Being the Remarks by His Excellency Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State at the Commissioning of the Construction of the 65m General Gas Flyover and the Dualisation of the 7.2 Km Idi Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Road, Ibadan, on Thursday, September 15, 2022.
Let me start by appreciating my brother, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency, Dr Kayode Fayemi, for joining us today as we commission the 65m General Gas Flyover and the dualisation of the 7.2 Km Idi Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Road.
Your presence here communicates a message to those who think that politics is a do-or-die affair and who think that collaboration across party lines for development is not possible. Yes, our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, have different philosophies. But when it is time to do what is right for the progress of our people, we should be able to come together and get it done.
We welcome you to Oyo State. We know you are one of us. We can rightly call you an Ibadan boy since you were born here and grew up here. So, welcome home.
When we came into government, we promised you, the good people of Oyo State that every road project we embark on would target our economy. Our slogan has always been ‘where road goes, development follows’. The construction of the 65m General Gas Flyover and the dualisation of the 7.2 km Idi Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Road, has brought a new level of development to, Ibadan North, Ibadan North East and Lagelu Local Government Areas.
If you have any doubts that road construction directly contributes to economic development, then you can use the Idi Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Road as a case study. People who have lived here for four years and above will tell you the level of economic activity that has been extended to this zone in the past year. They will be able to do a comparative analysis, or as we say in local parlance, a “before and after”.
So, I can say with all confidence: Another promise kept!
Some people will say there are other roads that need repairs; that some roads in Ibadan need rehabilitation. Yes, we are aware of the state of roads, not just in Ibadan but the whole of Oyo State. And as we have promised, governance will continue to the last day of the life of this administration. So, we are already doing something about inner city roads.
Earlier in the week, we gave the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) 750 Million Naira for the rehabilitation of roads. The plan is to ensure that all LGAs get some of their roads fixed.
And let me quickly address again an issue that keeps coming up in conversation. There is this idea that the State Government has hijacked Local Government functions. Let me repeat that we have not in any way hijacked the functions of any local government. We are only putting in the work needed to assist them in their functions.
We all know the economic realities in our country right now. This has often led to people having to make tough decisions. Sometimes, looking at the money in your pocket, you may decide, “meat is not my problem this night. Let me buy bread.” It is this same decision that government at all levels need to make. For example, should we pay salaries or use the money to build roads? Because the money is simply not enough to do both.
And so, here in Oyo State, we decided to make that decision easier for the LGAs. We tell them, go ahead and pay salaries – which stimulate the economy – we will assist you in doing other things that you should be doing.
Let me once again thank my brother, Governor Kayode Fayemi, for doing us the honour of being with us for the commissioning of the General Gas Flyover and the Idi Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Road. We appreciate you. I will now yield the podium to him, after which we shall proceed to commission the General Gas Flyover and the Idi Ape-Basorun-Akobo-Odogbo Barracks Road to the glory of God and for the benefit of the good people of Oyo State.
Thank you, and God bless you.
Seyi Makinde
September 15, 2022