The national executive of Okun Development Association (ODA)
has distanced itself from a group named Okun Development Association, South
West Branch.
The National Executive of ODA, the umbrella body
representing the Yoruba people of Kogi State, rose from its quarterly meeting
of 18th January 2020 held in Isanlu, Yagba East LG, with some far reaching
decisions.
In a communiqué released in Kogi
State after the meeting, and signed by the National President, Barrister Femi
Mokikan, the National Secretary, Pst Ayo Abereoran and the National Legal
Adviser, Barrister Abimbola, the association stated that:
1) Legal, civil and criminal actions
will be taken against anybody or group of persons parading themselves as
representing the Association at National or Branch levels in any manner outside
the provisions of the constitution of the Association.
2) No organisation or individuals
shall henceforth undertake any event or function, for commercial or non
commercial purposes, using the Okun name without the written approval of the
National Executive Committee of ODA.
3) That the security situation in
Okunland is still of serious concern. We commend the efforts of the State
Government, other security agencies in the State, our Hunters and individuals
who have collaborated with us in addressing the challenges we are often
confronted with.
4) To further enhance the
effectiveness of our efforts, we believe the time has come for us to set up our
own Okun Security Trust Fund (OSTF). Towards this end, a committee is working
on the details and other modalities and the outcome will be announced as soon
as their report is approved.
5) We received with excitement the
creation of the AMOTEKUN Security outfit at inter governmental level to address
the security challenges of the SW States. This provides us in ODA an
opportunity to explore the possibility of raising our security collaboration
with the SW Yorubas to another level. We shall not relent.
6) As part of possible measures to
reduce unemployment, we appeal to Okun Sons and Daughters with means and the
entrepreneurial profile to come home and establish businesses with potentials
to absorb people into paid employment.
7) The presence of a Community Radio
is a powerful means of social and cultural reengineering in any community. The
ODA will explore every opportunity/possibility, through appropriate
individuals, to ensure that Okun Radio becomes a reality.
8) To further give teeth to the ODA,
the Okun Council of Elders is to be reconstituted within the shortest possible
time. We, on behalf of all Okun people thank our fathers and mothers who have
served meritoriously on the Council
9) We appeal to our politicians to stop meddling with the affairs of the
National Association of Okun Students so as to permanently put an end to the
divisive tendencies that continue to plague the body. What we need is unity at
all levels.
10) That the Miss Okun Pageant is a
proprietary asset of the Okun people.
Therefore the process of selecting
the successful candidate to wear the Miss Okun Crown will henceforth be under
the umbrella of ODA. This is without prejudice to any groups or individuals
that may wish to initiate, organize and own their own beauty pageants, provided
the word Okun is not reflected in the appellation of such pageant.
11) Meanwhile, ODA has announced
that election will be held into various offices of the Lagos branch of the
association before the end of Februa 2020. The Executive offices to be filled
shalll be contested by individuals from Ijumu Local Government, Yagba West
Local Government, Mopa Amuro Local Government, Yagba East Local Government,
Oworo/Lokoja Local Government and Kabba/Bunu Local Government.
12) Ijumu Local Government will
produce the Chairman of the Branch, while the Vice-Chairman will be produced by
Oworo in Lokoja Local Government, the office of the Secretary has been zoned to
Yagba West, while the Financial Secretary will be produced by Mopa Amuro. The
post of Public Relation Officer (PRO) and Treasurer will come from Yagba East
and Kabba/Bunu Local Government respectively.
Speaking further on the Communique,
the National President, Barrister Femi Mokikan, appealed to the Federal
Government to urgently rebuild all the federal roads in Okunland that are in a
deplorable condition. The association President said most Okun communities are
now “landlocked”.