Erin-Ile Progressive Union (EPU), a socio-cultural group in Oyun local government Area of Kwara state, has challenged the state government to fix the deplorable condition of the Erin-Ile- Osun boundary road failure for which they might consider an option of seeking favour from the neighbouring Osun state.

The union also challenged its indigenes, at home and abroad, to take advantage of the natural resources in the area by investing in the community to facilitate its growth and development.

Addressing a press conference on the forthcoming 15th Erin –Ile Day celebration, an activity promoting the cultural heritage of the community scheduled for tomorrow, national president of the union, Group Captain, Salami Muritala Osuolanle (rtd), said the community was endowed with rich land and resources waiting to be explored.

He, however, decried the deplorable condition of the road, which, he noted, might serve as a clog in the wheel of the community's industrialisation drive.

''We are calling on our people to come an invest in Eri-Ile, we are endowed with land, let them come and invest .It's cheaper to invest here than to invest in Kano, it cost less, we have water,we have light.

''The road, we hope the government will come to our aide; if people in Kwara don't take care of us, our neighbouring state, Osun will take care of us," he said.

Osuolanle said the community was looking forward to establishing a Sugar Company in the area, but lamented that such project was capital intensive which costs the community alone could not bear.

On security arrangement for the day, the retired Air Force officer said shooting would not be allowed during masquerade displays in view of the current security challenges in the country, even as he assured that adequate security arrangements had been put in place.

He explained that the present Elerin of Erin-Ile Oba, Abdulganiyyu Ajibola Olusokun11, introduced the idea of the Erin-Ile Day to be held on the first Saturday of November, every year, to revive the dying cultural heritage of the community which, he said, him was being eroded by “modernisation."