Spot on Buhari, Lamiju, Smato! Ogbomoso explodes in anger over suspected non-inclusion of highway in budget
Yinka ADETUNJI
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Ogbomoso, Oyo state is presently engulfed in anger over the suspected non-inclusion of the new Ogbomoso-Oyo highway in the 2025 budget by the Federal Government.
A report by ogbomosoinsightonline.com Thursday indicated the road was not captured in the 2025 budget implying it has not received the attention of government and is not among the roads to be rehabilitated or constructed in 2025.
Several roads across the country are said to be captured in the budget but this particular road (Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin) whose construction started in 2001 by the civilian administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo is omitted.
The road being constructed to be an alternative to the old road as part of the highway linking the northern and western parts of the country has continued to suffer neglect putting pressure on the old almost impassable road. The old road has become a death trap, causes unsolvable gridlock arising from thousands of articulated vehicles (trailers and tankers) that ply it on a daily basis and incessantly precipitating fatal accidents.
Ironically, the new road remains less than 7km to completion. The Ibadan – Oyo and Ogbomoso – Ilorin sections were open to traffic more than a decade ago whereas the Ogbomoso – Oyo section has continued to suffer delay. Nonetheless, it has reached Ogbomoso axis from Oyo city and remains just about 5km, incidentally, that remaining stretch falls within the core of the Ogbomoso metropolis. What this implies is that vehicles when they get to Ogbomoso from either Ibadan or Ilorin end through the new dual carriageway veer into the old road, which passes through the economic hubs of the city, areas bustling with large human concentration. This old single-lane road is narrow, and is limited by gullied shoulders thus there is little room for maneuver of vehicles. Thousands of souls have been lost from accidents on the road and it’s the major reason the agitation for the completion of the new road is strident.
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The contract for the rehabilitation of the old road was recently awarded and work has started but the completion of the new expressway is what’s desirable.
Therefore, not being captured in this year’s budget touches raw nerves in the people setting the social media on “fire” when the news broke Thursday, and thus pushing the federal legislators from the area (Fatai Buhari, Lamiju Akala and Sunday Makanjuola) in the eye of the storm. Buhari is representing Oyo North senatorial district, Akala is representing Ogbomoso federal constituency while Makanjuola a.k.a. Smato is the lawmaker representing Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa federal constituency.
“Over to our legislators, is how many put it while reacting to the news in the social media.
Another commentator, Gbadegesim Aasa ’73/’77, notes in a WhatsApp contribution, “And I am sure the budget passed through both the green and red chambers of the National Assembly where representatives of various communities participated in the debate, ‘screening’ and ratification/ approval.
“At the risk of being called names, we will continue to say that this kind of omission can only happen to communities where the representatives do not pay careful attention to the affairs of their communities. We don’t necessarily have to be shouting on top of our voices before people do their jobs.
“I hope we will not have to subject our Imperial Majesty, community leaders and residents to another round of inconveniences before the remaining portion of the road is constructed. Will the award / payment of the remaining 7 kilometer road contract now have to be in the supplementary budget the timing of which is not known?
“I strongly believe in God BUT God will NOT intervene in our development with complacent and inactive leaders.
“Have we heard of a Senator called FADA?
“That is Senator Adenigba Fadahunsi aka FADA representing Osun East Senatorial District in the red Chamber. Osun East Senatorial District is made up of all the local government areas in Ife and Ijesa Division. I can tell you for free that Senator Adenigba Fadahunsi spent sleepless nights to ensure that this is in the 2025 budget. It is not about political parties membership. A Senator or member of the House of Representative will bring results irrespective of his/her political party once he is not a push over and represents the people when he/she is well equipped and goes with good intentions. Being a member of the same political party with the governor or President does not necessarily translate to a representative bringing dividends of democracy after all, Senator Adenigba Fadahunsi is a PDP man and the President is from the APC.
“What about Honourable Remi Oseni in Oyo State?
“Senator Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele of Ekiti State?
“Senator Solomon Olalekan YAYI of Ogun State ?
“Honourable Oluwole Oke of Osun State?
“The many Honourable members from Ibadan getting scholarships and employment opportunities for their people?”
Also, in a Whatsapp group, Onimoero Akintayo, says, while reacting to a comment on the issue, “What has been the collective action that we have in our Ogbomoso. I am in Lagos. Come and see how HoR members are bringing road projects to their LG for the benefit of all.”
