Honorable, Otunba
Omoniyi Omodara was born in early fifties (50s) at Oba –Ile in AKure North
Local Government Area of Ondo State. His father was the late Pa. Ezekiel Omodara
of the Great Akogun Alubiagba Dynasty and his mother, Late Mrs. Julianah
Omowade Omodara was a descendent of Odopetu, both of Oba – Ile.
He
had his elementary and secondary education at Saint John’s Anglican Primary
School, Oba – Ile and Anglican Grammar School, Iju-Itaogbolu between 1961 to
1966 and 1968 to 1972 respectively. He obtained his West African School Certificate
in 1972 and added the General Certificate of Education (GCE) to academic
qualification in 1974.
He
started his working career as a teacher before he joined the Federal Ministry
of Education, Science and Technology, Federal Inspectorate Service as an
Accounts Officer and served both in Kawara and Ondo States. He was later
promoted to the post of executive Officer (Accounts) which he head till August
, 1979 when he joined the services of
the Nigeria Bank for Commerce and Industry as an Accounts Officer where he
bagged a certificate of Merit before he voluntarily
opted out of the banking world in 1985.
Upon
leaving the public service, Otunba Omodara went into the private sector as the Administrative
manger of ADEFAB Holdings Company (Nig) Limited where the then Federal and Ondo
State Ministries of Commerce and Industry awarded him a Certificate of Excellence
for his excellent. Demonstration of baking bread with corn flour in place of
wheat flour. He later left the establishment to become the Managing Director of
his own Companies.
MICO DARA (NIG) ENTERPRISES,
KUNFEM (NIG) LIMITED AND DARANET COMMUNICATIONS in 1992.
On the political
platform, Otunba Omodara started his enviable career as the Secretary of the defunct
Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Old Akure.
Constituency III, and has
since held various political positions between
the period and 1997 when he was elected the first executive Vice chairman of
Akure North Local Government before the democratic process was aborted by the
then military government.
Such political position include Secretary
, Unity Party of Nigeria ( UPN), Oba -/Ogbese Ward III, Vice chairman of the
defunct social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oba/Ogbese ward 10 and state delegate
of the party and leader of the defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN)
When Nigeria retuned to the present democratic rule, Otunba
Omodara was popularly elected as the Executive Chairman of Akure North Local
Government on December 5, 1998 on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD).
His period as the Local Government chairman
impacted tremendous on the political, economic and social well being of the
electorate as the dividends of democracy delivered by his administration have
remained indelible and unprecedented in the memory of the people till today.
These include among others.
Construction of the Second Phase of
the Local Government Secretariat drainages, culverts and Market stalls in virtually
all the towns and villages in the area; reactivation of street light projects
and building of Youth Centers at Oba-ile, Iju, Itaogbolu and Ayede Ogbese;
purchase of grader and grading of rural and township roads as well’ as sinking
of boreholes.
2 Provision of drugs and beddings in all
the 18 Basic and Comprehensive Health Centers in the area; installation of
X-Ray Machine at the General Hospital, Iju-Itaogbolu; donation of 18 seater bus
to Ondo state Radiovision Cooperation (OSRC) to ease the transportation problem
of the broadcast house; provision of Instrumental Materials to all the Secondary
and Primary Schools in the area and purchase of 30-seater staff bus of the
local government
3.
Provision of Mercedes Benz cars for
the four principal traditional rulers in the area; furnishing of their places;
increase In the monthly pay package of the Obas and over 420 chiefs; upgrading
of Olu Familugba into the status of an Oba; sponsorship of Obas to Jerusalem
and peaceful installation of Alayede of Ayede Ogbese in year 2000, a feat which
earned him a chieftaincy title of Otunba of Ayede Ogbese.
Prompt payment of staff salaries, allowance
leave bonuses and other emoluments during the notorious era of Zero-Allocation
to Local Governments; sponsorship of five Muslims to Mecca in the year 2000 and
four each year till he left office as well as purchase of communication equipments
for the 29 Olus and Baales in the area to enable them monitor government
activities from their remote locations among other numerous giant strides
during his tenure which he successfully completed in 2002.
As an astute grassroots politicians, he joined
the Labour Party as pioneer member and was one of the few men who were at fore front
of the historical 2007 gubernatorial election which saw the emergence of Dr.
