A couple of years ago, when I said that the rehabilitation of the 48 klm Ido-Eruwa Road was taking till eternity for the Government of Engr. Seyi Makinde to be completed, one of his supporters took me up and condemned me for using the phrase, ’till eternity’.
Unfortunately for the fellow who chose to weep louder than the bereaved, the same Road is yet to be completed as at today. I always love and enjoyed it, any time Governor Seyi Makinde made a nuisance of his usually aggressive supporters.
The fellow in question is not from Oyo state, talk less of him being from Ibarapa and I wondered why he carried it upon himself to defend Governor Makinde’s apparent failures.
Before I proceed with the Ido-Eruwa Road, let me talk about the terrible condition of the Omi-Adio-Ido Road which was rehabilitated by the Government of Seyi Makinde shortly before the 2023 general elections.
An elderly friend of mine was full of admirations for Governor Seyi Makinde about that Road.
In fact, he told the whole world that though, he was a registered member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at the time, he would work for the reelection of Governor Seyi Makinde, who was contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
His sole reason for that decision, according to him, was that, the only request he placed before the Governor was the rehabilitation of the Omi-Adio-Ido Road and the Governor approved the request.
In fact, he was personally present when Governor Seyi Makinde flagged off the rehabilitation of the Road from Ido.
Truly, the Road was rehabilitated, not minding the controversies that surrounded how it was funded because I have information which pointed to the fact that a Career officer in Ido Local Government sought for a transfer from Ido as a result of the manner the funds for the rehabilitation of the Road was sourced.
That is not the issue for now. The quality of the job done by the Contractors is the main issue. I use that road regularly and I want anyone who may wish to challenge my position to go and see the condition of the road on their own.
The job done is so poor to the extent that many parts of the road keeps breaking down. A few days ago, I passed through the road and I saw that it is being patched here and there once again.
That has always been the story. Large areas of the road would open up and Government keeps patching. I am not a nay sayer but from the look of things, that road can not hold for another two years.
Back to the Ido-Eruwa Road.
Two years into Governor Makinde’s first term, he started claiming that he had connected all the zones of Oyo state with the state Capital, Ibadan.
He went further to say that the road network he built to connect the zones with the state Capital was boosting Agricultural outputs.
I asked the Governor then, whether Ibarapa zone was no longer recognized as one of the zones making up Oyo state.
I asked the question at that time because the only road that connected Ibarapa zone with Ibadan, the same Ido-Eruwa Road was a complete disaster and almost impassable.
Until sometimes in 2023, very close to the 2023 general election, Governor Makinde did nothing about the road and when he finally did, the promise he made to the people of Ibarapa was not kept.
Several promises were made concerning the road but they were not kept. When Governor Seyi Makinde went to Eruwa to install Adegbola as the Eleruwa, in violation of the Supreme Court order, he promised that if he didn’t finish up the rehabilitation of the road, he shouldn’t be allowed to enter Eruwa again.
Subsequent to that promise, the contract for the rehabilitation of the road was rewarded by the Governor and Contractors returned to site.
Honestly, I was not excited because I know Governor Seyi Makinde very well and I told some people that the Contractors will soon abandon the project site.
I told them that when we move closer to the 2027 election period, the Contractors would be back, showing a semblance of vigor towards finishing the job.
I was convinced that whatever Governor Seyi Makinde does on that road, moving forward, it’s going to be tailored towards deceiving the people further, so as to get their votes for his party candidates in 2027.
Interestingly, I have been vindicated as usual. As I write this piece the Contractors working on the road have left the project site.
Not only that, they left with all their equipments. It would interest you to note that all this while, only about a quarter of the road, if it is up to that, have been completed.
So, when I said it is taking Governor Makinde till eternity to complete a 48 klm stretch of road, I’m I wrong for saying so?
I traveled on the road about three days ago and I was alarmed to see that the quality of the job done is also similar to what was done at Omi-Adio-Ido Road and it won’t last.
If anyone is in doubt, such a person should just go and see for themselves and to get the best of what I’m trying to say, they should go after it rained.
I have kept saying it and I will still repeat it here for emphasis sake. We can not leave the agenda setting for the 2027 general election to the Press. We must control the discussions and narratives that will shape the agenda for 2027.
Immediately after Hon. Shittu, the member representing Saki West in the Oyo State House of Assembly blew the whistle on the alleged Cabal that has specialized in approving loans without following due process in the Oyo State House of Assembly, the Government of Oyo state came out with an outrageous number of Contract approvals.
I was very suspicious at the time and I expected the Press to also be suspicious and follow up on the strange development.
It wasn’t a coincidence that immediately after Shittu raised the very damaging allegations, then, the state Government suddenly woke up to its responsibilities and started approving funds for several contracts.
I was very particular about the hundreds of billions of Naira approved for the Light Up Oyo and the shallow explanations attached to the approval.
So, what new things has happened around the Light Up Oyo despite the fresh approval of over a hundred billion Naira?
Even, the initial contract which was varied from 28 billion Naira to over 40 billion Naira was said to have failed by the Governor.
So, what is the rationale for the approval of another funds in billions of Naira?
Governor Makinde also told us that Oyo state would purchase some Aircrafts and that a Airstrip would be constructed somewhere in Oke-Ogun.
Billions of Naira were also approved in respect of these. Who is following up and asking the right questions?
It’s interesting to hear that Bimbo Adekanmbi is Governor Seyi Makinde’s preferred gubernatorial aspirant for 2027.
He was appointed as the Chairman of a Committee which was saddled with the responsibilities of upgrading of the Alakia Airport.
I was surprised to see that Muslim Pilgrims were unable to get a Airlift from the Alakia Airport this year, as Governor Makinde promised.
We will come to that later but I heard that the initial 62 billion Naira or thereabout, approved for the assignment given to Bimbo Adekanmbi was later varied to over 160 billion Naira.
I am sure that the anointed successor is prepared to give clear and vivid explanations regarding his activities as Chairman of the Committee.
These are important issues that the Press is supposed to be following up on but alas!
However, if the Press won’t do their job, it is our duty to get serious and do the job for them and for the good people of Oyo state.
We will not be tired.
Sola Abegunde.
