The Royal Fathers across various local government areas and cities affected by the deplorable State of Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road have appealed to both Osun and Oyo state governments to repair the road.
The Monarchs gathered at the Palace of Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurosheed Adewale Akanbi on Wednesday 24th of August 2022, to discuss the affairs.
InsightMedia had reported in June, that the governments of Oyo and Osun States, having inspected the road concluded arrangements to award contracts for the reconstruction of the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road.”
“The Commissioner for Works in Osun State, Remi Omowaiye, and his Oyo State counterpart, Kehinde Sangodoyin, announced this at a joint press conference in Ibadan on Monday” and they had agreed that the project would start in July.”
The Osun State Honourable Commissioner for Works, Mr Remi Omowaiye, said “the reconstruction will aid the movement of agric produce along that corridor. Oyo will construct the 29.2 kilometres stretch that falls within its boundary and Osun will do 55.4km from Dele Yes sir to our boundary with Oyo State”.
Omowaiye added that the determination to improve infrastructure and deliver good governance were the factors driving the two Governors ,he also included that the road project was to foster regional integration, boost food production, and improve security along the corridor.
Speaking on Wednesday, Oba Akanbi commended the efforts of the two Governors of different political parties coming together to prosecute a project beneficial to their people.
He lamented that seven (7) LGAS out of ten (10) Osun West Senatorial District and part of Osogbo Local Government (Osun Central) are badly affected.
He, therefore, appealed to the State Governments regarding the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road rehabilitation/reconstruction.
The monarch appealed to Governors Adegboyega Oyetola and Seyi Makinde not to relent in the laudable effort that they had started and to please kindly approve the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road.
“The road is in a serious state of disrepair, full of potholes of various sizes, with parts of the road already being washed away by heavy erosions”.
READ ALSO: Infrastructures: Oyetola, Makinde to reconstruct FG’s 83.6km Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road
He indicated that abandoning the road has grave implications for insecurity in the areas affected because the road now looks unkempt, bushy and isolated, and so it is rapidly becoming a haven for criminals especially kidnappers for ransom and rituals.
” We are appealing to our Governor to please help us prevent this by immediately approving the rehabilitation/reconstruction of the Osogbo-Iwo road up to the Osun-Oyo States boundary. We appeal to your Excellency to make this road one of your legacies in Osun State”,he explained.
He said the significance of the Osogbo-Iwo road to agricultural activities in Osun State can never be over emphasized,its accessibility to agricultural products and produce is greatly affected.
“Rehabilitating this road will be a major incentive to farmers and marketers in these areas”.
He concluded that His Excellency the Executive Governor of Oyo State Engr Seyi Makinde has accepted to also commence the rehabilitation of the Oyo State part of the Iwo-Ibadan road so that the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road can then be completely rehabilitated/reconstructed by the governments of both states.
He asserted that the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the road will boost economic activity in the State especially in the eight local government areas affected primarily by the road.
“We therefore wish to appeal to your good office not to stop your good works in the State because “se rere ko good dúró ò”.
