By Amb. Olonishowon Damola
CHANGE BEGINS FROM ME AND YOU
The Ondo Development Committee (ODC) was in place to also contribute to the development of Ondo kingdom as a whole (Both East and West), as its name implies. While the government has its own responsibilities in ensuring the progress and growth of the state and all Local governments, the ODC should also actively participate with its own quota.
Every year, during the Ekimogun day celebrations, the ODC receives significant and even tangible donations amounting to millions and even billions of Naira, I doubt if there is any means of accountability regarding how these funds are utilized and what impact they have on the city’s development, just for the sake of transparency. The committee needs to be accountable, just as we hold our political leaders accountable. Because ODC is a revenue and financial committee, based on their annual purpose of income generation.
It is certain that putting up channelization to end this flood disaster will definitely cost a whole lot. It is not bad if the ODC had one time or the other come with relief efforts or even now that things are hard in the country, so as to at least empathize with the people truly. Sympathy is different from Empathy, but people chose shy away from it.
When natural disasters such as flooding occur, the committee could provide relief materials or financial assistance to affected residents, pending when the government can release funds to do a lasting project that will tackle this annual challenge. This would demonstrate the committee’s commitment to the well-being of the community and its ability to respond to emergencies effectively and will also justify the fact the ODC is truly a development committee.
We all know that even the management of the Ondo Civic Center is also handled by the ODC. But we still see that external funding from philanthropist are often used for renovations of this huge edifice, yet the hall rent continues to increase by the ODC. To me, this should also raise questions about the committee’s financial management practices and whether the funds are being used efficiently and for what are the funds meant for???
If we are to truly advocate for fairness and justice, we must hold all institutions, including the ODC, to the same standards of transparency and accountability. Not just focusing on political office holders and selecting who to gas light base on who we like and who we don’t like , of them.
The committee should not just rely on donations and fundraising events, but should actively engage in projects and contribute to the overall development of the city. Make dem also show workings.
If you cannot call out ODC also to be part of the relief for this current challenge , but you can call out only politicians based on the face you like and the one you don’t like, you are a hypocrite. Alagabagebe ni e. If VDM had been an Ondo person, many of you would have queue behind him to fight for you, even against our community but non political leaders. Because no one is talking, that’s why they are too comfortable.
I won’t be an Alabosi, so I say Change begins from me and you, so also ODC.