Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has told his political
opponents to wait till 2023 to face him at the polls.
The Governor, who was speaking while flagging off the reconstruction
of the 65-kilometre Moniya-Ijaye-Iseyin Road, said that the people of
Oyo State rejected the main opposition party in the state because they
did nothing to develop the state.
A statement by Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor,
quoted Makinde as saying that even though the previous administration
awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the road, the job was
not done while the money released was shared for the purpose of
elections.
“We have told them to meet us in 2023,” Governor Makinde said, adding:
“Though they got money, they did nothing. They spent the money on
elections but did you vote for them? If they come to ask for your
votes, will you vote for them?”
The Governor further stated that he was determined to execute the Road
contract as a way of fulfilling his campaign promise.
He restated the resolve of his administration to construct
infrastructure that will target the State’s economy, adding that when
completed, the road, which is quite close to ongoing Dry Port project
at Olorisaoko, will aid the movement of agricultural produces and
mineral resources from Oke-Ogun area to the Dry Port for onward
exporting.
The 65 kilometre road is being executed by KOPEK Construction Company,
at the cost of N9.9 billion.
The Governor, who described the road as an important one that can
uplift the economy of the State, said his Government was embarking on
the total reconstruction of the road as opposed to the planned
rehabilitation by the immediate past administration.
He berated how the road had been abandoned for years, culminating in
loss of lives and properties as well as the destruction of farm
produces due to the deplorable condition of the road.
The Governor further said: “On this project, we are not talking about
patching but total reconstruction of the road. I know you are all
aware that there is a Dry Port project ongoing here in Olorisaoko. So,
when they are conveying agricultural produces and solid minerals all
the way from Oke-Ogun, this is the point where we will be exporting
them.
Governor Makinde added that State Government has given the contractor,
KOPEK Construction Company, a mandate to deliver a quality road
project that will be adopted throughout the State, noting that the
company had been given the mandate to deliver a road with an asphaltic
thickness of 50mm as against the 40mm thickness being targeted by the
previous contractor.
He added that the challenges being faced by road users plying the road
would be over in 12 months, charging the contractor, KOPEK
Construction Company to deliver to time and to make sure it employs
youths in the beneficiary communities as workers during the
construction in order to create jobs for the teeming youths.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and
Transportation, Prof. Raphael Afonja, stated that the goal of the
state government was to have the contract completed in 12 months,
noting that the project was conceived to bring the much-desired uplift
to Oke-Ogun zone as the food basket of state.
Community leaders from Akinyele Local Government and Oke-Ogun areas,
Alhaji Rafiu Adebiyi and Senator Hosea Agboola, appreciated Governor
Makinde for making the road construction a reality.
