Oriire Youth Council Meets Onimoya of Moya and Soun of Ogbomosoland, discusses PVC Drive and Development Agenda

In continuation of its advocacy and sensitization efforts, the Oriire Youth Council (OYC) on Wednesday visited two prominent monarchs: His Royal Highness, Oba Alabi Olayinka, the Onimoya of Moya, and the Imperial Majesty, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, Soun of Ogbomosoland. The visits, which took place at the respective palaces of the monarchs, focused on the ongoing PVC Drive and the upcoming second edition of the #OriireFirst Stakeholders’ Summit.

At Moya, Oba Alabi Olayinka, in the company of several neighboring community heads, welcomed the OYC delegates. He commended the youth representatives for their zeal and consistency.

> “We are proud of your courage and the seriousness you bring to this work. Take this message wider and louder, so that all indigenes and residents of Oriire know their role in contributing to our development. Your PVC sensitization is very timely,” the Onimoya said.

The other community leaders present affirmed the OYC’s credibility and long-standing track record. They acknowledged that the Council’s activities are not driven by personal ambitions but for the collective progress of Oriire.

> “We have watched OYC closely for almost three years now, and it is clear your advocacy is genuine. The PVC Drive has the potential to reposition Oriire for greater recognition, especially if Oyo State is eventually delineated into multiple states,” one of the community leaders remarked.

On behalf of the OYC, Joshua Ojo clarified the Council’s structure:

> “The Oriire Youth Council is currently thirty disciplined volunteers drawn from the ten wards of the local government. We have kept it at thirty — at least two representatives per ward — to ensure coordination and to prevent infiltration from partisan politics. We remain in one voice, focused on advocacy for Oriire’s development.”

The OYC delegation to Moya included:

Sarafadeen Owonikoko (National Chairman), Aremu Gideon Oluwabusayo, Joshua Ojo Aderemi, Akorede Phebian Jacob, Ajadi Isaac Oluwasegun, and Oluwafemi Adura Elizabeth.

Later in the day, the OYC team proceeded to Ogbomoso, where they were warmly received by the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, at his ancient palace in Oja-Igbo.

Appreciating the monarch’s recent visit to the President of the Federal Republic, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, where he presented the collective challenges of all five Ogbomoso LGAs, OYC’s National PRO, Ajadi Isaac, said:

> “We are grateful to Kabiyesi for speaking on behalf of Ogbomoso and for including Oriire in your appeals to the Presidency. It means a lot to us.”

Another delegate, Ojo Oluwasegun Emmanuel, emphasized the synergy between the Soun’s 25-year plan and OYC’s #Vision2034.

> “Kabiyesi, we can see that your 25-year development agenda for Ogbomoso aligns with our 10-year vision. We appeal that Oriire be actively accommodated in this agenda, so our local government can finally experience long-overdue infrastructure and opportunities.”

The OYC Chairman, Sarafadeen Owonikoko, assured the monarch of the Council’s readiness to cooperate fully:

> “We are ready to learn from you, Kabiyesi. We will support and align with your vision in every way possible. All we ask is for Oriire to be included in your plans, particularly as we have long suffered political and infrastructural marginalization.”

Responding, the Soun of Ogbomosoland praised the youth’s initiatives, especially the PVC sensitization.

> “I am delighted to see young people take up actionable initiatives for both short-term and long-term change. The PVC sensitization is critical, and if Oriire increases its voter turnout, the local government can gain more influence at both the state and federal levels. Our goal is to double the electoral figures from Ogbomoso to compete with Ibadan, which currently contributes over 40% of the votes in Oyo State.”

The Soun, however, challenged the OYC to return home and foster more cooperation among Oriire’s community leaders.

> “I am willing to include Oriire fully in my 25-year agenda, but your community leaders must be ready to work with me. Unfortunately, some have distanced themselves from my leadership. Tell them we need synergy, not division.”

The delegation to the Soun’s palace included:

Sarafadeen Owonikoko (National Chairman), Aremu Gideon Oluwabusayo (Ward 9 Rep), Joshua Ojo Aderemi, Akorede Phebian Jacob (Financial Secretary), Ajadi Isaac Oluwasegun (National PRO I), Oluwafemi Adura Elizabeth (Ward 5 Rep), Akanji Folasade Oluwatobiloba (Vice Chairman II), and Ojo Oluwasegun Emmanuel (PRO II).

The two monarchs reaffirmed their support for the OYC’s efforts and pledged cooperation towards making the second edition of the #OriireFirst Stakeholders’ Summit a greater success. With the PVC Drive gaining ground and traditional rulers offering their backing, the OYC continues to position Oriire as a rising voice within the Ogbomoso zone.