Abeokuta Deserves More Than Civil Service Status, Egba Group Tells Abiodun

Prince Abiodun Karounwi

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji

ABEOKUTA - A Think-Tank group in Abeokuta, Egba Economic Summit has called on the state government to ensure Abeokuta is given its due recognition as state capital through facilitation of private sector establishment.

The interim Chairman, Egba Economic Summit, Prince Abiodun Karounwi made the call at the weekend while speaking with THE ENCOUNTER NEWS online. 

Karounwi noted that, the state capital is known as civil servant city, saying that the region should be given equal opportunities other regions enjoyed in terms of economic development. 

The EES Chairman maintained that, private investors are driving economy developments in other regions through establishment of industries and companies. 

He said, the state capital has enough land for establishment of industries for the development of Egbaland. 

Karounwi therefore called on Governor Abiodun to drive investors to the state capital for equal sharing of economic development.

"I will not talk about the beautification, but I will talk about the plans generally. The important thing is that, Abeokuta as the state capital should have a befitting infrastructures to confirm that this is a state capital. Just like Abuja is to Nigeria. 

"For Egbaland, we just want to be given equal opportunities that other regions have in terms economic development. Private investors are driving economy developments of other regions, but Egbaland is just getting out of the civil service status, so, what it means is that majority of the fund that comes in for development in Egbaland comes from government and not from the private establishment. 

"So, it is now up to us, to say the government should give opportunities to people in terms of recommended development opportunities."

Meanwhile, the immediate past President, Egba Economic Summit, Engr. Tokunbo Odebunmi has called on well meaning sons and daughters of Egbaland to join the summit and contribute to the development of Egbaland. 

Odebunmi enjoined all stakeholders in the region to facilitate developmental strides that will foster economic programmes for the developments of Egbaland.