Mr. Wale Omolegbon Odusola has suddenly discovered that Ilaje needs a 20–30-year development plan.

Interesting.

But before he lectures everybody about what government should do, perhaps he should answer a very simple question:

What exactly has Wale Omolegbon done to move any of these ideas from Facebook commentary to reality?

It is very easy to sit behind a keyboard and list everything Ilaje needs — a university, industrial park, reclaimed land, hospitals, markets, maritime institutes and residential estates.

Anybody can write a wish list.

Leadership is not about identifying problems after everybody else has seen them. Leadership is about having the capacity, network, courage and commitment to help solve them.

Wale cannot sit on the sidelines, write an attractive essay and then behave as though he has discovered the economic future of Ilaje.

Ilaje people are not looking for another commentator. They are looking for people who can deliver.

If Wale genuinely believes in a 20–30-year development plan, let him produce one.

Not another Facebook article.

A proper technical blueprint.

Let him show the proposed locations, funding mechanisms, environmental considerations, institutional framework, investment strategy, implementation phases and measurable targets.

Let him tell Ilaje how he intends to mobilise the resources required to achieve his grand vision.

Until then, a long list of demands is not a development plan. It is an opinion piece.

And let us address another issue.

Why is Wale conveniently presenting these opportunities as though Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and the Ondo State Government are sitting idle?

Does he genuinely believe Ilaje’s future should be discussed without acknowledging the administration currently responsible for positioning Ondo State for investment and development?

That is either deliberate political mischief or a serious misunderstanding of how governance works.

You cannot demand continuity while deliberately ignoring the administration laying the foundation today.

You cannot claim to want development while attempting to erase the people already working to create the conditions for that development.

WALE SHOULD STOP CONFUSING CRITICISM WITH LEADERSHIP

There is nothing wrong with demanding more from government.

In fact, government should be challenged.

But there is a difference between constructive advocacy and armchair politics.

It is easy to say:

“Government should reclaim land.”

“Government should build a university.”

“Government should create an industrial park.”

“Government should establish a maritime institute.”

Fine.

Show us how.

Show us the money.

Show us the technical partners.

Show us the investors.

Show us the implementation framework.

Show us what you are bringing to the table.

Because Ilaje has heard enough speeches from people who are very good at telling others what to do but mysteriously disappear when it is time to roll up their sleeves.

IL AJE NEEDS BUILDERS, NOT SELF-APPOINTED EXPERTS

Wale’s intervention contains ideas worth considering, but good ideas do not automatically make the person presenting them an authority on development.

Writing “20–30-year master plan” does not make you a development strategist.

Calling for a technical university does not make you an education planner.

Talking about reclamation does not make you a coastal engineer.

Listing industrial facilities does not make you an industrial economist.

And criticising government does not make you a better governor.

Ilaje needs competence, not intellectual theatrics.

If Wale genuinely cares about Ilaje, let him come forward with something tangible.

Let him engage government.

Let him engage investors.

Let him engage technical experts.

Let him mobilise the people.

Let him contribute resources, expertise or relationships.

Then we will know whether this is a genuine development agenda or simply another attempt to sound intelligent on social media.

MY MESSAGE TO WALE IS SIMPLE

Wale, Ilaje does not need you to tell us that our land is valuable. We know.

Ilaje does not need you to tell us that our coastline is an opportunity. We know.

Ilaje does not need you to discover that industries require skilled workers. We know.

What Ilaje needs from people like you is action, not revelation.

So, instead of standing outside the arena telling those inside how the game should be played, bring your blueprint and enter the arena.

Let us see what you can actually deliver.

Because at the end of the day, history will not remember who wrote the longest Facebook post about Ilaje’s potential.

History will remember who helped turn that potential into prosperity.

And that is precisely why we must give credit where it is due and support the Aiyedatiwa administration to build on the foundation being laid today.

Ilaje deserves development. But it also deserves intellectual honesty.

Enough of the armchair experts. Let those who have ideas bring solutions. Let those who have solutions bring action. And let those who have action produce results.

Ilaje is too important to become anybody’s platform for political grandstanding.

— Hon. Olasupo Olakunori Michael
Director-General, Opomulero Group/Movement