For Caretaker Chairman, Ogo Oluwa local government, Oyo State, Mr Jesutoye Oluyinka, leaders of government must embark on projects with the understanding of Maslow’s theory of hierarchy of needs. Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper, “A Theory of Human Motivation” had identified the most fundamental human needs such as water, food and shelter. This understanding of attending to human needs in order of priority is what Jesutoye Oluyinka epitomises in his administration that prioritises the provision of potable water, motorable roads, requisite educational facilities and agricultural inputs to boost food production.
In addressing the water needs of the people, Jesutoye had on December 21st, 2016 commissioned the ninth borehole, among seven other rehabilitated boreholes, in rural communities across the local government. This is aside from providing generating sets to power the boreholes. The glee showed by the people and community leaders of the benefiting communities of Ayede, Ayegun Keji, Alaaye, Ajaawa, Pontela-Olode, Owode-Elega, Oniru, Monleru, on the days of commissioning, meant a prayer answered.
Prior to the provision of borehole, the people of Elega community, for example, had to trek a minimum of two kilometres, for at least two times every day, to fetch water from the nearest stream. The suitability of the stream for drinking was questionable as the water would have passed through three villages in which people would have had their bath and washed clothes, among others.
While commissioning the ninth borehole, Jesutoye assured of addressing the pervasive problem of lack of potable water by providing borehole in all communities in his local government, with Odo Oba, the next community to get borehole.
He said, “I am from a rural setting; I am from Elega village in ward 10. I was born there and grew up there. And, I am aware of the suffering we went through when we were young. I had to trek 2 kilometres twice in day to fetch water before going to primary school. And I had to take my bath at the river before I completed the two trips because my parents would not allow me to use the water I fetched to have my bath. If I did not take my bath at the river, the option I had was to take a little water to wash my leg and go to school that way. My parents would tell me that the water I fetched is for domestic use.”
“Usually, I get to school when the assembly bell is being rang. Even the water from that stream would have passed through three villages where people would have had their bath in, washed clothes in, animals would have drunk from. It is only God that spared our lives.”
“Many communities are still facing the same problem today. And one of my cardinal projects was solving the problem of potable water in all communities in my local government. And I have resolved to ensure that I address this problem in all communities this tenure, or when next I have the opportunity to serve my people.”
Also, of priority to the people of the local government is the need to improve road network. Transportation of people and goods had become challenging owing to the deterioration of the roads, many of which were constructed during the military era. This, Jesutoye said informed the grading of about 70 per cent of roads within local government. The road projects in the local government include, Ile Ileri-Odo Oba-Ajaawa, Orita Otamokun-Eleyisade-Araromi-Elega road junction, Iwo Ate-Owu Ile linking Amo farm road, Ideore. Among other infrastructural development projects, he noted that the secretariat of the local council development area (LCDA), in Odo Oba, was being renovated and nearing completion.
While noting that provision of good drinking water and motorable roads were topmost priority in the hierarchy of needs of people of Ogooluwa local government, Jesutoye also hinted of focus on improving education, through the renovation of primary schools, which he said he had obtained approval for. He further listed enhancing productivity of farmers through provision of requisite agricultural inputs as another cardinal project of his administration.
Jesutoye is who is poised to vie for the Chairmanship of Ogo Oluwa in the forthcoming local government election, said he embarked on the projects not just because of his political ambition but so as to live up to his respectable personality in his local government. While decrying funding as a challenge, he said he had had to commit some of his personal income to some of the projects apart from local government funds.
He said, “Sincerely speaking, funding had been difficult, but for the grace of God. I am not just a caretaker chairman, I also have my businesses and have committed my personal income to some of these projects to be able to maintain my integrity and name. I am not just doing this because I want to vie for Chairmanship in the local government election; I had embarked on rehabilitation of some of the boreholes even before I became Caretaker Chairman. In education, I distributed writing materials to all secondary schools in the local government, even before my appointment as Caretaker Chairman.”
and then