Gov Makinde breathes relief into Ogbomoso – road infrastructure, LAUTECH TH, Onireti, JohnBrown react, (SEE DETAILS)
Femi OGUNLANA
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The visit had every element of surprise. Only the inner caucus knew the governor, His Excellency Engr Seyi Makinde would be visiting, but it turned out really good for Ogbomoso, as he breathed relief through promised interventions in areas of immediate needs specifically in road infrastructure and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.
When he left after less than three hours, joy was written all over the faces of the people in view of the promises and assurances, many long overdue but it is better late than never.
“His Excellency’s promises are a big relief,” Dr Akin Oladeji-JohnBrown, president of Ogbomoso Recreation Club told ogbomosoinsightonline.com at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. “Recall we made an appeal to the governor last week on the challenges plaguing the hospital, pleading for his interventions. We also in the past called attention to the poor state of roads in Ogbomoso both federal and state roads, and today, federal roads are being attended to and the governor has promised to fix the state roads within the city. We thank him for this and for his various immediate interventions at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. That is the essence of governance, meeting the yearnings of the people.”
The governor used the visit to make courtesy call on the Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III.
The Oba who commended the developmental strides of Engr Makinde urged him to fix the inner roads. But that is part of the reasons the governor visited, to announce the flag off of road rehabilitations and constructions in the second largest city in Oyo state.
The Kabiyesi had recalled via a post, “I must humbly present before you some pressing needs of our people. The inner road networks in Ogbomoso require urgent attention. Their expansion and rehabilitation will ease movement, boost commerce, and unlock greater opportunities for our people. Furthermore, our long-awaited water project stands as a critical lifeline for the wellbeing of our community. Your intervention will significantly improve the quality of life and well-being of our people.”
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The governor who had emphasized he acts based on data and its analysis “so as not to fall into the trap of making promises and not fulfilling them,” affirmed his commitment to fixing the Ogbomoso intracity roads while unveiling the specific ones to execute, spread across Ogbomoso North and South local governments.
Ogbomoso Insight learnt authoritatively the governor met on Monday in Ibadan, with the chairmen of the two councils, George Ogunlade and Oyedokun Oyeniyi Timothy respectively, accompanied by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Chief Segun Ogunwuyi, to consider the proposed lists of roads, all of which were approved.
Femi Onireti (blue attire) with black fez cap
From left: Prof Kalilu, Dr Olakulehin and others
A union leader
The state’s helmsman who noted he had about 19 months left in office and so committed to the project unveiled the roads. Ogbomoso North has 11 including Ajilete Estate – Industrial Estate South (Saanu Aaje area), Starlight – Ebenezer – Aaje – Orita Akunko, General – Orita Naira – Oja’gbo – Abede bridge, Orita Naira – Isale Ora – Ita Alasa – Molete, Orita Aaduin – Ile Ewe and Aguodo – Olojo -Sekoni – Osupa Eleko – Bosunla Junction.
Others are INEC – Hotel Delight – Ile Ewe Junction, Areago High School – Water Works – Omoojeun Ikoyi Road, Zion Academy – Aaje Ologo – Ladunmu – Sawmill Pakiotan, Owode – Idi Oro – Kere – Baya Oje Road and Katangwa Hospital – Akowonjo Junction – 1500 Lautech Road.
For Ogbomoso South, the roads also 11, are Onpetu Palace Road, Akande market/Jalubo Junction (Oke-Alapata), California Junction/Express Road, Corpers Lodge/Milky Junction Road, Alade Filling Station/Jango Market Road and Sanuaje Junction/Amuda Farm Road.
Others are The Apostolic Church Junction/Ojude Ajaawa, JK Atanda/Soun D C Basic School Road, Orita Merin/Exchange Junction Road, Naira Motel Street/California Junction and Caretaker (Akande Market/Ora Gada Roads.
The governor announcing the projects would be executed by two contractors – Kopek Nig. Ltd. and Craneburg Construction Company Ltd – to ensure speediness, disclosed the projects would commence in 4 to 6 weeks. The governor is known for his legendary adherence to promise and it’s believed that is how it will be. The only promise he has not yet fulfilled and may not fulfill meanwhile is the flyover in Ogbomoso but perhaps as he said during his engagement at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, he made the promise without “gathering data and analysing it.” It was at the inception of his administration.
“Our governor is strategic and logical. He is a promise fulfiller, it may be long but he fulfils. He is a man of action. We thank him for these interventions,” Hon Femi Onireti, a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP, told ogbomosoinsightonline.com. “If you follow both engagements at LAUTECH and at the palace of our royal father His Imperial Majesty, they were prompt, direct and without drama, business-like and fruitful. That is the kind of leader we have in Oyo state. Empty verbosity is alien to him.”
