Kwara monarch urges AbdulRazaq to focus on rural devt

The Alangwa of Agbeyangi in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Aliyu Baba Oladaride, has appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to extend the administration’s urban renewal initiatives to rural communities. He emphasized that balanced development cannot be achieved without deliberate investment in the hinterlands.

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Development is a shared responsibility between the people and leadership. Therefore, I wish to respectfully appeal to the Kwara State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to kindly consider the reconstruction of the Panada-Agbeyangi-Yarun Road to accelerate socio-economic development within this axis.

The monarch made the appeal during the celebration of his 35 years on the throne, the unveiling of his autobiography, and the conferment of chieftaincy titles. While commending the AbdulRazaq administration for its infrastructural transformation across parts of the state, Oladaride urged the government to prioritize rural communities facing developmental challenges. "Development is a shared responsibility between the people and leadership. Therefore, I wish to respectfully appeal to the Kwara State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to kindly consider the reconstruction of the Panada-Agbeyangi-Yarun Road to accelerate socio-economic development within this axis," the monarch said.

Oladaride noted that improved road infrastructure would boost economic activities, improve access to essential services, and enhance the living conditions of residents. He expressed hope that Agbeyangi would benefit from the government's progressive vision for development. The 106-year-old monarch acknowledged that despite progress, infrastructure deficits and developmental gaps remain obstacles to the community’s growth.

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Anyone who has witnessed the urban renewal projects of His Excellency across Kwara State will naturally desire similar transformation in the rural communities. We believe that rural development is essential to balanced growth, and we remain hopeful that Agbeyangi will also benefit from this progressive vision.

Reflecting on his long reign, the royal father also called on the indigenes of Agbeyangi to revive the spirit of communal cooperation and self-help that once distinguished the community. He recalled that in the early years, development was built on unity and shared responsibility, with people contributing labor, money, and wisdom for the common good. The monarch expressed gratitude to Allah for preserving his life to witness these developments.

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In our early years, development in Agbeyangi was built on communal cooperation. We understood the strength of unity and shared responsibility. People contributed labour, money, wisdom and time for the common good. That spirit made Agbeyangi respected throughout the surrounding communities.