This is as Onafunso states, “Blame the Rep and senators representing those areas,” to which The Hand of God reacts, “And the Governor, for failing to use his influence to attract the attention of the Presidency and the Works Minister to the incessant carnage the abandoned road has caused Ogbomoso people!! Imagine the recent loss of lives at Takie Square againđđđ.”
Then another suggests, “There is need to escalate this report. I hope the contract has not been revoked?. Why has RCC move their construction equipment out of site?. Who is the new contractor?. Has he submitted bill of quantity?. Why did the ministry did not capture it in the budget?.
“Ilorin Ogbomoso Oyo Ibadan dual carriage way should be completed & concessioned QQ. Also, Ogbomoso to Ilesha via Oshogbo can be dualized by the concessionaire.”
However, Tolu Ikusagba remarks defending the legislators, ‘To my best of knowledge sir, both of them have tried their best on that road, we knew what we experienced few month ago in Ogbomoso(Seminar/Apake road). Thank God for their intervention. Many roads are like that too and yet no response from the federal government to those South West states roads. If that of the new express road is not included for now,that does not mean we should be condemning them. We’ve seen them talking about it times without number. Majority of us might not know how things operate at the National Assembly. I believe sooner or later God will intervain on that road,” as another commentator says also in defence, “Being accredited representatives of the people can really be a tough job. and it’s true that they often go unappreciated. Our representatives in the national assembly work hard to make important decisions, sponsoring bills with a view to shape the future of their constituencies, but sometimes, whatever they do, they will always be criticised. It’s unfortunate that some people are so quick to doubt their intentions and assume the worst, rather than giving them the benefit of the doubt and recognising the efforts they are making. we should definitely be able to evaluate the work our representatives are doing and give them feedback, and we should also try to be fair and understanding. being accredited representatives of the people is a complex and challenging job and they are doing their best to serve their constituencies.”
Meanwhile, Alice Oluwakemi drags those in the executive arm of government who are from Ogbomoso, that is, President Bola TInubu’s men into the mix. “Are we sure that our representatives in the executive arm of government appreciate their connectivity to Ogbomosho? Do some of them even feel they are Ogbomosho? Or do they appreciate that their towns are part of Ogbomosholand or zone anyhow they want to call it? The point is this the budgets were prepared by the executive? Why this omission? And some of them would even participate in the preparation? Do will call this an oversight or the Ogbomosho politics at work? I subscribe to asking questions on this topic from NASS members from Ogbomosho but I wonder why our sons and daughters in the executive are exempted from this issue. Without mentioning names some of them are the mouthpiece of the president on certain matters of high importance.”
In another breath, Gbadegesin Aasa ’73/77 responds, “We don’t want efforts but results. If they cannot bring results, let them throw in the towel! That is the honourable thing to do.
“How can they be there without bringing anything to the communities they represent?
“Bi a ba ni ki a fi Omo w’omo eniyan yio fee lu ti e pa. Why are our own representatives making everything look like Rocket Science?
“Have we not had Senator Ayo Adeseun before first as a member of the House of Representatives and later as a Senator?
Did he not perform?
Did Senator Ayo Adeseun give us excuses?
“It is only a bad worker that complains about his tools/ implements all the time. If they perform, we will not be criticizing them for the fun of it.
“Are they not in the same houses where their colleagues come to their constituencies to ask for the Curriculum Vitae of applicants and give them jobs ?
“How many of our young ones have been given scholarships?
”Why are our own representatives isolating themselves and inaccessible to their people?
“Is the occasional peanuts and handouts to a very few/ handful of us the only thing they can offer?”
For Thomas Bankole, “This is strange. Criticism based on facts – nonperformance – is seen as âsentimentalismâ.
This is Apalara 288 asserts, “Iâve always thought this is a forum for honest discussion. If our Reps canât bring home infrastructures, who else would? Or is Ogbomoso only meant for palliatives?”Who tell u that, there voices count but we have to ask our representatives in the lower and upper chamber why the remaining 5km is not in 2025 fg road budget? That is the best thing to do if we are really serious about it…”
Nonetheless, tonialasade submitted it is a project already on the 2024 project whose life will run till June 2025. “This is a project in 2024 budget which runs till June 2025.”
Whatever the situation, the important thing to Ogbomoso people is for the road to be completed so that the carnage on the old road can be reduced.