Earlier at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital the interaction was likewise robust and productive. The Acting Chief Medical Director Dr Olawale Olakulehin, welcomed the governor and gave a list of requests. Representatives of various workers’ unions and students’ bodies as well as the Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH Professor Razaq Olatunde ROM Kalilu also praised the governor just as they urged him to meet certain demands or pleas towards improving the welfare conditions of staff and the working condition in the hospital.
The governor in his responses espoused his philosophy embedded in acting based on data gathering and analysis. He emphasized this will not only ensure making realisable promises but ensure their fulfilment. He asserted it would also engender enduring legacy against temporary joy.
“As an administration, we don’t take decision on the spur of the moment, we take data and analyse it before we take decisions,” the governor said.
“We gather adequate data and work on the data and act based on logic. I am not casting aspersions on any past government but you can see the difference between our administration and past ones. We gather and analyse data before we act. That is better than satisfying for the moment.
“We will solve the problems one after the other, one at a time. We are not your bosses, we are your servants, we begged for votes, so, it is my responsibility to be accountable to you. You don’t have to beg us, you don’t have to have any sweet song for us, we should do it. I won’t promise what l cannot deliver, when l say l will do something l will do it.
“When we came l said students would no longer pay N3, 000 per session some people said we couldn’t do it. We are doing it. I said salaries would be paid on the 25th they said it was not possible but we have held on to it, we have sustained it in six years. We don’t take decision on the spur of the moment, we take data and analyse it before we take decisions.
“I have 19 months more to go, l can’t ignore you because l want to be successfully relieved of the burden put on my head. For us as an administration we will look at those requests, some of them l will address here, some later when we get the data.
“But when you look at mining your data, livability is a big issue for me. I prioritise livable environment where you can live safe and secure. What is the essence of giving you fat salaries but the roads are bad and you would have to spend large chunk of the money on vehicle repairs because of bad roads or living where you are not safe or secured? That is our priority. We know your feelings we won’t sweep them under the carpet.”
He subsequently, there and then, made some concessions, and promised to look into others and take actions based on data mined.
Among others he promised the Governing Council for the hospital would be inaugurated “before the end of this week,” which he assured would immediately confirm Olakulehin as substantive CMD.
In his own words contained in a post in his social media handles he said: “Today, we visited the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso to meet with health workers. After listening to their grievances, I committed to tackling the issues raised as follows: To ensure a Governing Council is constituted by the end of this week, to increase the monthly subvention and provide funds to cover a monthly stipend of ₦80,000 for 65 non-staff security personnel working at the hospital while instructing that they should be integrated into the hospital’s system as ad hoc staff, to complete the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Annexe, Oyo before the end of our administration, to pay promotion arrears 2018-2024 remuneration in three equal instalments in October-December 2025, and to pay minimum wage arrears from January-August 2025 in three equal instalments in October-December 2025.”
Some other things he promised are installation of lift and medical equipment still in crates, oxygen plant and so on, maintaining, “Other requests, CONMESS and so on, the Governing Council will be mandated to look at them and come up with data for us but l assure you that your welfare is the top priority for this administration.”
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Some other requests include replacement of the dialysis machine, improvement of infrastructure, appointment of extra workforce, provision of ultra sound machine, MRI machine, CT scan etc.
“I also said that some of the other issues raised will be addressed by the Governing Council once they are in place,” the governor also declared, further stating: “While in Ogbomoso, we paid homage to His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomoso. Let me once again, thank Kabiyesi for the warm welcome. During our visit, I informed Kabiyesi that we are looking to commence work on feeder roads in Ogbomoso within the next 6 weeks. We also intend to fix some feeder roads in Oyo Zone before the end of our administration.”
Hon George Ogunlade (left) and Oyedokun Oyeniyi Timothy
Hons George Ogunlade and Oyedokun Oyeniyi Timothy in separate writeups in social media expressed gratitude to the governor for his promised interventions in the council areas.
The visit to the palace of the Soun marked the first by the governor since the coronation of Oba Olaoye “though we have met privately on occasions,” the governor informed. They had another private meeting thereafter.
Femi Onireti who one and a half weeks ago donated items and equipment worth millions of naira to the hospital, further thanking the governor in his Facebook page, stated, “We sincerely appreciate His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for his steadfast love for Ogbomoso and for always backing his promises with action. His leadership continues to bring hope and development to our people and Oyo State at large.”
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