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In a bid to promote regional integration, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, have jointly inaugurated the 91km Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo road reconstruction/rehabilitation for economic development.
The flag-off ceremony held opposite Aje International Market, Iwo Road, Ido-Osun State was witnessed by government functionaries, traditional rulers and party supporters from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde stressed that the two states had led a revolution in thoughts and ideas, noting that politics or party affiliations should be set aside to really address the needs of the citizens.
Governor Makinde said the road when completed would allow people to travel with more ease between the states, thereby enhancing trade and commerce.
He said: “Today, I want to talk to you about the word “revolution”.
I know, when people hear the word revolution, they often think of bloody wars that lead to change in the political order. Well, don’t be alarmed, I am not here to preach violence. Rather, I am here to talk about a different kind of revolution that is happening in Oyo State.”
“You know, revolutions always bring to birth a new order, a new way of doing things. And so, the revolution in Oyo State has led to us changing the former ways of doing things. In the past, every state used to mind their own business and operate in their own little corners. But with this new way of doing things, we are pursuing collaborations with our sister states.”
“When we just came in, we started on this path with one of the biggest collaborations in the history of Southwest states. We all came together and decided on creating the Western Nigeria Security Network code-named Amotekun. And in 2020, we operationalised the Oyo-Amotekun. As I have said on many occasions, our people cannot imagine life without Amotekun.”
“Also, just about two years ago, we celebrated another win that resulted from this revolution. My brother, our host for this flag-off, His Excellency Gboyega Oyetola, the Executive Governor of Osun State, was a big part of that history. He benevolently acceded to granting us sole ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), which made it possible for me to fulfil a campaign promise to the good people of Oyo State.”
“I mentioned earlier that in Oyo State, we are leading a revolution. We are saying politics should be left to those few months when INEC says we should begin campaigning either for elections or re-election. Even then, we must practice politics of justice and fairness without bitterness and rancour.”
“The revolution we are leading in Oyo State is a revolution of thought. Again, we are saying, governance must always trump politics. When we make decisions, we must always put the interests of our people first.”
“Of course, 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.”
Earlier, Governor Gbeyoga Oyetola of Osun State who noted that the road is one of the internal roads of the old Oyo State that links Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, to Osogbo, the Capital of Osun State said the project was in fulfilment of his electioneering promises and his administration’s resolve to provide quality roads on an equitable basis and entrench sustainable economic development.
He added, “I urge the road users within and outside Osun and Oyo states to make judicious use of the road by desisting from any act capable of undermining its desired purpose”.
“Let me use this medium to appeal to all the citizens of Osun to be mindful of acts that can provoke flooding in the State. We should avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainages and on our waterways. Let us collectively protect our environment and infrastructure for our collective good”
In their separate remarks, Oyo state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Professor Daud Sangodoyin and his Osun State counterpart, Remi Omowaiye while highlighting the features of the road project, agreed that it would be of great benefit to the people when completed.
In the 91km Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo interstate road project, the Osun State Government would execute 55.4km while the Oyo State Government would handle 35.6km.
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