ENGINEER OLUSEGUN OKANLAWON TO CONSTRUCT, REHABILITATE BOREHOLES IN IBARAPA

The founder of Olusegun Okanlawon Foundation, Engineer David Olusegun Okanlawon and members of his foundation have concluded plans to embark on a construction of 9 motorized boreholes in Ibarapa region of Oyo State.

Olusegun Okanlawon who is also an aspirant of House of Representatives under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) disclosed an intention of his and his foundation to rehabilitate not less than 20 moribund boreholes so that they can become functioning again.

This medium gathered that the Olusegun Okanlawon Water Project has its theme as “abundance during drought and beyond” and the aim, according to a member of the foundation, is to “cushion the effect of drought during period of prolonged low rainfall leading to shortage of water in Ibarapa.”

Engineer David Olusegun Okanlawon told our correspondent that the hardship of water scarcity as being experienced over the years set the seal on his plan to make water available and accessible all year round and taming the trend of drudgery faced by Ibarapa inhabitants while seeking water during this period.

Making announcement of the development on his social media handles on Thursday, Okanlawon recounted bitter experience he had on his visit to some farm settlements in Ibarapa about two years ago.

During the visit he described as the “tour of evaluation and assessment of needs of Ibarapa, OOF founder aired lamentations of residents of the villages about how severely they suffer to get water for farm and domestic use.

Okanlawon described as unacceptable that farmers, who are architects of farm produce that serve as foodstuffs for the people living in urban areas, barely have access to an effective water system.

“It was sad to see that water, a basic need of every living entity, was lacking in these settlements that I visited with my team. I discussed with Jagun and Abola residents and I listened to their concerns as regards development, easy lifestyle and smooth farming operations in the area.

“The only available source of water was a flowing stream. The stream was obviously unhealthy because both animals and humans drink from the same stream. This alone, I feel, is probable of exposing them to water borne diseases.

“We decided that the first and most important intervention here was to solve the water problem. We made urgent repair of abandoned boreholes and promised to build a new and better system.

“Building on that foundation and considerate of the water scarcity hardship that our people face every dry season, we proposed to do more. I am happy to announce that our new motorized boreholes project. We are constructing 9 new motorized boreholes and repair at least 20 more across Ibarapa land.”

Okanlawon, in his statement, said three of the 9 boreholes to be constructed will be at his country home, Idere in Ibarapa Central Local Government of Oyo State.

He said one of the three is dedicated to the farm dwellers of Abola/Jagun settlements, another to the memory of his late grandfather, Pa Emmanuel Ishola Okanlawon, the Chairman of the defunct Unity Party in the era of Ifelodun Local Government and the third one be dedicated to households around Femadex Royal Gardens area.

Okanlawon was specific about location of the one dedicated to the memory of late grandfather, he said it will be at his family house in Ogbinte, Idere. He added that four abandoned boreholes will be repaired in his hometown, Idere.

He said one new borehole will be constructed in each of other six communities (Lanlate, Eruwa, Igboora, Ayete, Tapa and Igangan) in Ibarapa, while 3 abandoned boreholes will also be repaired in each community.

“We are working to identify locations of for each of these new and rehabilitated boreholes. We will work with the benefitting neighborhoods to develop a maintenance and sustainability system that will ensure that these boreholes can serve our communities for long” he added.

A resident of Jagun, one of the suburbs in Idere where a new borehole is to be constructed, told this medium that announcement of the new borehole coming to their side and which will be jointly shared with Abola was greeted with songs of praise.

“Okanlawon visited our area and he knew it was not easy. We doubt if it would have moved him if reported to him and not that he saw with his naked eyes.

“Sometimes, we go as far like 30minute walk away before we can get water. It is always a tiring exercise with no option of returning for another round. We are back from one round, we give up because we would be exhausted before getting home” he said.