Oyetola, Makinde Flag Off N24b Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola boasted yesterday that he would “by the special grace of Almighty Allah,”  return to inaugurate the 91-kilometre Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road.

“I want to reaffirm that by the special grace of Almighty Allah, I shall be the one to inaugurate this road by the time it is completed,” Oyetola said during the flag-off of rehabilitation of the highway with his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, in Osogbo yesterday.

The Osun section of the road which is 55 kilometres is expected to be completed in 18 months at the cost of N11.3billion.  The Oyo axis is 36 kilometres and will cost N12.5 billion.

Oyetola, who lost the July 2022 governorship election to Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) is to vacate office next month. He is, however, challenging the outcome of the poll at the electoral tribunal.

The outgoing governor explained that his initial plan was to fix the Osogbo-Iwo section of the road before he reached out to  Makinde, who without hesitation, agreed to fix the Oyo axis.

“The Osun section of the road contract measuring about 55 kilometres will gulp N11.3billion which is to be completed in the next 18 months,”  he explained.

Oyetola said that his administration considered the road project as of utmost importance, noting that the award of the contract further demonstrated his government’s commitment to the infrastructural development of the state and the well-being of the citizenry.

He revealed that the contract was awarded through the e-procurement process as only contractors that showed the capacity to deliver within specifications were allowed to bid for it.

The governor stated further that the reconstruction of the Osun section would be executed in two main segments.

His words: “The first segment, the dualisation of Osogbo (Dele Yes Sir Roundabout) to Sawmill, (Ido Osun) has a total length of about 2.8 kilometres   and 1.5-metre width walkway on either side of the road, furnished with solar powered street lighting.

“The Dele Yes Sir Roundabout and the islands shall be adorned with a spectacular landscape that will bring out the beauty of Osogbo as the capital city of Osun and the home of culture.

“The second segment which shall begin from the Sawmill (Ido Osun) and end at the Oyo State Boundary, with a total length of 52.6 kilometres, shall be of single carriageway.    

“In general, the road, which has the best alignment in the entire Southwest shall be completely overlaid after all the necessary problematic sections had been treated.

“This road project will no doubt further boost the socio-economic activities of our dear state, especially because it is an addition to the massive road networks our administration had unleashed on the state.

“It is our hope that the immediate benefitting towns and other parts of the State will take advantage of the road for personal economic gains.”

Makinde described the project as a revolution aimed at strengthening the bond of unity and cohesion between the two states.

The governor disclosed that N12.5 billion would be expended to reconstruct the Oyo section of the road.

 He lauded the collaborative effort of   Oyetola in advancing the cause of the state since his assumption of office.

“Today, I am here to say a single word. This is a revolution that is happening in Southwest Nigeria as it is yet another time history is made. I believe strongly that what we are witnessing today is actually a revolution. This is because the road in question was constructed by the Western region government of the late Obafemi Awolowo. We thank God that another history is made by Governor   Oyetola and myself.

“This revolution has led us to change the formal way of doing things. In the past, states did their things separately but now we are pursuing collaboration with our sister states.

“We started with one of the biggest collaborations that led to the establishment of a Western security network codenamed Amotekun, this happened because we put our people first. Also, just recently, we celebrated another one that put us together and Oyetola was part of the history of the joint ownership of LAUTECH(Ladoke Akintola University of Technology)..

“So, I am joining Oyetola, and together today, we are making history. We will be linking our dear states with road projects. I need to acknowledge the fact that we both demonstrated the fact that politics should be put behind while governance and people’s interest must be given priority.

“The revolution we are leading is a revolution of thought, ideas and we are saying governance must top history by putting the interest of our people first.

“This is the revolution we are talking about. This latest collaboration will come with dividends of democracy that will enhance trade and commerce. With its completion, we are saving lives and times of people traveling through Osun to Oyo and indeed we are putting money into the pocket of our people,”  

 Encouraging  Oyetola not to believe that he was at the end of his political journey, Makinde said: “together we are again, making history.”

He added:  I know we are not here to campaign but I know that there is a prophetic word from my brother Governor Oyetola,

“I know that Oyo people are ready for Omituntun part two. We will allow God’s promise to come to pass, I can tell you my brother that this is not the end of your political journey.

“You already know that my brother, the Governor of Osun State is from an opposing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), while I belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).. Despite this difference, we have accomplished things that people from the same party were unable to do. This is the revolution we are talking about.”

PUNCH