Date: 2014-01-26

Every society has its evolutionary moment; that period in time to which it is possible to link several events and issues that would later become the defining features of such environment. For Kwara, the first moment was in the days of its beginning; the years of its infancy when the late George Innih laid the foundation of the  infrastructure development of the state.

After Innih there had been several other interventions towards giving Kwara a name and identity among the comity of states in the federation of Nigeria. But of all these other welcomed interventions, the era of Dr. Bukola Saraki as governor can easily be named as the second phase in the desired evolution of Kwara as a modern state. It is incontrovertible that that period brought about the gale of modern infrastructures across the length and breadth of the state.

Is it possible to forget that a small fraction of the sprawling plot of land currently occupied by international food chains, Shoprite used to be almost abandoned as a centre for training until the Saraki government turned it into a centre of note? Is it possible to forget that the road from Eyenkorin to Geri Alimi was not a dual carriage way until the administration of Saraki, extracted the dualisation from the federal government as part of ‘compensation’ for the construction of the Ilorin-Ogbomoso expressway, which also took place during the tenure in review? Is it possible to forget that the Ilorin Airport was not as bright and beautiful as it is now, it is possible to forget that there was no Cargo shed at the airport, that the roads from Geri-Alimi to Offa Garage, from  Ola-Olu to Michael Imoudu, were not dual carriages until Bukola came into power?  All of these are located in Ilorin, the state capital and you can see similar efforts in other communities across the 16 local government areas of the state. What about the Abubakar Saraki University, Malete? Has any one bordered to compare the Ilorin Stadium complex of yesterday with what we have today? Can any one forget the International Aviation College, Ilorin? Even the blind can feel the enduring infrastructure legacy of the Saraki era.

Mr Mac Anthony Dike, President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) who was in Ilorin late last year for activities of the institute could not but marvel at the remarkable changes that have taken place in the state. He told his audience: “My first time in Ilorin, indeed Kwara State was about 1977/98. Then Ilorin was still an infant state capital city, relatively speaking. But after that first visit I have been to Ilorin several times on assignments, especially in the 1990s. I know how it was. Many of the businesses were in doldrums, but I have visited some companies. I have seen the road networks, I have seen the evident signs of government working and tax payers’ money actually been utilised”.

Dr Bukola administration’s road map tagged Kwara State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (KWASEEDS), according to Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Ishola Gold, “ envisioned a holistic development of Kwara State through various paradigms geared towards creating wider accessibility to various parts of the State; bridging of the huge gap between living conditions of the urban and rural areas; stimulating socio-economic development of the State through an agro powered initiative. A critical initiative in that direction was the construction, rehabilitation and upscaling of roads to meet the aspirations of the people. This was against the backdrop of the understanding and appreciation of the fact that for development to ensue, accessibility to all parts of the State was critical.”

Hence, the period between 2003 and 2011 became a turning point in the socio-economic development of the State as that administration embarked on the opening up of all parts of the State to developmental potentials through extensive road construction and rehabilitation of infrastructures.

The electoral victory that brought the incumbent governor, Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed, as Saraki’s successor with a slogan of commitment to “continuity” was a guarantee that the efforts of the then outgoing government was not going to be swept under the carpet but would rather become a standard for measuring development. And from all indications, the administration has not failed in the measurement.  According to Dr. Amuda Kannike, the immediate past commissioner for works and transport,  “the dynamics of national economy might have changed and inadvertently affected operations of the states, but by and large, Ahmed has kept faith with the people who chose him at the polls in April 2011. Kannike explained: “At the last count, this administration has embarked on the construction of 80 roads across the State with a total length of 449 kilometres. Some have been completed others are at various levels of completion. In 2013 alone, 40 rural roads, of about 377 kilometres, were completed across the State while others are on going. They include Pakata-Sooto-Anifowose Market road, Akerebiata-Sango road; Share township road, Tsaragi Market Road, Erin-Ile-Ilemona road; Oko-Idofin-Igbana-Odo-Ashe Road and Eruku-Township road among others.

“Federal roads traverse Kwara State. They suffer from decades of neglect. Like his predecessor, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed believes that Kwarans who ply this road need not be subjected to endless torture due to the poor states of the roads. Hence, his administration is intervening on Chikanda-Kosubosu road and Patigi-Kpada road in the North Senatorial District of the State. The governor assured, Kwarans in his 2014 presentation of the year’s fiscal plan to the State Legislature, that the year will usher intervention on Kaiama-Kishi road and Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara-Okuta road as contracts for the construction of the roads were awarded last year.

Other roads that the Maigidan Kwara impact will be felt when the 2014 budget becomes fiscal law include Osi-Obbo – Aiyegunle-Ekiti State boundary road, Jebba Road in Bacita, Afon Aboto road and Egbejila-Asa Dam Road. These roads run into about 150 kilometres in length.

“Another tranche of 195 kilometres of rural roads in the 16 local governments of the State would be done in the new fiscal year. These include, Oke-Opin township road, Omu-Aran-Isanlu isin road, Oke-Oyi township road; Koko-Dongi/Iye road and Kanikoko-Gbajibo road.

“What are the dividends of massive, nooks and crannies opening up and upscaling of urban and rural roads in Kwara State in the last ten years? Suffice, for now to say that such efforts are to enhance peoples’ well being, ease movement of goods and services and promote effective and efficient commerce that benefit the people of the State. Are the gains manifesting? The answer, of course is Yes! And that is why we continue to praise the concept of continuity here in Kwara.  Our people need not be surprised when they see contractors on site opening up new roads or upscaling existing ones because in Kwara it is good here.”

By the time we conclude this serialization of work-in-progress, only the skeptics and the desperadoes will say again that the last twelve years have been wasted.

Oba is the chief press secretary to the Kwara State Governor