Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
A Chartered Accountant and retired executive with ExxonMobil, USA, Otunba Wemmy Olumide Osude has taken over the baton of leadership as the newly inaugurated Chairman of Ilisan Development Association (IDA).
Otunba Wemmy Olumide Osude, an astute administrator and politician with business interests in oil and gas is taking over from Sir Muftau Olakunle Oyegunle, the immediate past Chairman of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) who has just completed a memorable two terms tenure of six years.
Those who had once occupied this exalted office included Prof Habeeb Oduye, former Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan and the father of the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun as well as Chief Adepegba Otemolu, a politician of repute and former Chairman of Ikenne Local Government among others.
Otunba Wemmy Osude had during the keenly contested election of new executives of the association on March 26 edged out another highly cerebral indigene of the community, Professor Wale Awotide by 78 votes to 75.
Speaking during the inauguration held on Sunday, the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya congratulated the immediate past leadership of the socio-cultural group for working assiduously to enhance socio-economic development of the Ilisan Remo community in the last six years.
Gov Abiodun has however urged residents of the town to get prepared and embrace the various economic opportunities coming with the almost completed Agro-Cargo Airport sited in the town.
The governor described the airport project as a game changer as it would attract lot of investors into the community, urging them to therefore guide their landed properties very jealously and be wary of just disposing them for a token as such tardy decision could later hunt them when the airport begin full operations.
Abiodun described Osude as a close aquitance and someone who has always shown great commitment to the development of Ilisan Remo urging him to therefore double up efforts to further take the community to greater heights.
In his address at the event held inside the newly refurbished town hall, the traditional ruler of the community, Olofin of Ilisan, Oba Michael Sonuga lauded the Sir Muftau Oyegunle led executive for displaying rare sense of leadership, integrity and commitment, particularly when it comes to rallying support of other sons and daughters of the town both at home and in diaspora towards its development.
The royal father after presenting award of meritorious service to all who served alongside the insurance icon also conferred on him, (Oyegunle) the chieftaincy title of Otun Asiwaju of Ilisan Remo.
Oba Sonuga while congratulating the new Chairman of IDA, Otunba Wemmy Olumide Osude, admonished him to follow closely on the heels of his predecessor and work with other sons and daughters of the community to enhance its development on all fronts.
While thanking God and the people of the community for the opportunity to serve as the Chairman of the association for six years of two terms, Sir Muftau Oyegunle highlighted some of the achievements of his tenure to include movement to the Ilisan central palace, construction of Dvisional police station, renovation of town hall, renovation of the community’s lock up shops at new market, security and peace in the town to mention but few.
He thereafter handed the baton of leadership to Otunba Wemmy Osude praying the almighty God to cause him to surpass expectations in his new assignment.
Speaking shortly after his inauguration, Otunba Osude pledged to give his best to the assignment at hand saying that he is even at an advantage because he is at home with the people and quite conversant with their yearnings.
Osude listed security, sound fiscal policy, urban regeneration, human capacity development, empowerment of the youths among many areas of interest his administration will focus on within the next three years.
He has therefore urged those who contested against him as well as residents and indigenes of the community both at home and abroad to form an alliance with him to take the community to higher ground.
Other dignitaries in attendance were the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Hon Segun Ogunleye and the Secretary to the local government, Hon Rotimi Osinowo.