Rural Communities Risk Stagnation Without Investment, Government Collaboration – 106-Year-Old Monarch

The Alangwa of Agbeyangi in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Aliyu Oladaride, has called for stronger grassroots governance and renewed investment in rural development. He spoke at an event in Ilọrin which also featured the unveiling of his autobiography titled, “Faith, Leadership and Legacy: My Journey Through Agbeyangi History” and the conferment of chieftaincy titles on deserving indigenes to mark his 35 years on the throne. The gathering drew traditional rulers, religious leaders, academics, government officials and indigenes from within and outside the country. The 106-year-old monarch stressed the importance of traditional institutions in driving community progress and national cohesion. He used the milestone event to reflect on decades of communal progress and warned that rural communities across Nigeria risk further stagnation without deliberate investment and stronger collaboration between government and traditional institutions. He described traditional rulers as “indispensable partners” in development, insisting that their proximity to the people positions them as critical drivers of unity, mobilisation and cultural preservation. Oladaride said the history of the town proves that sustainable progress is rooted in collective effort rather than isolated leadership. He recalled how early development projects were achieved through communal contributions of labour, resources and time. He pointed to landmark achievements such as the construction of the community’s first Central Mosque and the establishment of its primary school in 1950, describing them as enduring symbols of unity-driven development. The monarch, however, cautioned that the spirit of collective responsibility that once defined Agbeyangi was gradually weakening. He called on residents, especially younger generations, to revive it in the face of modern development challenges. “Development is a shared responsibility between the people and leadership,” he said, stressing that both government and citizens must play active roles if rural communities are to keep pace with urban centres. He urged indigenes of Agbeyangi to reconnect with their roots and contribute to community growth, noting that several infrastructure gaps still hinder economic and social advancement in the area. Turning attention to government responsibility, Oladaride appealed to the Kwara State Government to prioritise the reconstruction of the Panada-Agbeyangi-Yarun road, describing it as critical to unlocking economic opportunities in the axis. He argued that rural transformation must not be secondary in governance planning, warning that national development would remain uneven without targeted investment in rural infrastructure and social amenities. “Anyone who has witnessed urban renewal in Kwara State would naturally desire similar transformation in rural communities,” he said, adding that balanced development remains essential for long-term stability and growth. The monarch also used the occasion to challenge newly installed chieftaincy title holders to view their positions as a call to service rather than personal prestige. He urged them to support education, youth empowerment and economic development initiatives. Prominent among the proposals he highlighted were the proposed Darul Kitab University and the NALDA Integrated Farm Estate, which he said require strong community and elite backing to materialise. Former Chief of Staff to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who reviewed the book, described it as a rare contribution to indigenous historiography. He praised the monarch for documenting community history from a leadership perspective rarely captured in written form. He noted that the work offers valuable insights into Agbeyangi’s transformation across education, infrastructure, healthcare and governance participation, while also projecting a future anchored on stronger rural development policies. Dignitaries described the monarch’s reign as one marked by peace, continuity and community advancement, with many praising his long-standing commitment to unity and service. In his sermon, the Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Sheikh Sulaiman Onikijipa, urged residents to prioritise community development and ensure their contributions are recorded for future generations to learn from. He cautioned against attitudes that discourage collective progress, stressing that development cannot thrive in an environment of selfishness or resentment. “We should stop the idea that if we don’t get something, then it must not go to another person or it should be destroyed. Communities don’t grow like that. Those of us running away from our communities under the pretext that people want to kill us should stop. Come back home and develop your community and write your name in gold, because only Allah has power over life and death,” he said.