Olusegun Mimiko as the governor of Ondo State after two years of legal and political
tussle. As a result of his commitment, dedication and steadfastness, Otunba Omodara
was appointed as the pioneer Commissioner for Transport in Ondo State.
His
tenure, no doubt did not only make the transport system a means of wealth
creation, but also as an agent of social change for the people of the state.
Among his various achievement as Ondo State Commissioner for Transport are:
Clearing of sea weeds and water
hyacinth spanning about five million square meters across the riverine communities
within Six months of its existence. Equality, Rivers Yewa and Ofe that have
been blocked for decades were dredged.
Introduction of Sunshine Traffic
Scheme (STC) to ease transportation problems in the State.
The Scheme which commenced with
the recruitment and tanning of 60 traffic officers in busy towns like Akure,
Ondo, Owo and Ikare.
Construction of floating Jetties at
Igbokoda and Igbekebo while that of Igbokoda has been completed and
commissioned .
A modern motor park was designed,
constucted and completed within ten months under his supervision.
The mega motor park situated at
Ondo Road, Akure has capacity to accommodate 200 vehicles, 30 shopping malls,
booking office, restaurant among others.
A twenty –five tons of Towing Truck and two thirty
tons of towing vans were procured to respond to accident and other emergencies
on our roads this is in addition to the construction of V.I.O offices at Oka
and Ifon respectively.
Procurement and distribution of One
hundred Toyota Hiace to the members of the Ondo State branch of National Union
Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with a view to boosting transport.
Maintenance of peace among members of
NURTW and ACCOMMORAN.
Members of the two transport
Unions have not only democratic Culture to run their affairs but improved
tremendously in their operational, styles to serve the public better through
regular capacity building and training programmes.
The ministry under his supervision constructed
office complex for the Directorates of
Inland waterways at Okitipupa and the construction of a story building office
complex that would accommodate more staff otunba Omodara’s penchant for hard
work, equality, social justice, fairness, loyalty, dedication to duty and
excellent service has earned him various meritorious awards too numerous to mention.
Some of these are;
i.
Hononarary Goodwill Ambassador of New Democratic
Nigeria, World Trade Centre, Hannorer, Federal Republic of Germany (1999).
ii.
Local Government Chairman of the
year-Grassroots Hall of Fame Abuja (2000).
iii.
Best Local Government Chairman of the
year Merit Award Leader and People Forum, Abjua (2000)
iv.
Outstanding service Award-Akure Owena Golden
Lions Club, Akure (2000)
v.
Honorary members, Rotary Club,
District 9130, AKure.
vi.
Justice of Peace (JP), Ministry of
Justice , Akure (2003)
vii.
Award of Excellent performance-Ondo
State chamber of commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OSCCIMA) (2000)
viii.
Certificate of Dedication to service
–Oyemekun-International club, Baltimore, Marylands, USA, (2001)
ix.
Distinguished Merit Wards, Federation
of Oba Ile students Union (2002)
x.
Merit Award, National Associational of
AKure Students(2001).
xi.
Man of substance Awards, Skylight
club, Oba – Ile (2001)
xii.
Installed Otunba of Ayede Ogbese by
Oba Aderemi Oluyede, Alayede of Ayede-Ogbese (2000)
As a grassroots man community leader, Otunba
Omodara has served his home town in various capacity which include; National
Secretary Oba – Ile Progressive Union; President, Oba – Ile Progressive Union (Home
Branch). Secretary, Oba – Ile Action Committee; Two term member, Board of Governor,
Ejioba High School, Oba Ile; and he is presently the Baba Ijo of Chreubin and
Seraphim church, Itedo-Olodumare, Oba –Ile Otunba Omodara is happily married to
Chief (Mrs.) Omoyemi Omodara and blessed with wonderful children.
Distinguished guest, ladies and gentlemen, I
present to you a rare Illustrious son of Oba – Ile, a grassroots politician,
mobilizer, an astute administrator, excellent manger of human and material
resources, the first Oba – Ile indigene to be elected vice chairman and Executive
chairman of a Local Government, the first Oba – Ile son to serve as a
Honourable Commissioner representing the Central Senatorial District of Ondo
State on the Board of OSOPADEC, and the first Oba – Ile Indigene to be
appointed not just as a commissioner in State Executive Council but as the
pioneer Commissioner for Transport in Ondo State, Otunba Micheal Omoniyi
Omodara (JP)
POSTED BY: TOLULOPE OMODARA FOR GLANCEAFRIK (+2348138880789)
