Former Special Adviser in charge of Water Resources in Ondo State, Engr. Tunji Light Ariyomo, has eulogised a late former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, for being the inspiration driving the ongoing major interventions in the Ondo State water sector.
The former Special Adviser made this known in a detailed account of the interventions that brought about the success.
The write up by Ariyomo provided detailed accounts of the behind-the-scene activities in the water sector of Ondo State and his role in fulfilling several conditions precedent to the successful secure of $57 million AFD fund for the construction of the transmission mains linking Owena river from Igbaraoke to Akure, the state capital.
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Engr. Ariyomo said: “It must be stated that the whole Owena water transmission and reticulation project was inspired by the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu. He birthed the vision.”
Explaining the role of Agagu, the Akure-born Engineer explained that the former governor was responsible for persuading then President Olusegun Obasanjo to transfer the water aspect of the Owena Dam project to Ondo State.
In his words: “Late Governor Agagu succeeded in getting President Olusegun Obasanjo to cede the water distribution aspect of the Owena Multipurpose Dam project to the Ondo State Government.
“Dr. Agagu already paid half of what was required to the contractor before his sudden exit from the government but the project was subsequently bungled and frustrated.”
He further assured the people that the way the programme was designed makes it difficult for the money to be looted and that the project, though behind schedule, must be completed.
Ariyomo took over as the leader of the Ondo State water sector in October 2017 and records show that the state government received the first tranche of the AFD fund under his leadership in December 2018.
He was redeployed in unexplained circumstances weeks afterwards.
Why many were unaware that there is a serious ongoing water project seeking to reticulate water from the Owena Dam to the state capital, Ariyomo’s statement has heightened stakeholders’ interest in the project.
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