Image caption: Photo of Rev’d Adebayo screenshot from the video
I drove through Ibadan, Ogbomoso roads, it’s tale of woes in the latter – Cleric laments
Femi OGUNLANA
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A cleric Rev’d Niyi Adebayo has raised concerns over the state of roads in Ogbomoso lamenting road infrastructure in the second largest city in Oyo state has become so deplorable and therefore needs urgent intervention.
Rev’d Adebayo, founder of, and lead pastor at True Worshipers Church, Oke-Anu, Ogbomoso speaking in Yoruba in a viral video titled, “The time when silence if not golden! We are valiants!” bemoaned this poor state of road is not what is obtainable in Ibadan the state capital, where he informed he recently drove round to ascertain his claim.
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The cleric however put the blame at the feet of indigenes of Ogbomoso including traditional rulers, chiefs, prominent figures, politicians and all inhabitants of the land positing it was their extreme silence that elongates the predicament.
“We are too silent as Ogbomoso people, alaborun ma ndi ewu (casual wear is becoming outing dress – implying a little problem overlooked is turning intractable), we are too quiet, and I fear that in few years time all roads within the city might become unmotorable,” Rev’d Adebayo cried.
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“Access Ogbomoso metropolis via Ife-Odan, take note of the number of hours it will take you as well as the challenges your vehicle will face; or come through Garage-Ora towards Caretaker enroute Oja-tuntun, branching off to (old) Atenda, School Ori-Oke. Visit most areas, Akande market, not to talk of going through Alapata, which route will you take to access Oke-Alapata or depart the area? Is it Maternity route towards Soun Primary School to access Oke-Alapata to get to California? We have become too complacent! It wasn’t like this before.
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“The Yoruba say if you remain silent (when you are supposed to talk) you will suffer the consequence of neglect. We need to speak out. What we are seeing doesn’t help anyone, it doesn’t help the community, it doesn’t help the elders.”
Meanwhile he refuses to blame Oyo state government for the predicament pointing out it is because the governor is not conversant with the situation. He added that he took time to drive through Ibadan metropolis to compare the conditions of the roads in the two cities concluding that the Ogbomoso road situation is lamentable.
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“Yet, I am not ascribing the blame to the present administration in Oyo state. Why am I not putting the blame at the feet of the Oyo state governor, His Excellency Governor Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde,? I drove through Ibadan city extensively – Orita-Aperin, Oje,, Bere, Apete, different areas, almost all areas, it boasts several good roads, check them out. The roads are smooth, you can close your eyes and continue driving. There is functioning street light. I can’t blame Governor Makinde on this, he lives there, he sees the condition of the roads there and responds promptly to their repairs.
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“It is the seat of government. This is not to talk of the circular road (a multi-billion naira project that will leave the Ibadan metropolis ringed round with a road), I congratulate all Ibadan indgenes on this, the governor sees the situation first hand and also the Ibadan people tell him about damaged roads but the governor does not live with us in Ogbomoso to know the extent of road damage; he doesn’t know Aaje, he doesn’t know Ogunbado or Ita-Alasa, he doesn’t know about the condition of our roads. Therefore, it behooves on us the inhabitants to intimate the governor about this, it is when he does not listen that he becomes vulnerable to blame.
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“We thank him for the Ogbomoso-Iseyin road. But don’t let us forget the intra-city roads including those belonging to the federal government, they have become unmotorable ditto those of the state government, not to talk of the ones belonging to the councils, which previously were in good condition, very smooth, well maintained by politicians of yore. All have become dilapidated riddled with pond-like craters.”
He maintained all Ogbomoso indigenes have the duty to speak out and let the government at both the federal and state levels become aware of the condition of the roads in Ogbomoso, mentioning some specific individuals whom he charged to exert their influence.
“I am calling on all indigenes of Ogbomoso from all the traditional rulers (mentioning various Obas). I charge them to act bravely. Please, let’s speak out, let the governor and the federal government know that we are suffering excruciating bad road condition in Ogbomoso, erosion has destroyed all our roads, we can’t continue remaining silent like this. I also call on our highly placed individuals, Dr. Zacch Adelabu Adedeji (Director General Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS, and who is Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Revenue); Senator Abdulfatai Omotayo Buhari; Chief Segun Ogunwuyi (Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde). Are you not seeing the roads? It is what you do that people will recount forever.
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“Majority Leader Hon Sanjo (Adedoyin), Hon Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, Hon Smato, Hon Bisi Oyewo, all those representing us at the state and federal legislative chambers- let’s mention this in the Houses. You may be doing so already but unless there is result it will look as if you are not doing anything. Also, all those who once held offices, you might not be in offices again but you are influential, Dr. Sunday Dare, Senator Adeseun, also, Prof Sola Adepoju, Barrister Dr. Akin Onigbinde SAN, Hon Wolekanle, AVM Adigun, Maigida, political elders, Hon Segun Dokun Bunvic, we are too quiet. See the rate of accidents within the town.
“All our leaders of thought, Dr. Saka Balogun, Gen Oladayo Popoola, Ogbomoso indigenous associations, do not keep quiet. All roads are bad. Leaders of religious faiths. Let’s speak out about the condition of our roads, we can’t remain silent any longer, Ogbomoso is not a village, it is next to Ibadan in size and population. It is even learnt that the second largest council of all the 774 local governments in Nigeria is Oriire, with huge land mass and over 600 communities, Ogbomoso is a big town.
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“Youths, I am not calling for revolution I am calling for solution, let’s speak out. Let the students speak out, the drivers, market leaders, let us talk, government may be angry but we must speak out. Your Excellency, set up a committee to investigate the situation, I am sure you are not like that, make Ogbomoso better than you met it, you made Ibadan better than you met it. Also, let’s call the attention of the federal government to the new express road and the old road, we are not seeing the activities of FERMA in Ogbomoso. Let’s talk out.”
