…Iwo Grammar School Old Students Association (IGSOSA) and PTA cries out
The Old Students Association of Iwo Grammar School, Iwo in Osun State has cried out over the plot by Osun State Government to convert the age long school farm to a residential quarter.
The President of the Association, Chief Gbenga James who spoke on behalf of the entire old students both at home and diaspora at a press conference organized by the Old Students and the Parent Teachers’ Association PTA said that they are crying out to the whole world to know that the age long legacy of the school which they are proud of is about to be eroded by some selfish people who do not meant well for the school and its pupils.
Chief Gbenga James said that the school farm has always been a motivation for every students that have passed through Iwo Grammar School and wondered why these enemies of progress deem it fits to think that it is the appropriate land for them to convert to a residential quarters.
He further stated that any government who wants the progress of the people and the students will not be interested in turning school farmland to residential quarters at a period that Nigeria is on the verge of diversifying from oil to agriculture.
He also pointed out that if at all a residential quarter is needed in Iwo there are other areas which could be acquired for the purpose not our own school farmland. We are of the opinion that some selfish individuals are the brain behind this action because of their personal gain.
Concerning the fire station, which is now under construction at the premises of the farmland, the Iwo Grammar School old students argued that they believed that, that was just the first step to gradually takeover the entire farmland which is more than 50 acres. The land mass now earmarked for the fire station they pointed out is far more than what is needed. According to them, what is required for the fire station is 60metres by 30metres.
They declared that since they are not averse to a fire station being built for the safety of the people, “our concern is why is the premises of the school farm if not that they have sinister motives. We got the information from a reliable source that the government in conevance with some selfish people only wanted to use the fire station to cover up their alterior motives. We also wondered why another site near the market where the fire station will be most adequate and useful for emergency was not acquired for the project. We suggested this but they refused.
The Iwo Grammar School old boys student argued that they were not happy about this move by the government. They are of the opinion that the government is just paying leap service to the development of agriculture in the state.
“We believe if the government is serious about this it is not the school agriculture farm used for practical that will be needed for residential quarters.
Chief Gbenga James maintained that the school farm is supposed to be a good platform to train pupils to develop interest in agriculture that could make them self reliant in future. He said that some of the old students of Iwo grammar school are pursuing agriculture as a career because of what has been inculcated in them through the school farm.
He believes strongly that the acquisition of a school farmland for a residential quarters, would not add any value to education and it will only tarnish the image of the state government. The association has now called on Osun State government to think about the benefit which the students of Iwo Grammar School would be deprived from. He urged the Osun State government to shelf their plan to convert the school farm to a residential quarters.
In his own remark, the Chairman of the Parent Teacher’s Association Alhaji Atanda Oloyin call on the Oluwo of Iwo Oba Rasheed Akanbi to kindly intervene in the matter because the old students will not fold their hands and allow the government to destroy the age long legacy of the school.