Yusuf Oketola
STAKEHOLDERS in Iwo have called on the State Government of Osun to resuscitate the Reality Television and Radio station in the town.
The stakeholders described the present condition of RRS as disheartening, lamenting that some public assets and inherited heritage in the state were becoming moribund due to lack of proper attention from successive governments in the state.
According to the stakeholders, giving life back to the RRS will bring about economic prospect and other monumental development to the town.
The Reality TV and Radio station was constructed by the administration of the late Sage, Chief Bola Ige, former governor of the Old Oyo state.
The mission of founding fathers on the station which occupies seven acres of land, according to investigation by OSUN DEFENDER, was to be used as the South-West hub of information dissemination due to its central location for the intended project.
It was noted that the transmission pinacle of both the Radio and Television station was designed for about 700-800 meters in height so as to enable it serve the intended purposes.
Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on the conditions of the RRS, an indigene of Iwo, Mr Semiu Musbau, called on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and lawmaker representing the constituency to resuscitate the moribund station for the benefits of the young one and the unborn generation.
Musbau noted that efforts were made in bringing the project back to life by the administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, disclosing that the indigenous contractors given the job said all the installed gadgets were engulfed by ‘magnanimous conflagration’.
It was gathered that the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola brought the project back to life as an educational promotion radio and television station with adequate funding as done to Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC).
Another resident of Iwo, Habib Rahman, said: “It is very unfortunate that humongous amount of money was expended on the project and none of our political gladiators deemed it fit to look into its resuscitation.
“This gigantic project could add to the economic value chain of our beleaguered economy and unemployment. It is so sad that our people prefer stipend as opposed to economic development and this is a call to who is who that matters in the political dynamics of the state to use their connections to resuscitate this moribund project. Where is Osun State Agriculture Development Programme (OSSADEP)? It is gone!”
In an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the Chairman of Concerned Citizens of Iwo Federal Constituency, Mr. Ajibade Tijani, noted that successive governments in the state have not been fair to the people of the constituency, claiming that there are lot of abandoned projects in the town.
Tijani stressed that the Reality Television and Radio Station would have been an information hub for the whole South-West ever before the private sectors dabbled into the media industry.
He said: “Reality Television and Radio Station would have been an information hub for the whole South-West ever before the private sector dabbled into Radio Station and Television Establishment. Lots of people would have being gainfully employed, lots of money-spinning programs such as trade fairs, music concerts, tradomedical fairs where economic activities would have flowed freely.
“Also, magnificent houses, shopping complexes and other business auxiliary services would have sprung up. But for lackadaisical attitude of the successive government from time immemorial, coupled with self-centeredness of our political leaders and gullible followership of our youths, we would have moved Iwo to the next level. All we want without compromise is the Development of Iwoland, politically, socially, economically and infrastructurally.
“I am not aware of any efforts made by the stakeholders from Iwoland. The politicians are more interested in their purse and not the developmental indices the Radio and Television Station will be bringing to Iwoland. They are not even patronising the Radio and Television Station.
All effort to get reaction of the state government proof abortive as the Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Funke Egbemode failed to reply text message sent to her.
