How Oyetola facilitated road rehabilitation approval, by Oluwo
Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has revealed that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, played a pivotal role in securing Federal Government’s approval for the rehabilitation
Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has revealed that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, played a pivotal role in securing Federal Government’s approval for the rehabilitation of 90.9-kilometre Ibadan–Iwo–Osogbo Road, nearly five decades after neglect.
The Nation recalls that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Federal Executive Council approved N119 billion for rehabilitation of the road alongside 23-year-old Gbongan/Osogbo Road.
Reacting to the development, Oluwo, who led 30 other monarchs in Osun West Senatorial District, endorsed President Tinubu’s re-election bid, stressing that his interventions, especially in the road, was a major breakthrough for economic and social connectivity in the Southwest.
Oluwo, addressing reporters at his palace, narrated how former Osun governor Oyetola recognised his (Oba Akanbi’s) efforts for the need to rehabilitate the road.
He said two months ago, he received a call from Oyetola, who had been monitoring his attention on Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road since his enthronement; informing that he had told the President on the need to approve the building of the road.
He added: “Oyetola told me that he will talk to President Tinubu and that Federal Government will take over the road and ensure it is rebuilt. To the glory of ‘Olodumare’, the President approved the road just last Thursday.”
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The monarch recalled that he made several efforts during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari through regular calls and texts, but they insisted it was a state road, adding that “today, the story has changed. We have elected our son, who reads and understands the values of power.”
He said: “Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road was divided into two segments: Ibadan-Iwo and Osogbo-Iwo. Ibadan-Iwo was last built by Soleh Boneh Nig. Limited in 1977 during the military administration of David Jemibewon. Construction of the second segment (Iwo-Osogbo) was awarded at a contract sum of N11.5 million in 1977.
“Completing the section was more challenging because it passed through shades of contractors, including (TWZ Construction, Tewogbade and Sons and POAT Construction Company) before it was eventually inaugurated in 1990.”
He noted that “the road was shoddily done such that it began to show deficiencies as early as 1991. To address the hardship the failure generated for road users, multi–state road project II of the then newly-created Osun State engaged in patching exercise on the road.”
He said several administrations made efforts on the road, which failed due to paucity of funds.
