Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, has explained that the ongoing massive projects are the reason the second phase of the borehole projects has not started.
Rasheed said this while featuring at the media parley of the Osun Online Publishers Association held in Osogbo on Saturday.
The Governor’s imade explained that the boreholes are immediate solutions provided to tackle the acute water shortage discovered when the administration took over in 2022.
Prominent Osogbo political gladiators in the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) have been advised to join and support the government of governor Ademola Adeleke in the ongoing transformation of Osogbo into a befitting capital city of Osun State.
The appeal was made by the Spokesperson to Osun state governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed while featuring on a Media Parley organized by Osun Online Publishers Association (OOPA), on Saturday in Osogbo.
While responding to questions filed by members of the fourth estate of the realm, Olawale called on the National Secretary of the All Progressive Congress, Senator Ajibola Bashiru SRJ, and the Executive Director of Marine and Operations at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Engr Olalekan Badmus among other Osogbo politicians federal appointees to join Osun PDP and Adeleke government in appreciation of the ongoing massive development in Osogbo, noting that Adeleke is turning Osogbo into a small London within two years.
Adeleke’s Spokesperson who elaborately explained the reasons behind the achievement recorded in two years in office, said the record has surpassed expectations of his critics.
“Governor Adeleke, within two years changes the fortune of Osogbo, the capital city to small London, the true sons and daughters of the land, like Ajibola Basiru SRJ, Engr Olalekan Badmus among others should join us and rally round the governor to continue his good works,” Olawale said.
He highlighted the major projects in Osogbo, “Lamenco flyover, Oke-fia flyover, Ikirun-Osogbo road, Alekuwodo road, Old garage roads dualization, among other visible projects.
“When we came on board in November 2022, the report of our infrastructure survey showed that Osun was suffering from acute water shortage. Like in my area in Iwo, I know for sure that more than three wards around my family house had no single source of portable water. We did get water from a river along Ibadan road. While rich ones get water from those who sell in cans.
“When the Governor came on board, he was ready to solve the crisis. We had immediate or short term action, medium action and the long term actions. We agreed that for immediate response, we should get boreholes across all wards. At least that will make water accessible to our people and reduce the chances of contracting diseases.
“We got market survey and the cost of borehole was around N7m to N10m. Then we agreed on using direct labour to get it done. The cost including generator set was around N2m. I can tell you that in my area, Post Office area of Iwo, the only source of water is the Adeleke borehole.
“For our midterm plan, we started working on reviving the waterworks. But when we started the works, we realized that many of the pipes have been laid since 1970s and 1960s. We picked Ede and Eko Ende for the relaying of pipes. We’re also working on mini dams constructed by a PDP government.
“As those were ongoing, we also thought it wise to embark on second phase of our boreholes.
“The delay is as a result of ongoing massive projects. I believe we’ll embark on them before the termination of the 2024 budget life cycle.”
Rasheed said the government is also working on the Ilesha Water Project, which according to him, has become a source of corrupt practices.
