Being the Remarks by His Excellency Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, at the Flag Off of the 32.2 km South-East Wing of the Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road, Ibadan, on Friday, 22 March 2024.
Let me welcome you all to the second phase of activities for today. The last time, we were at this location, we flagged off the construction of the bridges and interchanges. Those have now been completed.
So, we are here to flag off the 32.2 km road infrastructure component of this South-East Wing of the Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road, Ibadan. To ensure that this very important project to the economic development of Oyo State is done, we had to break down the construction into phases. As you have already heard, we have three other wings to make up the 110 km project- North-East Wing (34 km), North-West Wing (23 km) and South-West Wing (20.8 km). By the special grace of God, we plan to finish the South-East and North East wings during our tenure.
Let me greet my brother, His Excellency Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo as we do in Yoruba land. Eku ijoko. This is what we say when we have kept our visitor sitting for a while. And it has been a while as we came from the commissioning of the junction improvements at Agodi-Gate, Civic Centre and Idi Ape. Thank you for taking time from your very busy schedule to spend the day with us. We appreciate you.
At this very critical stage in our national development, it is important that we find ways of working together as a people. This is not the time to focus on the things that divide us. Rather we should be interested in things that unite us and that will lead to further development. It is also the time to think sustainably.
This project is a product of thinking sustainably. About 20 years ago, His Excellency Senator Rashidi Ladoja envisioned this project and mapped it out. Now the project is being executed. This is the type of thinking that will lead to meaningful development. We must stop thinking only about the present, but take actions that will secure our future. Yes, some people might say we have to survive today to benefit from the future. Let me say this, the essence of a future-first or thinking sustainably is not primarily that we will benefit, it is that the future will be better. This is a project for the future.
I know my brother, Prof Soludo would want to say a few words before we proceed with the flag off. So, I will be yielding the podium for him. After his remarks, we will proceed to flag off the 32.2 km South-East Wing of the Rashidi Ladoja Circular 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
22 March 2024