I have observed with keen interest comments, reservations and media review of the proposed 10-lane road expansion and flyover bridge of Isale-Igbein-NNPC-Siun-interchange Expressway and I can conclude that, it is nothing but “MALADJUSTED”.

It beats my imagination His Excellency would think that among several socio-economic challenges confronting the good people of Ogun State, the next dividend of democracy is the ‘evil’ construction of that road, in spite of several abandoned projects embarked upon by this same character.

Permit me to toy with your sense of humor, in 2010 when the late popular Yoruba hip-hop rapper, Dapo Olaitan popularly known as DA GRIN said in one of his music tracks that “Se democracy le leyin abi cracy-demo… …” literally means “Is this democracy or Cracy-demo?” Many of us laughed it off then believing it was the usual meaningless lyrics by the music exponents, but today, the reality is dawning on us.

Or how do we explain the misery behind the construction of this project. In an ideal and civil democracy, before a project can be executed, it must pass through the State House of Assembly for deliberation and approval of the honourable members of the hallowed chamber.

The implication is that, each Assembly member is expected to take such proposed project to his constituency for deliberation if it is in tandem with the needs of the people.The feedback of the town hall meeting would determine the support and speedy approval of such proposal in the floor of the house.

In fact, before presenting the proposed project, the Governor and his executive members must have also done lots of consultations, town hall meetings, media assessment /awareness before proceeding to the Assembly complex for approval of such capital project.

Even, if the Assembly is reluctant to give approval, it is the citizens that will lead street protest against the honourable members,  because the people have been briefed and it is in the interest of the generality that such project is needed, most especially, when the State is embarking on such project with bank loans.

The roads in question are federal government roads, whilst the State government roads half-done or what is now termed as abandoned projects are being neglected.

Annoyingly, most of these abandoned roads have been awarded since 2012 with full payment withdrawn from the state treasury and till date no tangible reason has been adduced to the neglect of these abandoned projects, yet,  the same government is embarking on another, which would suffer the same fate, despite its present good condition.

One however begins to wonder if such project is so imperative or meant conserve as cesspit for diversion of state fund.

If Governor Amosun is actually sincere about wooing investors to the state with roads, let him embark on the completion of the highlighted roads below before demolishing people’s hard-earned property.
Though not strange to you, some of these roads include:

1)The Sango- Sona/Owode-ijako axis road
2)The Agbara/Lusada- igbesa Atan Ota road is there,
3) The Lafenfawa-Raunda- Ayetoro road,
4) The Oke-Ata to Rounda another one,
5)The Alagbole- Akute,isashi – yakoyo- Ojodu Abiodun abandoned & unattended to,
6) The ilaro-Iwoye-Owode bad road,
7) The ijoko-Ota to Agbado crossing,and Oke Aro road portion,
8) The Lusada/ADO-ODO/ Owode- YEWA road
9) TheAgo-Oko/Adedotun Saje to Adatan axis,
10) The Ogtv-Ajebo road,
11) The Itele to Ayobo ipaja Road,
12) Lafenwa- Itele Ota road axis.
13) Epe Garage-Oke Owa-Ilese-Ijebu-Imushin-Ijebu-Ife rod.
14) Imowo Eleran road, Ijebu-Ode.
15) Ikenne-Odogbolu-Ayepe road.
16) Ilishan-Ago-Iwoye road.
17) Isara-Ago-Iwoye road.
18) Ijebu-Igbo-Aparaki (the Deputy Governor’s home town) road.
19) Atan-Imope-Orita Idofe-Ijebu road.
20) Refuge-Oru-Awa-Ilaporu-Ijebu road.
21) Station-Idode-Japara, Ijebu-Igbo road.
22) Atikori-Idi Scale-Odobotu-Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo road.
23) Secretariat-West-End-Beje High Schl, Oke-Agbo road.
24) Agunboye-Omu-Gbawojo-Imewuro road.
25) Senbora-Ibido-Oke-Aye-Idorunwo-Gbawojo-Egan road.
26) Idode-Imomo-Simadegun road.
27) Oke-Eki-Orunwa-Ijebu road.
28) Ibiade-Abigi township road.
29) Oni-Ilushin-Ijebu township road.
30) Ologbun-Iwopin township road
31) Molipa-Okun-Owa road.
32) Ala-Omu-Ijebu road
33) Magboro-Makogi (back of MFM)-Obafemi Owode road
35) Sagamu-Ikorodu road and many others.

Obantoko – Osiele-Ibadan road is another federal government road which is the busiest road in Abeokuta and Ita-Oshin-Ifo-Sango-Otta is another federal government roads begging for rehabilitation.

With the above abandoned State road projects and untouched potholes-filed federal roads, do we say the governor has taken a right step in the right direction?

judging by the explanation of the state Commissioner for Works, Lekan Adegbite, on Family 88.5FM yesterday, I concluded that the government has lost focus.

The Commissioner who was unable to supply valid reasons for the expansion stressed that,  the government is embarking on the project despite the State Assembly call to stop work and calls by notable citizens of the state on the needless of the project, because it was the intention of the present government since 2014, but due to unavailability of funds, the government could not embark on it then.

Now that fund is available, I want to implore Mr.  Governor to divert such fund on his abandoned legacies.

Before you tag me as anti-Amosun or media bigot, briefly take a trip to the nine local governments in Ijebu,  and enjoy the road adventure to Yewa/Awori zones of the state,  not minding the suffering of the residents of Akute-Ajuwon-Alagbole-railway crossing under Ifo local government.

The flooded picture you are seeing below is not Haiti, but that is the sorry state Mr. Governor puts the residents into as a result of his abandoned trademark,  yet,  work is ongoing 24/7 at his under ground palatial bullet proof residence under construction at Ibara GRA, in Abeokuta. Mr.  Governor should remember Karma!

In a normal democratic setting where the House of Assembly is functional, such action of Mr. governor should be term as “MISFIT” and a vote of no confidence is passed.

But since the Assembly members are asleep or decided to be Mr.  Governor’s rubber stamp, as a law-abiding citizen, I will continue to speak for the voiceless.

As the 2019 political activities draw nearer, it is pertinent to henceforth request for a psychological test for whom to be governor of our dear gateway state to avoid another calamity.

While I await your comment/s as usual, I wish you a prosperous year ahead.

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji
Social Critic and Political commentator,
Executive Member,
Office of the Citizen,
Ogun State.