A frontline philanthropist and owner of Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort, Engr Dotun Sanusi on Monday expressed reasons why he was supporting the State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde in providing social amenities for the people in Ona Ara Local Government area of the State.
Dotun Sanusi, popularly called Ilaji is a Mogaji in Ibadanland and Otun Apesinola of the city, spoke to reporters after Governor Seyi Makinde commissioned two sets of transformers he (Sanusi) donated for the 13 communities in Olorunda-Ogunsola and Idi-Obi, both in Ona Ara Local Government of the state.
The billionaire businessman who was fielding questions from journalists after the commissioning of the latest projects for the communities in the area, stressed that he decided to complement the efforts of the State Governor who happens to be his personal friend, for people to benefit more from Omituntun 2.0.
‘I am an Engineer like His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde. He is making those of us in the oil and gas sector proud of his achievements and leadership with human face.
“In Nigeria today, Governor Seyi Makinde’s achievements are second to none. He is the rave of the moment and indeed the best governor in the current dispensation.
“In his Omituntun 1.0, he recorded many landmark and unprecedented achievements which culminated in his landslide victory for second term. He needs the support of all and sundry.
“As an individual, I would continue to support the Governor and in whatever capacity to ensuring accelerated development of our dear State.
“The State Government cannot do it alone and that’s why those of us who are privileged in one way or the other, must always support the Governor to succeed in the tasks ahead of him.
“I have been rehabilitating a number of roads and providing communities with transformers; the latest being a set of 500KVA and 300KVA respectively. I will do more to improve the quality of lives of our people and more importantly, to complement the Governor’s efforts in making our State a pride of all,” Sanusi added.
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Seyi Makinde, who threw his weight behind the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, to return as Speaker of the 10th Assembly that will be inaugurated this month in the state, said “It is exactly one week today that Omituntun 2.0 (second term); started and this is my first outing… Today, we are here to commission gigantic projects. The transformers are not only at Olorunda Ogunsola. They are in other places too. At Olorunda Ogunsola, there is 500KVA. At Idi-Obi, there is another 300KVA.
“What is important is that there are people of mean, they have the money and the resources. But they would rather keep such resources for only themselves and their families. But Engineer Sanusi, not only that he provided transformers linking eight communities on this side, and five communities on the other side, also the infrastructure, including poles and cables, being provided. But what did we see? The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC)) brought metres to collect bills. We are not saying they won’t collect money. But they will tell us the cost of cables, poles, transformers, and how they would give customers that will use these transformers discounts on bill payment, so that we’ll recover the money they (IBEDC) did not spend.
“Yes, it is true the law says they (IBEDC) should collect the money. But the good news is that the law has changed. Now in Oyo State, we can get into electricity generation and distribution. And we’ll get into it. We’ll take advantage of the electricity law in Nigeria. Our aspiration in the comity of states in Nigeria is that Oyo State will be the first state to attain energy sufficiency. The person you have elected as governor is an electrical engineer. This is the work that I do.”
The host council Chairman, Hon. Shaba Sanusi lauded both the Governor and Engr Sanusi for the many developmental projects in Ona Ara.
The Chairman said Engr Dotun Sanusi had distributed about 15 transformer for electrification of 60 communities in Ona Ara, praying God to strengthen him for humanity’s sake.