After waiting for 50 years, the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is bringing succour to Osi-Obbo-Aiyegunle communities in Kwara state. UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHB reports on the construction of a road linking the two communities long abandoned by previous administration.

Access roads, no doubt, remain one of the major catalysts to development in any community; hence, the desire of every community to have good access road constructed for them by the government of the day.

Therefore, for Osi-Obbo-Aiyegunle communities in Oke-Ero and Ekiti local government areas of Kwara state, the quest for motorable road spanning 11. 1 kilometres has over the years been the desire of the sons and daughters of the community.

In those places, the people of the communities have over the years contended with the hardship of travelling along the Osi-Obbo-Aiyegunle road amidst rising security challenges like kidnapping and armed robbery attacks in the recent past.

When completed, the travel time on this border road would reduce from 45-minutes of excruciating journey to barely 10-minute drive.
According to the governor, works on the road is in fulfilment of his campaign promises to the people.

AbdulRazaq was speaking at Obbo-Aiyegunle Day in Ekiti local government area where he bagged the title of Jagunmolu Atayero of Obbo-Aiyegunle.

Followed by a retinue of aides and party leaders, the governor had earlier held a town hall meeting in Osi town for the people of Oke Ero and Ekiti local government areas as the fourth in the series.

He also promised his government's relentless efforts towards enhancing the people's access to adequate presence of basic amenities and a lasting solution to their security challenges.

“Our coming here today is to hear from you about what you still want the government to do for you. We know we have done some and we did them without seeing you because we knew they were important. It is so far so good. Glory be to God,” he said to the applause of the people.

Kwara varsity satellite campus

While assuring the community of more dividends of democracy, AbdulRasaq said the government would soon deliver the Osi campus of the state University (KWASU) ahead of next year's academic session.
“It is no longer news that the government is constructing KWASU campus in Osi. The school campus would begin academic session next year, by the special grace of God. And in few years to come, it would translate to a full-fledged institution of learning,” the governor said.
The governor, who expressed shock at the arrears of 42 months of salary to Ekiti/Oke Ero traditional rulers by past administration, assured that his administration would continue to fix the issues, just as he said the government has not been owing traditional rulers.

Roll call

Some of the dignitaries that thronged the venue of the town hall meeting included Senator Lola Ashiru (Kwara South); deputy speaker KWHA Hon Adetiba Raphael; House of Assembly member representing Ekiti LG Hon Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel; cabinet members; TIC chairmen for Oke Ero and Irepodun Hon. Victor Ganiyu Yusuf and Hon. Jide Oyinloye; State APC chairman Sunday Fagbemi.
Other party executives and elders; representative of TIC chairman for Ekiti, Mrs Adeyeye Funmilayo; women and youth support groups of APC, among others.
The Olosi of Osi Oba Abdulkareem Saliu Adesofegbe and Alofa of Ilofa Oba Samuel Niyi Dada led other traditional rulers from Oke-Ero and Ekiti to the town hall meeting.

One good turn deserves another

The state APC chairman, Prnce Sunday Fagbemi, on his part, said the people of Oke Ero and Ekiti would reward the administration with huge votes for the infrastructural projects in the two local governments and the appointments of their sons and daughters into key offices. He therefore called it a unique development in the history of the towns.

Ashiru, others list dividends of democracy

Listing the benefits of the AbdulRazaq 's administration to the people of the senatorial district, Senator Ashiru said the AbdulRazaq administration prioritises the interests of Kwara Southerners and needed to be compensated with massive votes to consolidate on the gains, noting one good turn deserves another.

The commissioner for works Rotimi Iliasu listed Koro/Egbe; Osi/Isare-Opin; Obo-Ile/Ora and Eruku/Iyemero, among other road projects that the administration was ready to construct under the Rural Access Agricultural Marketing Projects (RAAMP).

He also mentioned the Osi township road and Idofin Igbana road as some of the achievements of the government in the axis.

The chairman Kwara SUBEB Prof Raheem Sheu Adaramaja said both Ekiti and Oke-Ero LGs got a total of 427 teachers of primary and secondary schools under the SUBEB/TESCOM teachers recruitment exercise in 2021, while several schools have also been renovated or remodelled across the two local governments.

The general manager KWASSIP AbdulQuowiyu Olododo said a total of 2,385 people of Ekiti and Oke-Ero benefited from the government's social safety programme (Owo Arugbo and Owo Isowo) between year 2020 and 2022.

Along the line, representatives of Osi community, Michael Adewumi, thanked AbdulRazaq for responding to their own infrastructural needs like roads and electricity. He pledged to work for the continuity of what he called people-focused government.

Ekiti mornachs speak

Owalobo of Obo-Ile Oba Michael Oluwasegun, who spoke for Ekiti rulers, praised the government's swift actions to check security challenge in Ekiti, and requested for security posts in strategic places to guarantee maximum safety.

“We have seen your good job all around unlike what we had before. It is in your administration that every community counts in terms of access to projects, without necessarily lobbying or knowing anybody in government,” said the Owa L'Obbo.

The Obajisun of Ilu Aiyedun Dr Olufemi Rotimi while speaking for Oke-Ero royal fathers said, “There is no ward in Oke-Ero that your administration has not touched in terms of developmental projects. We are grateful for that. The only things we lack in Oke-Ero and Ekiti is the federal government's presence. Apart from that, you have done very well. And we pray God to grant your second term bid.”