The newly inaugurated executive council of Uso Unity Forum North America has intensified efforts to foster strategic partnership with Ondo State Government.
The group has also unveiled a comprehensive five-year plan to drive development and address challenges in Uso and the state.
The forum’s President, Mr. Olawale Abayomi, said it was not only committed to expanding the forum’s network, mobilising membership and fostering strategic partnerships with the state government, but keen on deepening its involvement in homeland socio-political affairs, particularly in addressing insecurity, promoting food security and investing in education and health care.
The body is also focused on correcting historical injustices faced by the community, which is geopolitically ‘forced-married’ to Owo, instead of Akure, based on the Ogbese River delimitation basis.
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It opposed the recent siting of Owo North Local Council Development Area in Emure instead of Uso, calling for the establishment of Uso administrative autonomy if reversal seems impossible.
The forum urged the state government to deepen collaboration with the diaspora community in ensuring food security, especially in addressing the menace of herdsmen attacks that have hindered farming in Uso and other communities.
Abayomi highlighted some of the association’s past efforts in donating security vehicles, gadgets and buildings to security agencies to curb insecurity in Uso and its environs, as well as supporting and facilitating health and education programmes for communities.
“We are committed to the development of Uso with its 162 villages and Ondo State in general. Currently, Uso farmers are in palpable fear of going back to their villages and camps where real farming takes place. Lack of agricultural infrastructure and machinery such as roads, tractors, input seedlings and extension services have led to acute shortage of farm produce in the recent past. This trend can be upturned with our open hands to partner the state to alleviate some of these encumbrances,” he said.