while in office, unfortunately the third tier of government as represented in the LGAS are not.

This therefore makes them vulnerable to the regular threats of litigations from the various anti corruption agencies such as EFCC, ICPC, Human Rights Bodies, Communities Based Organisations, etc.

All these distractions could affect their respective performances in office, hence, IIDM shall proactively prevent our six LGAs in Ijesaland from all these harassments and litigations because they would have prevented poor governance from happening through their monitoring activities and interventions.

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"We don't want our own chairmen to be occupants of Nigeria Correctional Centres". He said

It is in pursuance of these commitments that the ICDA presented the REGISTER OF ADVOCATES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND RESULTS-DRIVEN ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN IJESALAND to the Royal Majesties of Atakumosa East at Ipole-Ijesa led by the Ogboni of Ipole-Ijesa who doubles as the President of Ijesa South Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Oba Oyeleye Kehinde Oyebade, who encouraged all Stakeholders in Ijesaland to join hands together in supporting the IIDM Team and it's Monitoring activities for the sustainable growth and development of Ijesaland.

Kabiyesi of Alamuye Faforiji-Ijesa, HRM Oba (Dr) Adebayo Faforiji spoke extensively from his wealth of experience as a former two-term Local Government Chairman and former Honourable Commissioner in Osun State describing the birth of IIDM as the best that could happen to Ijesaland if the Communities in Ijesaland will reap from the benefits of Supreme Court judgement on Local Government financial autonomy.

The Ataapa of Itaapa, HRM Oba Alexander Kujembola commended ICDA for always thinking ahead with laudable initiatives such as IIDM for putting Ijesaland ahead of other communities in Nigeria. He says as a widely travelled Royal Father the introduction of IIDM in Ijesaland would be putting Ijesaland in the same pedestrial with other communities in the developed countries.

Kabiyesi Olowoda of Owoda-Ijesa, HRM Oba Bashiru Onigbogi expressed his delight that both him and his community would soon witness development in his domain in his life time.

Tirimi of Iperindo, Oba Adedeji Olusegun Ogunleye expressed profound gratitude to the ICDA team for all the previous development interventions it has been championing in Ijesaland and expressed the commitment of the Traditional Rulers in Atakumosa East Local Government to work and support the success of IIDM implementation in Ijesaland.

Other Royal Majesties in attendance expressed their unflinching support and consent to the introduction of IIDM as a tool to enthrone good governance, transparency, and accountability in the management of our six LGAs in Ijesaland.